What We Treat
Eating Disorders
If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder you may be feeling scared and unsure of where to begin.
You are not alone in this journey. Our treatment approach utilizes Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and the belief that eating disorders are a disease of disconnection. We believe in healthy living and the principles of Health at Every Size (HAES).
We will work with individuals and their loved ones to restore connection and begin the recovery process. Our approach is to reconnect you with yourself, others, and the world around you. Additionally, we help you grow stronger physically, emotionally, and spiritually to empower you or your loved one to disconnect from the eating disorder and connect to their authentic self, feelings, life goals, and values.
Where to begin
Eating disorders impact all age groups, genders, spectrums, and orientations. No matter what journey the eating disorder has taken you on, we hope to bring healing and connection to patients who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Types of eating disorders we treat
- Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
- Bulimia Nervosa (BN)
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
- Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
- Compulsive Exercise
- Body Image/Distortion (we utilize a Health at Every Size/ HAES ® approach)
- Orthorexia
How We Treat Eating Disorders
Together we will thoroughly assess to determine the appropriate treatment plan for you or your loved one. We work towards your most desired goals and address any areas you may be struggling such as low-self-esteem, self-image, trauma, anxiety, depression, anger, body image and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Eating disorders are treatable. We believe that these disorders, at their core, are a disease of disconnection. Our goal is to help clients grow stronger physically, emotionally, and spiritually so that they have the tools they need to connect with their authentic self, feelings, life goals, and values. We use a multi-pronged treatment approach that is rooted in relational, cultural, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT.)
You are not alone in this journey. Your therapist will determine the appropriate level of care for you, which may include a psychological evaluation, individual, group or family therapy.
You or your loved one may have multiple services
included in therapy that can extend to:
- Psychological Evaluation
- Individual therapy
- Family Therapy
- Psychoeducation
- Community Referrals to nutritionists, psychiatrists, and support groups.
- Health monitoring with your primary care as needed.
Resources/Tools:
Screening tools are a great place to start if you have questions. Here is a direct link to a brief screening for ages 13 years old and up, provided by NEDA, to help you get started on your journey.
About Eating Disorders:
Eating Disorder hope.
HAES® Model
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
Bulimia Nervosa Resource Guide for Family and Friends
National Associate for Males with Eating Disorders
Maudsley Parents
Children’s National Hospital for Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders in the LGBTQIA+ community
The Trevor Project
Individuals of Color and Eating Disorders
Book Recommendations:
- Life without ED by Jenni Schaefer
- Goodbye Ed, Hello Me by Jenni Schaefer
- Sick Enough by Jennifer L. Gaudiani, MD, CEDS, FAED
- 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder by Carolyn Costin
- Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings
- A Hunger so wide and so deep: A multiracial View of Women’s Eating Problems by Becky W. Thompson
- Eating in the Light of the Moon by Anita Johnston, PhD
- Surviving an Eating Disorder: Strategies for Family and Friends by Judith brisman, PhD, and Margot Weinshel, MSW
- When you Reen as has Eating Disorder: Practical Stratgies to Help your Teen Recover from -Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge eating by Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD
- Crave: Why you Binge Eat and How to Stop by Cynthia Bulik, PhD
- The Body is not an Apology: The Power of Radial Self Love (additionally there is a workbook with this) by Renee Taylor
- Landwhale: On Turning insults into Nicknames, Why Body Image is Hard, and How Diets Can -Kiss My Ass by Jes Baker
- The F*ck it Diet by Caroline Dooner
- Starving In Search of Me: A Coming-of-Age Story of Overcoming An Eating Disorder and Finding Self-Acceptance by Marissa LaRocca
- Man Up to Eating Disorders: a memoir and self-help book for men and boys struggling with body image, self-esteem, fat shaming, and eating disorders by Andrew Walen LCSW-C
How to approach a loved one about their eating disorder
Reaching out to a loved one about their eating disorder can be incredibly challenging.
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, a leading researcher in the field of eating disorders, recommends the following considerations when approaching a loved one with concerns:
- Prepare for your conversation: get a base knowledge about eating disorders by reading books, watching videos, and visiting reputable websites.
- Define the purpose of your conversation: decide in advance what the goal of your conversation will be. Do you hope to open communication? Encourage your loved one to seek treatment?
- Choose the best time and place. Picking a safe environment may help limit your loved one’s feelings of defensiveness or distress in response to this challenging conversation.
- Identify specific behaviors you have personally observed: use “I” statements and stick to specific facts on the behaviors you have witnessed.
- Remain calm and be patient: it is possible that your loved one will become upset. Keep the initial conversation short if it begins to develop into an argument.
- If your loved one is a child or teen, you may insist on seeking professional help even if he/she opposes it. If your loved one is an adult, expressing your concern and support is crucial, as well as providing information and offering help to contact a professional for an evaluation.
