Eating Disorder Therapy
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are complex physical, mental, and emotional disorders. They impact physical functioning, relationships with yourself and others, and engagement in everyday activities. Below are some of the issues I work with around relationships with food and bodies.
Anorexia Nervosa – a disorder characterized by restriction of food intake, intense fear of weight gain, heightened sense of importance on body, weight, or shape, and possible weight loss. Binge eating and/or purging behaviors may or may not be present.
Bulimia Nervosa – A disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, fasting, exercise, and use of laxatives or diuretics.
Binge Eating Disorder – A disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating which involve eating large quantities of food in a short period of time, while feeling out of control.
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED) - Atypical Anorexia, Purging Disorder, and Bulimia or Binge Eating Disorder at a lower frequency.
Emotional Eating and/or Exercise - Using food and/or exercise to cope with and avoid difficult emotions and situations.
Chronic Dieting - A years-long attachment to engaging in different diets in an attempt to lose weight or change your relationship with food and your body. Chronic dieting often leads to binge eating and repetitive weight gain and loss.
Negative Body Image - A destructive view of oneself due to the over-significance of weight and body shape on your self-worth and esteem. Negative body image is often impacted by social media and excessive comparison to others.
Treatment Approach
Therapy is just one of the components for long-term recovery. I work collaboratively with dietitians, psychiatrists, physicians, school counselors, parents/caregivers, families, and anyone else involved with your care to ensure your physical and emotional safety throughout the recovery process.
Therapy for Eating Disorders
I draw from many theories and approaches to help clients heal from their eating disorders. All target the immediate, past, and present influences of eating disorders, and promote positive change for ongoing health and well-being.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – The leading treatment approach focused on the relationship between thoughts and behaviors. CBT interventions include challenging thoughts such as dietary “rules”, ideas of beauty, and perfectionism, planning and structure, and introducing healthier behaviors.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – DBT consists of four pillars of intervention: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT interventions are meant to help introduce clients to new ways to experience and manage intense emotions, and combat eating disorder urges.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – ACT is a close relative of CBT and DBT. ACT strategies focus on acceptance of the present moment, changing your relationship with your thoughts, and committing to act in accordance with your values for a meaningful life.
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) – EFT explores relational and emotional processes that contribute to the onset and maintenance of eating disorders. EFT emphasizes corrective emotional experiences with your therapist, and an increased positive relationship with yourself. Understand your emotions, relationships and what purpose the eating disorder served.
Teens and Families
Treating an eating disorder involves the whole family. All clients under the age of 18 will be required to have either parents or caregivers involved in their treatment process. Please visit my Parent Coaching page to find out more about parent and caregiver involvement in eating disorder treatment.