Interview with Blanca Ruiz Múzquiz: treating eating disorders through online therapy

As the ways in which psychologists provide professional and treatment, so does the way in which the technology adapts to the functioning of the psychotherapy. An example of this is online therapy, a relatively recent form of psychological intervention in patients that has already proven to be very useful and effective.

In fact, online therapy makes having the work of psychologists simpler and easier for thousands of people for whom the simple fact of asking for help already supposes a great effort to change their mentality and habits. People with Eating Disorders (Eating Disorders) are often an example of this type of problem: recognizing that they do not are fine and starting to remedy what happens to them means exposing yourself to the discomfort of not giving in to certain impulses.

To discuss the use of online therapy in treating people with eating disorders, on this occasion we interview the psychologist Blanca Ruiz Múzquiz, professional specialized in this field.

• Related article: "The 8 benefits of going to psychological therapy"

Treatment of eating disorders through online therapy: interview with Blanca Ruiz Múzquiz

Blanca Ruiz Muzquiz She is a resident psychologist in Madrid and an expert in the clinical field, and has been offering therapy to people with many types of psychological disorders, among which emotional disorders and Conduct Disorders stand out Food.

In this interview she talks about how online therapy has opened the doors to a new way of give professional support to people with problems such as anorexia, bulimia and other psychopathologies Similar.

What does having to comply with confinement due to the pandemic imply for a person with an eating disorder?

For people who have some kind of Eating Disorder It is a very difficult time to be confined to your homes for different reasons. One of the most important is that the problems underlying the symptoms are likely to be aggravated, as they may be living with toxic or dysfunctional dynamics within their family, partner or in a lonely.

This would cause an increase in the subjective feeling of anguish, of feeling out of control, feeling a lot of uncertainty and frustration thus aggravating the symptoms: stopping eating, having more binges, vomiting or the need to do sports in a good way constant.

What are the advantages of online psychological assistance when it comes to helping people with eating disorders?

It is an opportunity to prevent and treat the most obvious symptoms, such as need for fits, vomiting, body distortions or compulsive behaviors and compensatory. In the same way, it is an opportunity to see how it relates to its most direct environment and to observe its relational dynamics in more direct ways.

The fact that they can perform the therapy from their home, their room or a safe environment means that for these people with eating disorders the extra cost of having to face dressing, leaving the house, going out into the world, since in phases in which there is a very high obsession, it takes a huge effort to move to have the session.

Does online therapy encourage more profiles of people with an eating disorder to "go to the psychologist", given the discretion offered by this format of professional care?

I would say that online therapy offers them more than discretion, but also the ease of being able to do it in a lighter way mentally, since they have to face fewer obstacles and barriers than if we talk about the traditional form of assistance physical.

What are the Eating Disorders that are most commonly seen in online therapy? Is there any difference with respect to those that are usually seen in face-to-face consultation?

No, there is no difference in terms of the types of ACTs that are seen online versus in person; there still being anorexy, bulimia, binge eating disorders, etc. What I have noticed is that they have contacted more online than in person.

How does the process of online therapy applied to people with anorexia or bulimia, for example, develop?

The therapy process goes through phases, in which the visible symptoms are treated at the same time as the that is not seen, that it is essential, to understand why anorexia or bulimia is present, what it is for, when it is, when it is not this; you have to know the disorder itself.

It is an integral process, it is very difficult to isolate the treatment of a part without directly or indirectly touching other important aspects of the person that lead them to be in that situation.

The process involves a commitment on both sides to be in therapy and to work together. In severe cases or depending on the severity of certain aspects, we work in a multidisciplinary way with a psychiatric, nutritional medical follow-up and group support therapy.

What do you think is the most important message to convey to a person who has developed anorexia, bulimia or another similar disorder and who still does not dare to go to therapy?

"Trust the therapeutic process." I would tell him that I know that it is very difficult to take that leap of confidence, which is like having faith in something that you don't know if it exists. Have faith that doing it will be better.

Many times we prefer the bad known than the good to know because it is ours. comfort zone and although it is a hell, it is a hell that we know; However, taking that leap implies not knowing if there will be a much worse hell and that scares and paralyzes. That is why I would tell you to trust, to take that step and jump into the therapeutic process.