HOLISTIC TREATMENT FOR TEENS AND ADULTS

Expert Eating Disorder and Body Image Therapist in Los Altos, CA and throughout California

“Recovery doesn't mean putting your life on hold. Recovery means holding on so you can live your best life.”

– BRITTANY BURGUNDER

Do you find yourself constantly preoccupied with food, your weight, or both?

Are you frequently critiquing your body and wishing you were thinner, fitter, or smaller?

Do you feel out of control when you eat, then exercise excessively or restrict your food at the next meal?

You are not alone. Many people struggle with these challenges.

Eating Disorders and Body Image

Research shows that 9% of the US population, or 28.8 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image issues show up in different ways (e.g. restricting, binging, constant dieting & more) and in varying degrees of severity. They often come with feelings of shame, guilt, secrecy, and hopelessness. 

But specialized eating disorder therapy in California can help you navigate these complex struggles. Eating disorder or disordered eating recovery and body acceptance is possible with the right therapy approach. As a licensed eating disorder therapist in California, I specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy to address the emotional and psychological root causes of eating disorder behaviors. I will support you in achieving a meaningful recovery to help you heal your relationships with food and your body.

Reach out today for a free consultation and begin your journey toward eating disorder recovery and body image healing.

Disordered Eating Patterns

Many people exhibit signs of disordered eating even if they don’t meet the full criteria for an eating disorder.

Sometimes disordered eating can morph into an eating disorder when symptoms become more pronounced or chronic. What may have started as an “innocent diet’ may escalate into more significant problems.

YOU MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH DISORDERED EATING IF YOU:

  • Frequently restrict or control your food intake

  • Feel shame or guilt after eating foods you deem “bad” 

  • Bounce from one crash diet to another (often known as yo-yo dieting)

  • Engage in episodes of binge eating where you feel out of control

  • Avoid social situations involving food or feel overly stressed and self-conscious in those settings

Eating Disorder Symptoms

Eating disorder symptoms may prevent you from being free to find and be your true self. They exist on a wide spectrum.

Symptoms often initially emerge in adolescence or early adulthood, frequently when there’s been some type of trauma, but they may also come later in life. This can be due to genetics, environments or learned behaviors. It’s important to remember you can’t visually tell if someone has an eating disorder- people of all ages, sizes, genders, races and demographics are vulnerable to these struggles. Eating disorders do not discriminate.

YOU MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH AN EATING DISORDER IF YOU:

  • Experience frequent weight fluctuations due to yo-yo dieting

  • Frequently obsess about food, including the calories, macronutrients, texture, and portion sizes 

  • Engage in secretive or shameful eating rituals

  • Have physical symptoms, including GI issues, menstrual irregularities, dental problems, fatigue, or changes in your skin tone

  • Hide or hoard food or lie about how much you’ve eaten

  • Feel the need to compensate after eating (e.g. through excessive exercise, self-induced vomiting, or fasting)

Body Image Issues

Unfortunately, it’s hard to have a positive body image in today’s world. We live in a society that hyper-focuses on external appearances.

From a young age, everyone is inundated with messages about how the ideal person is supposed to look - which means thin, toned and flawless. The diet culture we live in, family dynamics, genetics, cultural influence, advertisements, and social media all reinforce these unrealistic ideals, often leading to distorted beliefs about our appearance.

While it’s normal to occasionally feel self-conscious about our looks, significant body image distress can deeply affect your self-worth and overall well-being.

SIGNS OF BODY IMAGE ISSUES MAY INCLUDE:

  • Feeling immensely anxious or depressed about your appearance

  • Constantly comparing yourself to others

  • Avoiding photos or mirrors - or frequently checking your appearance in the mirror

  • Seeking reassurance from others about how you look

  • Body checking (repeatedly examining certain parts of your body you tend not to like)

  • Equating your self-worth directly to your appearance and believing you have less value due to how you look 

  • Continuously trying to alter your appearance through extreme dieting, buying new clothes or makeup, getting multiple plastic surgeries, etc.

Eating Disorder and Body Image Recovery Therapy in Los Altos and Throughout California

Reaching out for help with an eating disorder can feel daunting, often because of the belief that you should be able to control it or the shame from society's stigmas about eating disorders. Whether you’ve sought treatment before or this is your first time, I want to acknowledge the courage it takes to ask for help. You deserve a life of freedom, where you're no longer controlled by an eating disorder.

In our work together, I’ll provide tailored support that considers your unique needs, goals, and life circumstances. While recovery can be a nonlinear process, you won’t have to navigate it alone. I’ll be here to offer compassionate guidance, support, coping skills, and unwavering support.

I offer online therapy across California for eating disorders and body image recovery to teens and adults. If you’d like to explore further how I can help on your healing journey, I invite you to reach out and schedule a free consultation call. Let’s take the first step toward your healing journey!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Disordered eating may involve emotional eating, dieting, or rigid food rules, but these behaviors don’t always interfere with daily life to the same degree as an eating disorder. Eating disorders involve more chronic, significant struggles with food, often leading to serious physical and emotional impairments. However, even disordered eating can be distressing and is valid to address in therapy.

    Disordered eating can progress into an eating disorder at any time. The primary difference between disordered eating and eating disorders involves the severity and degree of the symptoms. Disordered eating frequently involves many of the same behaviors that occur in eating disorders, but such symptoms occur less frequently or less intensely. Any disordered relationship with food or body image is valid and may benefit from professional support. 

  • I work with teenagers and adults of all ages experiencing eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image issues. 

  • That’s okay! It’s completely normal to feel ambivalent about recovering from an eating disorder. Just thinking about changing how you eat can feel scary. The good news is that therapy can be helpful even if you’re on the fence. I welcome any concerns you have and trust that we can collaborate to help you reach your goals at your own pace. You don’t have to navigate this confusing journey alone. 

  • Recovery is an individual journey that looks different for everyone. Many people find that recovery brings them a more peaceful relationship with food, body image and self. As you progress through recovery, your self-esteem and relationships with others will also likely improve. Ultimately, recovery often leads to a sense of freedom from the control and obsessive thoughts and behaviors related to eating and body image. 

  • Therapy honors your autonomy and focuses on your overall wellness. While your weight may change as a result of recovery work, our focus is on healing your relationship with food and your body (unless you suffer from anorexia and gaining weight is a necessity). I do not ‘make’ clients do anything!

  • Yes, I collaborate with a team of professionals, including dietitians, doctors, and psychiatrists, to ensure you receive comprehensive care for an eating disorder, body image issues or disordered eating recovery.

  • Absolutely. Many clients find that online therapy is just as effective as in-person sessions and appreciate the convenience (no travel time!) and privacy it offers. If you have additional questions about online therapy, I am happy to answer them.

  • My approach with eating disorder therapy in California is multifaceted and my treatment plans are tailored to meet your specific needs. Eating disorders often coincide with other difficulties, including anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma, and more. Therefore, treatment is often integrative. I primarily use cognitive behavioral therapy, internal family systems (often known as ‘parts work’), and psychodynamic therapy modalities to help you understand how past patterns may affect your current well-being. I will teach you new coping skills so you have the tools to manage your recovery on your own whenever you’re ready.