Therapy for Eating Disorders and Body Image
I understand how difficult it can be to seek help when struggling with eating and body image concerns. These challenges are incredibly common but often go unaddressed in mental health treatment. I’m here to offer compassionate support and professional expertise to guide you toward a healthier relationship with food and your body.
Understanding Disordered Eating
Disordered eating involves a range of unhealthy eating behaviors that may not fit the criteria for a specific eating disorder but can still cause significant physical and emotional distress. Some common symptoms include:
Restrictive Eating – Constantly limiting food intake through strict diets or extreme caloric restrictions.
Binge Eating – Eating large quantities of food in a short time, often feeling out of control during these episodes.
Purging – Using compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, or excessive exercise after overeating.
Yo-Yo Dieting – Frequent cycles of dieting followed by overeating, leading to weight fluctuations.
Obsession with Body Image – Preoccupation with body shape, weight, and appearance, which negatively impacts self-image.
Rigid Food Rules – Developing strict rules about eating, often feeling anxious or guilty if these rules are broken.
Emotional Eating – Turning to food to cope with stress, sadness, boredom, or other emotions.
Avoidance of Social Eating – Withdrawing from social situations involving food or eating alone to hide eating habits.
Preoccupation with Food and Calories – Constantly thinking about food, tracking calories, and obsessing over nutrition.
Distorted Self-Perception – Seeing yourself as overweight despite being at a healthy weight or underweight.
Feelings of Guilt and Shame – Intense guilt or shame after eating, particularly with foods deemed "unhealthy."
Decline in Physical Health – Experiencing symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, hair loss, or irregular menstrual cycles.
Secrecy About Eating Habits – Hiding eating behaviors from friends and family due to feelings of embarrassment or shame.
Why Work with Me?
Collaborative Care
I believe in addressing disordered eating through a comprehensive treatment approach. This typically involves working closely with a team that may include a therapist, dietitian, and medical professional, depending on your needs. I frequently provide referrals for nutritional counseling and medical monitoring to ensure that both your mental and physical health are supported. Collaboration with these professionals helps create a personalized plan tailored to your unique situation.
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
My focus is on exploring the underlying emotional and psychological factors that contribute to struggles with food and body image. Through psychoanalytic psychotherapy, we’ll delve into the root causes of your behaviors, uncovering how they function in your life to create lasting change. I also incorporate aspects of other therapeutic approaches, such as DBT, CBT, and ACT, based on your individual needs.
Body Image Work
Body image work is central to healing negative perceptions and beliefs about your body. I’ll help you challenge harmful societal beauty standards, practice self-compassion, and develop a more positive relationship with your body. This process often includes mindfulness practices and engaging in activities that foster self-esteem and body appreciation.