Therapy for Anorexia, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Orthorexia

Are you or your teen struggling with any of the following:

• avoidance of certain foods or food groups entirely

• rigid rules around eating and meal times

• eating very little and skipping meals entirely

• intense preoccupation with body size

• overeating until you feel sick on a regular basis

• purging or using laxatives after eating

• overexercising to the point of pain and exhaustion in an attempt to manage body size

If you or your loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, they may also be feeling helpe,ess, depressed, and afraid. They may have thoughts of self-harm and feel worthless along with intense fear and hatred of their body and food. If these symptoms are starting to get in the way of relationships, school, or work then they could be the effects of an eating disorder like anorexia, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or orthorexia.

Therapy for Eating Disorders Works

Eating disorders can be chronic, debilitating, and life-threatening disorders that require specialized treatment from qualified therapists. Here at ECS, we have therapists dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders. Using a combination of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and trauma-healing modalities like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), treatment at Equilibrium Counseling Services can help you to reduce symptoms, stop thinking about food and your body all day every day, reconnect to your loved ones, and re-engage in life again.

What To Expect When You Start Therapy for an Eating Disorder

Therapy for eating disorders starts with a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms, including intensity, frequency, and onset. Your therapist will guide you through telling your story while looking for key details that will give them clues about where to focus your treatment. Eating disorders show up differently in different people and require an individualized approach. Your therapist may assist you with learning new ways to cope with emotions, heal from traumatic experiences that have contributed to your eating disorder, or create structure around meals and snacks to assist with re-nourishing your body. Our therapists are also trained to recognize when you may need a medical or dietetic evaluation to assist with your treatment.

Our therapists treat eating disorders from a Health at Every Size (HAES) lens, meaning that we recognize that healthy looks different on every body and that all bodies are worthy of respect and dignity. We actively reject fatphobia, weight stigma, and diet culture. This means that we will never side with your eating disorder in advocating that you intentional try to change your body size. Instead, we will work off of the principles of Intuitive Eating to assist you with honoring your hunger and fulness cues, engaging in mindful and joyful movement, and connecting to your body so that you can care for yourself with respect and intention.

ECS Specializes in Treating Teens and Young Adults with Eating Disorder Concerns

While many therapists provide treatment for eating disorders, ECS specializes in teen mental health. Not only can we provide individual therapy for eating disorders in teenagers, we can also provide group therapy for teens that can help your teen to connect with peers who get it. We are a team of professionals who love to work with teens and their families to support authenticity, body acceptance, and positive coping skills.

Together, we can support your or your loved one as you build a true sense of self-worth and improve your relationship with food and your body.