What do I need to know – recovery coaching & health coaching

Eating disorder recovery coaching and health coaching operates largely outside formal health regulation, which raises important safety concerns when supporting individuals with Eating disorders. Anyone can become a coach with very minimal training, you could become a health coach in 6 months! Unlike accredited or licensed clinicians who have undertaken specific University qualifications such as Dietitians, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Psychologists, recovery coaches are not required to complete standardised clinical training, are not governed by an accrediting body, and are not overseen by a regulatory board. As a result, at this point in time there are no consistent requirements for competency, ethical conduct, or scope of practice.

This can increase the risk of inconsistent or unsafe advice, blurred boundaries between peer support and clinical treatment, and delayed access to evidence-based care.

If a recovery coach or health coach is also a Social Worker, Dietitian or Psychologist, the coaching is a great ‘add-on’. In short, the risks are less about intention and more about structure: no standardised training, no accrediting body, no regulatory oversight, and no clearly enforced scope of practice. There is a risk that a coach brings their own biases or opinions into the space, rather than holding a clearly defined clinician lens. In a recovery space as medically and psychologically complex as eating disorders, that lack of structure is not a minor detail—it is the central issue.

Who should I consult if I need more support?

If you feel you need more support and already have a great GP, Psychiatrist, Dietitian and Psychologist on board your team, you might consider:

increasing your frequency of sessions with an existing team member
joining a Butterfly Foundation Support Group or Program or their Next Steps Outpatient Program
joining an Outpatient Program connected to your local Eating Disorder Hospital Unit which usually provides meal support, clinical support and a peer space

In a field where the wrong advice, poor boundaries or conflicting information can reinforce the harmful behaviours of an eating disorder, choosing the right team members for your recovery matters.

_{References :}

_{National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) – Eating disorders: clinical guidelines and workforce resources}
_{World Health Organization (WHO) – Mental health service delivery frameworks and workforce standards}
_{American Psychiatric Association (APA) – Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders (latest edition)}
_{The Butterfly Foundation (Australia) – Information on treatment pathways and evidence-based care for eating disorders}