You have a unique and valuable role in the healthcare team. As a pastoral carer, you can offer the gift of presence, focussing on the person without needing to complete a treatment task.
If asked, you might also help to address faith-based struggles or questions related to a person’s eating disorder experience. Christian faith can interact with eating disorders in both helpful and unhelpful ways. If religious beliefs are unhelpfully intertwined with the eating disorder you may be able to help the person work through this. Ideally, this would be done in collaboration with the person’s treating team. You may also be able to help them draw on their faith for comfort and support.
It’s worth being aware that it’s quite common for people with eating disorders to criticise members of their healthcare team or aspects of their treatment. This is often an expression of their anxiety about recovery. Generally, it is best to listen supportively, while avoiding agreement and where possible encouraging the person to trust the treatment process. It is particularly important to avoid endorsing their concerns about dietary or exercise recommendations. Of course, if you are concerned that the person is unsafe or at risk of abuse, address this through the appropriate channels.
