‘If I had been seen in our service, would I have recovered?’: Insights from lived experience clinicians working in eating disorder services

This qualitative study explores how clinicians with lived experience (LE) of eating disorders (EDs) view their experiences of identity, boundaries, and recovery within NHS England services. Participants ( N  = 9) were healthcare professionals in NHS England ED services, recruited as part of a wider qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: (1) Lived experience as a source of professional motivation versus perfectionistic pressure; (2) Recovery as identity work; (3) Emotional labor, resonance, and self-disclosure; and (4) LE-informed reflections on ED services. LE offered empathy, connection, and optimism, but also required ongoing emotional monitoring, boundary management, and negotiation of professional identity. Findings highlight the value and complexity of LE in ED care and underscore the need for supportive supervision and organizational cultures that recognize both strengths and vulnerabilities associated with integrating LE in practice.