Therapy for Body Image and Therapy for Eating Disorders

Maybe you are finding yourself obsessing over food, weight, health or appearance. Maybe you are sick of dieting, binging or compulsively exercising. Maybe you are experiencing low self-worth and loneliness due to fear of being rejected because of your body or not wanting to eat around other people. If any of this is true, you may be grappling with an eating disorder or disordered eating.

As your therapist, I listen and learn about who you are and where you come from. Together we work to understand how your relationship with food and your body relate to the complex ecology of your life. This may include working to resolve any underlying traumas that are contributing to difficulties with your body. This may also involve connecting with your values and goals and building on your strengths to increase your comfort with being around people and yourself. Ultimately, we work together to support you in branching out and (re)building a full life that includes - but is not limited to - a more peaceful relationship with food and exercise.

In addition to what I learn from you, I include concepts from the Body Positive Model, which is informed by Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size philosophies. I also draw from extensive training in mindfulness based therapies, CBT, ACT, DBT, and my years of working in residential and inpatient treatment for eating disorders.

I regularly pursue new education opportunities, and am honored to work with individuals whose journeys around pregnancy, race, sexual identity, age, and gender identity intersect with their journeys around food, exercise and body image.

Notes on my Philosophy

I believe that dieting, binge eating, compulsive exercise and body image issues show up for a reason. I work from the stance that part of this reason may be genetic/biological, while part of this reason may be circumstantial, related to experiences of abuse or exposure to fatphobia or toxic diet culture. I believe that healing involves understanding those reasons and making peace with our complex histories and selves. I believe that feeling better is possible when we cultivate compassion for our humanness and begin to live a life that is worth living. I believe that sometimes the process of recovery can hurt, or be slow and non linear, and I understand that moving forward from these behaviors and experiences can feel like an irreconcilable loss.

Harm Reduction for Eating Disorders

I believe in meeting clients where they are at, and take a stance of “dialectical abstinence” when it comes to eating disorder treatment. In DBT, dialectical abstinence is the idea that we aim for recovery and also continue to practice harm reduction when recovery is not available for us. It is about gray area, process, progress and self compassion. In this way I help us hold a nuanced position defined by a determination to help you recover, a prioritization of medical safety, and radical acceptance of the diversity of recovery experiences.

This means that in therapy we do two things simultaneously: we work together to develop a vision of what it would look like for you to live a life that is not defined by an eating disorder and we also explore and honor how the eating disorder has become intricately woven into your framework for coping with trauma, relationship difficulties, and identity journey. And when the eating disorder is present, we look for ways to reduce harm and increase safety so that you can have a better life during any stage or moment in your recovery.

Healing With a Team

Sometimes when it comes to eating and exercise disorders, it can help to work with other practitioners, such as a registered dietician and a medical doctor. I am happy to help you connect with trustworthy providers. I love working as part of a team and will happily collaborate with the people in your life who are important to your wellbeing.