Training the Mind as Well as the Body: How CBT for Eating Disorders Helps Athletes Break Free From Disordered Thinking
You track your splits and your miles, but how often do you track your thoughts? Athletes are conditioned to focus on performance. This leads to them neglecting the role of mental health in training, recovery and competition. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is an evidenced-based method that helps athletes challenge harmful thinking patterns. CBT for eating disorders support athletes in developing a mindset for both peak performance and longevity in sport.
The Link Between Athletic Identity and Disordered Thinking
Athletes of all abilities tend to tie their identity and value to the results, stats or appearance in sport. This cognitive distortion can look like having negative self-talk or beliefs after not feeling satisfied after a race.
A cognitive distortion is a negative thought or belief of oneself, others, or the world that is based in emotion. This type of cognitive distortion is called all-or-nothing thinking. One example may be if a runner feels missing one workout will run their season. Another example is, if a gymnast believes if they eat a certain food they feel is “bad”, then they will perform poorly. Having rigid beliefs about oneself can spiral into disordered behaviors, partially around food, body image and rest.
What is CBT for Eating Disorders and Why is it Effective for Athletes?
As I mentioned, CBT for eating disorders focuses on the connection between thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. You work towards identifying and challenging these unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Athletes respond well to CBT for many reasons. CBT tends to be structured, goal-oriented and focuses on outcomes, similar to training. Common CBT tools used with athletes include:
Thought logs
Behavioral experiments
Exposure to fear foods or rest days
Self-talk modification and mindfulness
Real-Life Examples of CBT in Action
Case 1: The perfectionist swimmer
Imagine you are a swimmer, struggling with fear of failure, obsessive comparison and anxiety before meals. In CBT we would work to identify distorted thoughts like “One slow lap means I am falling behind”.
Now, imagine how that one thought could impact performance during a race. Now the fear is starting to come true because they started feeling less than after that thought repeated through their head for days.
An eating disorder therapist helps create balanced thinking through self compassion and empathy. A thought can change from “One slow lap means I am falling behind” to “That lap was tough, and I will continue pushing hard through the discomfort”. This switch shifts the emotional response to the automatic thoughts, shifting the athlete’s physical response of slowing down.
Case 2: The injured soccer player
Imagine feeling guilt about rest or anxiety of losing your identity without your sport. CBT for eating disorders helps challenge the belief of “If I am not playing, I am nothing” and introduce flexible coping strategies.
Digging into the injured athlete’s values and passions, outside of soccer can helps them feel connected to themself. This may look like spending more time with family when they would have been at practice. It could also look like putting their energy into recovery and cheering on teammates.
Case 3: The runner with restrictive eating
Imagine a collegiate runner who believes that eating certain foods will ruin performance. CBT interventions would focus on food exposures and examining evidence. With the help of an eating disorder therapist, you shift from rules to values-based decision-making.
If the runner fears eating anything before practice, food exposures build up their food tolerance to properly fuel for race day. This teaches their mind and body that it does not need to fear food, in fact food can help improve their performance.
The Long-Term benefits of Mental Training
Working on mental health during training helps build resilience. Athletes learn to bounce back from setbacks and failures more effectively. It supports peak performance by building mental clarity, emotional regulation and healthy positive self-talk. Athletes begin to connect to internal motivators such as values, joy and identity, rather than fear, control or shame. CBT for eating disorders offers long term skills that extend beyond sport.
How CBT for Eating Disorders in Cherry Hill, NJ Supports Local Athletes
CBT is used to help improve performance. This includes, performance anxiety, injuries, navigating transitions, disordered eating, or eating disorders. At Serendipity Counseling, we offer in-person and virtual sessions. This makes it easier for athletes and families in South Jersey.
Understanding athletic culture and tailoring treatment to sports schedules is important. A eating disorder therapist needs to know about competition seasons and unique athletic pressures. They will collaborate with coaches, ietitians and parents when appropriate. It is important to work together with the athlete and meet them where they are in their journey of growth.
Final Thoughts
If you or someone you know is struggling with their relationship with their sport, feeling burnt out, or exhausted, you deserve help. Therapy is a strength based approach, not a setback. Athletes of all levels and abilities from Olympians to high school competitors, use CBT for eating disorders as a core part of training. If you are looking for support, here are a few steps:
Schedule a free consultation call.
Book your first session with an eating disorder therapist.
Start identifying how your negative beliefs are impacting your thoughts and behaviors.
If you are looking for support beyond 1:1 therapy, this is for you. Serendipity offers team support through public speaking events, an athlete support group and featured podcasts. Check them out and see what support feels best for you!
About the Author: A CBT-trained Eating Disorder Therapist
Kate Ringwood is a licensed therapist and owner of Serendipity Counseling Services. She uses an eclectic approach of CBT mixed with other therapeutic methods. Kate meets each individual where they are in their recovery process. Kate takes an empathetic approach in the therapy room, while also challenging clients to step outside of their comfort zone.
