How should a coach handle a client with suspected disordered eating?

How should a coach handle a client with suspected disordered eating?

• A. Use a weight-centric messaging
• B. Refer to a clinician only after long delays
• C. Monitor safety without concern
• D. Use a nonjudgmental MI approach and refer to qualified professionals

Answer: (D)

When a client shows signs of disordered eating, the guiding approach is to respond with empathy, collaboration, and clear pathways to professional help. A nonjudgmental Motivational Interviewing style invites the client to talk openly about their relationship with food and body, values, and what change would look like for them, without shaming or fixating on weight. This helps reduce resistance, builds rapport, and supports intrinsic motivation to seek appropriate care. Because coaches aren’t equipped to diagnose or treat eating disorders, it’s essential to connect the client with qualified professionals—such as a clinician or therapist trained in eating disorders and a registered dietitian who can assess medical stability, provide evidence-based treatment, and tailor guidance. At the same time, assess safety and escalate when there are signs of potential harm (for example, severe weight loss, medical instability, or thoughts of self-harm). This approach is preferable because it centers the client, promotes honest communication, and ensures access to specialized care while safeguarding safety.

When a client shows signs of disordered eating, the guiding approach is to respond with empathy, collaboration, and clear pathways to professional help. A nonjudgmental Motivational Interviewing style invites the client to talk openly about their relationship with food and body, values, and what change would look like for them, without shaming or fixating on weight. This helps reduce resistance, builds rapport, and supports intrinsic motivation to seek appropriate care.

Because coaches aren’t equipped to diagnose or treat eating disorders, it’s essential to connect the client with qualified professionals—such as a clinician or therapist trained in eating disorders and a registered dietitian who can assess medical stability, provide evidence-based treatment, and tailor guidance. At the same time, assess safety and escalate when there are signs of potential harm (for example, severe weight loss, medical instability, or thoughts of self-harm).

This approach is preferable because it centers the client, promotes honest communication, and ensures access to specialized care while safeguarding safety.