Eating Disorder Recovery Therapy

Eating disorders: it's about the food but it's not about the food. You might know exactly what I mean when I say that or you might be thinking “WTF?” Like many disorders, eating disorders are often a symptom of something deeper going on. Much of the time, they function to help people cope with things that feel too hard to face head-on.

At this point in your recovery, you might be feeding yourself but are you really nourishing yourself?

I have extensive experience treating clients who have been diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), and OSFED (other specified feeding/eating disorder). However, many of my clients have never been formally diagnosed with an eating disorder yet have struggled with their relationship to food and their body for much of their life.

Is it hard for you to imagine what a fulfilling life feels like without constant worries about your body? Do you want to finally feel freedom with food? Whether or not you have an eating disorder diagnosis if you relate to any of the following, I can help.

• You’re tired of riding the physical and emotional ups and downs of dieting and weight cycling

• You have obsessed over food, portions and calorie counting

• You have exercised excessively to change your weight or body shape or reach a calorie deficit

• You have obsessed over your weight or body shape, letting your feelings about your body dictate how much or how little you engage in your life

• You feel like your whole life revolves around food or exercise 

• You can identify the contributing factors to your eating disorder but you haven’t let yourself really feel all the emotions related to it

Long Term Recovery

I do believe that long-term recovery from eating disorders is possible but changing the behaviors is only the start. Once you’ve addressed the behaviors, it's time to dive deep into how your eating disorder has been serving you. Here are some questions we will explore together:

• What needs has it helped you meet?

• How has it kept you safe? 

• How does it function in your relationships?

• What does it prevent you from having to feel?

Beyond Body Positivity…

My life and work are firmly rooted in an anti-diet, fat positive, Health at Every Size (HAES) framework. Although body positivity is a start, it fails to take into account all of the nuances of our relationship to our bodies. I take a weight-neutral approach to my work. This approach challenges what we have been led to believe about the connection between weight and health. Namely, that weight is a main indicator of health or that the only way to be healthy is to be thin. Rather, I know that all bodies are good and worthy of care. They do not need to be changed to fit one ideal body type and the valuing of one body type over another is innately harmful. I will never recommend weight loss or praise attempts to change body shape or size. I will not promote restriction of food or calorie intake or prescribe exercise. I value body trust and body autonomy. Additionally, I will work to continue to uproot fatphobia and weight discrimination in myself and our systems.  

It is okay if you’re not there yet or if some of those statements make you squirm, that’s why you’re here! And I get it, even as an eating disorder therapist I am not immune to the immense pressure to have your body look a certain way. When it comes to body acceptance (and most things), I’ll take progress over perfection any day. I will support you are you continue to root out harmful beliefs that keep you from true freedom with food and movement. 

Read more about Health at Every Size here.

If you are ready to explore the depths of your relationship with food, movement, and your body so that you can finally get the relief you have been longing for, let’s get started.