Eating Disorders

People often live for years with an eating disorder before seeking help. The idea of giving up control can be terrifying, even though the eating disorder is most likely running the show, depriving you of happiness and damaging your health. I completely understand that you don’t want to give up control over your eating. Coming to see me is an offer to visit your inner self without fear or shame or loss of control while exploring possibilities for recovery. I’m an easy person to trust and will be there for you through the process.

Eating disorders are serious, sometimes life threatening, illnesses that can do real damage to a person’s well-being. Individuals with eating disorders experience major disturbances in how they think and feel about food, weight, and their bodies, with changes in behavior related to eating and exercise that may have serious health consequences.

    • Anorexia involves severe restriction of food intake, an intense desire to be thin, a distorted body image, and often an unhealthily low weight.
    • Bulimia involves weight control through vomiting, exercising, or using drugs, often following episodes of binge eating. There is also an intense desire to be thin and a distorted body image.
    • Binge Eating Disorder involves frequent and recurrent episodes of binge eating (extreme overeating in a short period of time).

Although most common in young women, eating disorders can affect individuals of any age or gender. They appear in higher than average rates among athletes, creative performers, and those who demand much of themselves. In addition, it is extremely common for people who do not have a diagnosable eating disorder to have major struggles with food, weight, and body image.

I have specialized in treating eating disorders for more than two decades. I have done considerable continuing education in this area, for several years have sat on the board of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, am a member of the National Eating Disorders Association, and have extensive contacts within the field.

For parents - If your child is suffering from an eating disorder, your anxiety for daughter or son’s welfare is probably through the roof. Taking the leap to getting help is scary, but research shows that early treatment of eating disorders is associated with improved outcomes. The treatment of eating disorders is complex. It often involves work with families as well as with individuals. With my clients, I address real-time issues of health and safety, underlying issues that may be contributing to the maintenance of the eating disorder, and issues with family, school, and work to ensure changes in context that will help to maintain recovery. I also closely coordinate with schools, physicians, dietitians, and psychiatrists. Eating disorders can be painful and all-consuming, for individuals and families alike. Utilizing a strengths-based approach, together we can set your child on the path to recovery.

Please call or email me so that we can speak before we meet.