Eating Disorder Therapy

Is Disordered Eating Taking Over Your Life?

Do you struggle with restricting calories, binging and purging, or over-exercising as an outlet for your emotions?

Are you experiencing concerning physical changes, including rapid weight loss or weight gain, as a result of unhealthy eating and exercise behaviors?

Is your relationship with food spiraling out of control?

For many experiencing disordered eating, there is a false sense of control that comes with keeping a tight hold over our eating habits. More often than not, however, a disordered relationship with food ultimately ends up taking control over our lives—rather the other way around—as we become entirely preoccupied with maintaining a certain weight or calorie intake.

Your Body Is Not The Only Thing That Is Impacted By Disordered Eating

Of course, eating disorders are about more than just physical appearance. At the core of many of these issues is an emotional void or sense of low self-esteem that perpetuates the idea of not being good enough. Anxiety around eating and exercise begins to interfere with every aspect of our daily lives, making it difficult to concentrate and be present—especially when food is involved. Over time, this will likely impact our daily routine, work performance, and relationships, particularly when we try hiding our behaviors from others.

Though an eating disorder may be temporarily offering you a sense of harmony and control, these behaviors simply aren’t sustainable or healthy. Yet, in treatment through Insights Counseling Center, you can gain the skills and perspectives you need to overcome your eating disorder and re-establish a sense of empowerment in your life.

We Are Here To Support You!

There Are Many Forms Of Disordered Eating, And If You Struggle, Know That You Are Not Alone

Eating disorders of all kinds are common and affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and sizes. Unfortunately, however, in our appearance-obsessed culture, it can be hard to differentiate between what is healthy and what is extreme.

There is a wide range of behaviors that meet the criteria for an eating disorder, but some of the more common eating disorders are characterized as follows:

• Anorexia nervosa (or, simply, anorexia) describes restrictive eating habits, including calorie counting, abstaining from food entirely, and maintaining a strict exercise regimen even when sick or tired. Anorexia typically leads to alarming weight loss, skewed self-perception, and other physical symptoms that result from not getting enough nutrients.

• Binge eating is characterized by the compulsive need to keep eating past the point of satiety (fullness). For many who struggle with binge eating, there is an emotional element involved wherein a physical response (eating) is used to manage an emotional circumstance (feelings of sadness, loneliness, or emptiness).

• Bulimia (or purging) is characterized by the compulsive need to regurgitate food after eating. Purging often accompanies binge episodes and can result in concerning physical symptoms—including inflammation and the erosion of tooth enamel—as a result of stomach acids regularly coming back up through the esophagus. In some cases, laxatives or diuretics are used to quicken the digestive process.

• Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a condition in which food intake is limited due to fear and anxiety around certain foods and/or the consequences of eating food in general (ex. choking, vomiting, being watched while eating, etc.). Some individuals with ARFID may be described as being “picky eaters,” which is an oversimplification of their symptoms.

There are many other related behaviors that do not necessarily fall under the umbrella of these conditions but are nevertheless unhealthy. And in fact, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) estimates that at least nine percent of Americans will develop an eating disorder in their lives. [1]

While eating disorders are highly treatable, they are very difficult to manage without the outside help of a trained therapist. We are pleased to have clinicians on staff who specialize in therapy for eating disorders. We also welcome individuals to counseling who may not have a diagnosis but nevertheless struggle with their eating/exercise habits and body image.

Therapy For Eating Disorders Through Insights Counseling Center Is Designed To Support You On Your Healing Journey

Treatment for eating disorders offers you a meaningful opportunity to embark on the road to recovery alongside a therapist who can offer eye-opening perspectives that will lead you to a happier, healthier, more authentic existence.

That said, before beginning eating disorder treatment through Insights Counseling Center, it’s imperative that you are in a safe, stable place nutritionally. If necessary, a meeting with your doctor may be recommended to rule out any urgent concerns. From there, we will individualize the treatment process to your specific needs and goals, working to get you to a place where your relationship with food isn’t taking up so much of your daily energy and resources.

What To Expect

As empathetic, trauma-informed therapists, we are invested in getting you to a manageable place where your daily life doesn’t feel so overwhelmed by eating and exercise rituals. Using the therapeutic relationship to create a sense of safety and curiosity in your life, the treatment process will begin with an overview of your history and experiences, working to identify the origins of your eating disorder. With deepened awareness, you will be more able to end the cycle of self-criticism and maladaptive eating and exercise habits.

Our therapists operate from a person-centered, systemic model that serves to draw connections between your unique thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. We know that you are the author of your own story and will follow your lead throughout the treatment process with the goal of creating awareness around why you developed certain habits in the first place. If there is an adverse experience at the core of your symptoms, we are trained in Brainspotting therapy, which gently neutralizes the brain’s trauma response.

We also incorporate behavioral approaches into treatment for eating disorders—including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—to help you build effective coping strategies. Using these methods, you will gain clarity on your values, so that you can begin living from a place that feels joyful and authentic rather than living at the mercy of your eating habits.

Finally, our therapists are here to offer you meaningful resources to reinforce eating disorder recovery. If needed, we are happy to provide you with referrals to physicians, psychiatrists, and dieticians who will collaborate with you to create a healthy, sustainable food and exercise regimen.

Therapy for eating disorders is the first step in the direction of a life that nourishes you. Working together, you can develop a sense of love and self-compassion as you learn to give yourself permission to build a healthier, safer way of being. In eating disorder treatment through Insight Counseling Center, you will be supported on the path to recovery every step of the way.

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