Online Therapy for Eating Disorders in Philadelphia and Beyond
You’re doing so much to make your body better, so why are you still unhappy?
You know you’d feel better if you could just lose a few more pounds. But you’re also starting to realize that the lengths you’re going to are costing you. Maybe you got really stressed when a friend suggested getting pizza or a family member commented on how you look. Or you felt total panic when offered a bagel for breakfast instead of your usual small yogurt. You tell yourself that you can manage the feelings and just need to stay focused on your goal. But when you reach that goal, it’s not quite good enough so you try for a bit more.
Eventually you notice the toll that all of this is taking on the rest of your life.
You’ve stopped going out to eat with friends because you can’t handle the looks you get when you don’t order.
You take forever to get ready because you won’t wear half your clothes, and jeans? Forget it.
You’re spending money on laxatives and googling fridge locks.
You bail on spring break plans because there will be too much food and you can’t weigh yourself first thing in the morning.
Your roommates have started to worry because you go to the bathroom after dinner every night.
You’re spending extra time at the gym instead of studying and your grades aren’t what they should be.
You lose track of a conversation with your partner because you’re checking your stomach every time you pass by a mirror.
And the more you do to feel better about it, the more you find yourself thinking about food or your body.
How therapy for disordered eating and body image works
It may feel impossible now, but you can feel comfortable in your body. The constant thoughts about food and exercise will slow down, and you can focus on what makes your life truly fulfilling and meaningful. Maybe that’s volunteering with a club, spending time with your family, passing that really hard class, or just relaxing with your dog. Your happiness does not have to be determined by your weight on the scale, your time at the gym, or your reflection in the mirror. You’re free to just be.
We’ll help you through this process, tailoring each step to your unique needs and circumstances. Our approach to eating disorder treatment involves consistent emotional and behavioral support, paired with research-backed therapies to give you the insight and skills needed for well-being. Perhaps just as importantly, we offer hope. We truly believe that recovery is possible for everyone, so we work diligently to help our clients achieve it.
Eating disorder treatment helps you:
listen to your body while eating and exercising intuitively
learn to ride out urges and manage difficult feelings
improve body image and find value in yourself beyond appearance
address underlying issues like anxiety, trauma, and depression, so you can achieve long-term health and well-being
We help clients with anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder as well as ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder). We understand that ARFID is somewhat different from other eating disorders and are trained to address the various causes, including sensory aversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does eating disorder treatment involve?
Individualized Treatment Plans: Developing a personalized treatment plan that caters to your specific needs, history, and circumstances, recognizing that eating disorders manifest differently in each person.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies: Utilizing techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help you identify and challenge distorted thoughts related to food and body image, to develop healthier coping mechanisms, and to find and follow your values in life.
Nutritional Counseling: Working in collaboration with your dietitian to provide you with education on balanced eating, create meal plans, and address any nutritional deficiencies or misconceptions about food.
Medical Monitoring: Ensuring regular medical check-ups to monitor your physical health, as eating disorders can have severe physical consequences that require medical attention and intervention.
Family/Friend/Partner Involvement: Including the people closest to you in some sessions to offer education, helping them understand the disorder and equipping them with strategies to provide a supportive environment. This is optional but often encouraged.
What are eating disorder therapy sessions like?
We understand that recovering from an eating disorder is hard, and that sometimes you might not even be sure you want recovery. That’s why we approach each session with appreciation for your efforts, compassion for your feelings, and respect for your autonomy. Early in therapy, you and your therapist will identify your reasons to recover, including the things that are meaningful to you and make the hard work worth it. Your therapist will support you in setting and achieving weekly goals related to eating, exercise, food, and body image, such as logging hunger/fullness cues or wearing that shirt you love but feel really uncomfortable in. Sometimes you and your therapist will eat a meal or snack together, giving you support and accountability. You’ll learn new skills for coping and navigating difficult experiences, and your therapist will practice those skills with you, whether that’s deep breathing for relaxation or communication for setting a boundary. Your therapist will also teach you new ways to interact with your thoughts and feelings, sometimes challenging unhelpful beliefs while promoting acceptance. Additionally, you’ll spend some time exploring how your past has contributed to the eating disorder, looking for potential roots such as trauma, and your therapist will work to address those causes or contributing factors to support long-term recovery.
I’ve heard eating disorder treatment can take a while. How long do I need to be in therapy?
There is no pre-established session amount or limit, as each client’s needs are different. You and your therapist will work together to determine frequency of sessions and length of therapy based on your goals and progress.
How do I know if eating disorder treatment will work for me?
We’ve seen it happen; it’s possible. We’ve helped clients achieve peace with food, comfort with their bodies, and joy in what’s meaningful to them. Our expertise is founded in research and years of experience, and it’s important that you work with a therapist who has specialized knowledge and skill in the nuances of eating disorder treatment. If you’re ready to try, we’re here to help.
Will you make me gain weight?
We work closely with your medical provider and dietitian to support you in finding and maintaining a weight range that works for your body. Our goal is to help you reconnect with your whole self, because you’re so much more than a number on a scale.