Mindful Eating for Eating Disorders
When you’re struggling with an eating disorder, learning how to eat in a non-disordered way can be extremely challenging. Just as developing eating disorder behaviors takes time, recultivating a peaceful relationship with food and body image is a gradual process. That...
Family-Based Therapy for Eating Disorders
For teenagers struggling with an eating disorder, beginning the process of recovery can be daunting if they do not know what to expect. The same goes for the families of such individuals, who are an imperative part of the child’s treatment. Family-based...
Night Eating Syndrome
One of the less well-known eating disorders is night eating syndrome. This condition is classified in the DSM-5 as an Other Specified Feeding/Eating Disorder, which includes symptoms surrounding food and body image that cause significant distress or...
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological and potentially fatal eating disorder involving self-starvation, extremely low body weight, and an intense preoccupation with body image. Anorexia does not discriminate across genders (although females are more commonly...
Eating Disorders in Men
Men Can Have Eating Disorders, Too The idea that eating disorders affect only women is a dangerous assumption. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, about 1 in 3 individuals who struggle with an eating disorder is male. With this...
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder
A Narrow Depiction of Eating Disorders My perception and understanding of eating disorders was extremely narrow before I became passionate about the topic and learned more about these conditions during my training as a therapist. I remember the brief explanation...
Codependency and Trauma
I remember the first time I heard the term “codependency”. In spite of having been working with addiction for quite some time, that was not a term I had been familiar with. What I learned many years later when I began specialized training in trauma is that...
Can Social Media Facilitate Eating Disorder Recovery?
In a previous article, I discussed ways in which social media may trigger individuals who are trying to recover from an eating disorder. For example, social media further propagates the already-prevalent diet mentality and thin-ideal in society, and...
Best Therapy for Eating Disorders
Seeking therapy for an eating disorder can feel scary and overwhelming if you’re not sure what to expect. You may feel a significant amount of fear and anxiety regarding being vulnerable with a complete stranger and trusting them to help with your...
Body Image and Sexual Experience in Women
The way a woman perceives her body can impact her experience and enjoyment during sexual activity. Research demonstrates that in women, less body image satisfaction is associated with poorer sexual wellbeing, including higher anxiety and lower...
How to Support a Loved one with An Eating Disorder?
Seeing a loved one suffering from an eating disorder can feel painful and helpless. You may want to provide this person with support but are not sure how to do so, or find that your efforts are unhelpful, or even triggering for the individual....
Talking Back to Your Eating Disorder
In her book, Life Without Ed, Jenni Schaefer describes a helpful tool in combating many of the intrusive thoughts that arise when one is navigating the struggle of disordered eating and body image concerns. Jenni, who has struggled with an eating...
Self-Compassion & Eating Disorder Recovery
Trying to recover from an eating disorder is a challenging feat with many obstacles. At times, you may feel like you are trying so hard not to engage in behaviors or are overwhelmed with intrusive thoughts that feel paralyzing. During these situations,...
Disclosing Your Eating Disorder to Others
Clients with a history of eating disorders often feel hesitant about revealing their disorder to others. This may pose a dilemma, because gaining the trust and support of others in one’s recovery can be a very powerful factor in the treatment...
Eating Disorders and the New Year
As the New Year approaches, we may experience a range of emotions. For some, there is excitement as we are provided with the opportunity to have a fresh start. Often we find ourselves reflecting on the past year, relishing in our accomplishments and...
Group Therapy in Eating Disorder Recovery
Whether you seek eating disorder treatment in a residential, inpatient, or outpatient setting, group therapy can be a very beneficial component of your recovery. Just as individual therapy offers a safe space for emotional processing and...
Coping with the Holidays
Often when people hear the word “holidays”, all sorts of images come to mind. Some people feel warmth and love and excitement at the idea of spending time with their family and loved ones. For some, the holidays are about seeing and catching up...
The Dietician’s Role in Eating Disorder Recovery
Eating disorders are complex illnesses that require a multifaceted treatment approach. While therapy is essential to address the psychological concerns that play into your disorder, attending to your nutrition is also a crucial part of recovery. Thus,...
Supporting Loved Ones with an Eating Disorder during the Holidays
As the holiday season is upon us, many clients with eating disorders express fear and anticipation about celebrating these occasions that are centered on food and family. During such moments, I encourage clients to reach out to safe, supportive individuals...
What to Expect in Therapy for Eating Disorders
Beginning therapy to address your eating disorder, or any mental health concern, in general, can induce a significant amount of fear and anxiety. Not only are you trusting a complete stranger with some of your deepest and most vulnerable experiences, but...