Who diagnoses an eating disorder?

[Night Elf]

I have an appointment with a Licensed Professional Counselor and one of her specialties is eating disorders. I emailed my regular physician and asked about a dietitian and she gave me a referral. I mentioned to my psychiatrist that I had an appointment with a counselor to talk about it. Should I have made an appointment with my regular doctor first? It seems I'm pulling all the strings and I don't know what I'm doing.

[LMV]

In my experience as a physician, unfortunately it seems that nutritional restoration, medical monitoring, and management of medical complications due to suboptimal nutrition are very overlooked aspects of eating disorder treatment. I would definitely schedule an appointment with your primary care physician.

[Kassia]

I think both are important - the PCP and the therapist - since one will address any physical issues with an eating disorder while the other will address the behavioral issues.  

[Night Elf]

Okay. Thanks.

[Paige]

I think the diagnosis needs to come from a medical doctor- either Psych or family doctor. 

[zoobie]

I don't think LPCs can "diagnose," but they can screen you for concerning behaviors and recommend you followup with a psychiatrist or other medical doctor. The counselor who specializes in eating disorders may be a great place to start. She will know which doctors are good near you if an actual diagnosis is necessary. You are in a different position from someone whose disorder is currently a immediate danger to their health/life, so the bloodwork and whatnot that would be done for anorexia might not be relevant to you. 

[Kassia]

A medical doctor would probably also order a bone scan if they suspected anorexia.