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Eating disorders

Eating disorders are serious illnesses, not a matter of willpower. Therapy can help, at any age.

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Is this for you?

If you or someone you love is in medical danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

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  • Food, weight or your body takes up most of your thoughts.
  • You restrict, binge or purge, or feel out of control around food.
  • You hide how you eat from the people close to you.
  • You are a parent and your child's eating has changed.

What happens

  1. Call or request an appointment

    Tell our front office what is going on. They check your insurance and match you with a therapist, at one of our offices or by video.

  2. Your first session

    The first visit is mostly about getting to know you: what brings you in, a bit of your history, and what you would like to be different. You set the pace.

  3. A plan you agree on

    You and your therapist set goals together. Care for an eating disorder often works best alongside your physician and a dietitian, and your therapist will talk with you about that.

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Questions

What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is a serious illness that disrupts eating and distorts how a person sees their body. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder are the most common. They affect people of every age, gender and body size.
What are common symptoms in children and teens?
Skipping meals, new food rules, eating in secret, sudden weight change, intense worry about weight or shape, exercising too much, and pulling away from family meals.
What are common symptoms in adults?
Strict dieting or fasting, binge eating, purging, constant thoughts about food and body, hiding eating from others, and mood changes around meals.
How is an eating disorder diagnosed?
A mental health professional asks about eating, thoughts, mood and history. A physician checks physical health. Together they decide what is going on and how serious it is.
When do eating disorder symptoms typically start?
Most often in the teen years or early adulthood, though they can begin in childhood or later in life.
How can an untreated eating disorder impact your life?
Eating disorders can harm the heart, bones, digestion and mood, and they can be life threatening. They are treatable, and getting help early matters.
If I think I have an eating disorder, who should I see?
Start with a mental health professional and your primary care physician. Call us and our front office will help you find the right clinician here.
What are the most effective treatments for eating disorders?
Therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and family based treatment for younger people, along with medical monitoring and nutrition support.

Related reading

From our Learn libraryWhat to Expect at Your First Therapy SessionFrom our Learn libraryOnline Therapy in California: How Virtual Sessions WorkFrom our Learn libraryThe Difference Between a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, and Neuropsychologist
See everything in Learn

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