Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are characterized by persistent food-related or eating behaviors that harm your health, emotions, or ability to function. They often involve an individual focusing too much on weight, body shape, and food. Most commonly, these take the form of anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating. Anorexia involves excessively limiting calories and/or using other methods to lose weight (e.g. exercise, laxatives). People with anorexia often have an extreme fear of gaining weight and have an abnormally low body weight, along with a distorted perception of their weight or body shape. Bulimia involves periods of eating a large amount of food in a short time (bingeing), followed by attempting to rid oneself of the extra calories in an unhealthy way (such as forced vomiting). These behaviors are often accompanied by a sense of a total lack of control. Binge-eating disorder involves eating too much food, past the point of being full, at least once a week, and feeling a lack of control over this behavior. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself, a qualified professional therapist can help. Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s eating disorder experts for help today.

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I've been actively working with eating disorders since 2018. I have experience helping people with symptoms of food restriction, bulimia, and binge eating. I work from a Health At Every Size framework so that no matter where your ED is coming from, we'll start by meeting you where you are today. Whether you're brand new to the possibility of having an ED, or you need a hand in continuing the next step in your recovery, I'm here to help.

— Brian Jones, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Seattle, WA

For the past seven years, I have worked with clients struggling with eating disorders at the partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient level. After working as a milieu therapist, primary therapist, and group therapy facilitator at an eating disorder treatment center, I began working as an outpatient therapist in private practice specifically focusing on members of the LGBTQ+ community who struggle with body image and eating

— Zach Verwey, Licensed Professional Counselor in Denver, CO
 

Many people use food to manage their emotions but are not fully aware that this is occurring. I work with individuals who sense that their relationship with food is not quite right. Perhaps this week tomatoes are bad. Next week it's the latest diet or eating clean week. Learn to understand your connection between emotional difficulties and how you use food. Transition into a more regulated way of living your life.

— John Edwards, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oakland, CA

I use a blend of approaches to help people break free from eating disorders such as binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and negative body image. As a Health at Every Size-aligned therapist, I support body diversity and acknowledge the structural forces that impinge on wellbeing. I utilize weight-neutral, evidence-based approached such as Intuitive Eating, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindful Self-Compassion, & Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

— Regina Lazarovich, Clinical Psychologist in Scotts Valley, CA
 

I work with clients to heal their relationship to food and body. I believe in body neutrality and body liberation. In other words, I don’t think bodies need fixing — rather, they need healing from a society that makes them feel wrong for existing. I support clients through Health at Every Size, Body Trust, and Intuitive Eating frameworks.

— Paige Sparkman, Counselor in , MI

Having worked at a residential eating disorder facility for over 15 years, I am knowledgable and passionate about helping individuals who struggle with bulimia nervosa, anorexia, binge eating disorder, food addiction, and emotional eating. In my experience, we begin using food as a way to control things when most other things are outside of our control. It starts as a solution that over time becomes a problem that is difficult to address without support.

— Kristina Beaudry, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Davie, FL
 

I will help you heal your relationship with food & body size and help you explore the underlying messages that contributed to & maintain the eating disorder.

— Nicole Iwule, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Orlando, FL

In treating eating disorders, I adopt an integrative approach that combines cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with psychodynamic therapy to address the multifaceted nature of these conditions. CBT serves as a cornerstone, focusing on the identification and modification of maladaptive thoughts and behaviors related to food, body image, and weight.

— Dr. Yanet Vanegas, Psychologist in Tampa, FL
 

If you struggle with obsessive thoughts about your food or body, you are not alone. I understand that these issues are more complex than concerns of vanity. Together, we will explore the unconscious beliefs and emotions that drive your harmful behaviors. I will teach you emotional regulation skills so that you can ride the waves of anxiety or distress and make different choices. After years of experience working with food and body challenges, I fully believe recovery is possible.

— Izzy Hodess, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in Boulder, CO

During my master's program, I spent much time writing papers and researching eating disorders. EDs are a major concern for the adolescent and emerging adult communities. I completed my capstone project/presentation on EDs in order to spread awareness and knowledge to other young counseling professionals on the risk factors for these populations as well as ways in which to best treat these disorders within these two populations.

— Andrea Rose, Licensed Professional Counselor in Austin, TX
 

An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that adversely affect a person's physical or mental health. Common types include binge eating disorder, where a person eats a large amount in a short period of time; anorexia nervosa, where the person has an intense fear of gaining weight and restricts food or overexercises to manage this fear; bulimia nervosa, where individuals eat a large quantity (binging) then try to rid themselves of the food (purging).

— Alana Heavirland, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Mission Viejo, CA

I believe that eating disorders show up for a reason and that healing from the eating disorder involves understanding and making peace with our complex histories and selves. Together we will work to cultivate compassion for your humanness and begin to heal your relationship with food and your body. I am honored to work with individuals whose journeys around pregnancy, race, sexual identity, age, and gender identity intersect with their journeys around food and body.

— Allison Carter, Psychotherapist in South Pasadena, CA
 

Eating disorders are a range of psychological conditions that cause unhealthy eating habits to develop. They might start with an obsession with food, body weight, or body shape. In severe cases, eating disorders can cause serious health consequences and may even result in death if left untreated. Page Morris has extensive experience working with eating disorders and knowledge of the best programs around the country if that is needed for your individual treatment.

— First Steps Psychological Services,LLC, Psychotherapist in North Bethesda, MD

Food is one of the earliest ways we humans experience nurturance and interaction with a caring adult. food takes on many meanings about relationships, needs, control, and the value of self. The development of an eating disorder signals a problem in one or several of these areas; it arises as an attempt to solve this problem, by drawing attention to the problem, by pulling the family together to address symptoms of the eating disorder; or expressing/repressing feelings related to current problem.

— Tatum Santacasa, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Eugene, OR
 

I completed a two-year training in the integrative treatment of eating disorders from the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy. I see eating disorders as multi-layered and use a holistic approach tailored to meet the unique needs of each person I work with.

— Rachel Van Beaver, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

I specialize in treating eating disorders, employing a collaborative approach by closely working with medical doctors and registered dietitians to provide comprehensive care. As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, I anchor my approach to addressing disordered eating behaviors, helping clients reconnect with their intuitive relationship with food. I am committed to incorporating discussions of privilege, socio-economic class, and trauma to provide a culturally sensitive treatment experience.

— Christina Arceri, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York, NY
 

Many of our therapists have received advanced training in eating disorders and have years of experience helping clients overcome disruptive eating behaviors.

— Natalie Buchwald, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Garden City, NY

Do I have an unhealthy relationship with food? If you find yourself questioning this, then the answer is most likely yes. Tell me, what makes you wonder? Are you experiencing shame and guilt about your body? Do you find yourself skipping meals, dieting, fasting, calorie counting, overexercising, or struggling with knowing whether or not you are hungry or full? The truth is, you may be experiencing disordered eating. Before you begin shaming yourself, pause. Disordered eating is unfortunately

— The Couch Therapy, Psychotherapist in Colleyville, TX