embrace a journey to heal your relationship with food & your body
Navigating an eating disorder can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you're facing challenges related to anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, or other disordered eating patterns, we provide supportive, research-informed care to individuals in Cleveland and beyond.
Effective Eating Disorder Treatment in Cleveland
Eating Disorders vs Disordered Eating
Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder involve specific patterns of disordered eating that meet diagnostic criteria. These conditions often require specialized treatment and ongoing support.
Disordered eating refers to patterns of eating that may not meet the full criteria for an eating disorder diagnosis but still have a negative impact on your physical health, emotional well-being, or daily functioning.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where a person limits food intake, has a strong fear of gaining weight, and sees their body differently than it actually is. This often leads to severe restriction of food and is primarily driven by starvation.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa involves regular cycles of eating a lot of food in a short period (binge eating) followed by actions to undo the eating, like vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercising. This pattern of behavior is used to control weight and can lead to significant physical and emotional issues.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder is characterized by frequently eating large amounts of food quickly and feeling unable to stop. This pattern of behavior can disrupt normal digestion and lead to feelings of guilt and depression.
Disordered eating might look like:
Sticking to Rigid Diet Rules
This involves following very strict and inflexible dietary rules. You might:
Avoid Certain Foods - Stick to a specific set of allowed foods, avoiding anything that doesn’t fit within these rigid guidelines.
Feel Anxiety Around Eating - Experience stress or discomfort when eating outside of these rules.
Orthorexia
Orthorexia is a term used to describe an intense focus on eating foods that are perceived as healthy. Although it’s not officially recognized in the DSM, it’s widely acknowledged and impacts many people. Key characteristics include:
Fixation on Food Quality - An obsession with consuming foods believed to be pure, organic, raw, vegan, or non-GMO.
Dietary Restrictions - Avoiding foods deemed unhealthy, leading to a very limited and inflexible diet.
Time and Mental Energy - Investing a significant amount of time and mental effort into planning, researching, and preparing meals, which can interfere with daily activities and social interactions.
Emotional Consequences - Experiencing guilt or anxiety when consuming foods outside of self-imposed dietary guidelines, which may create a cycle of strict dieting and negative emotions.
Risk Factors:
Personality Traits - Perfectionism, high anxiety levels, and a need for control.
Societal Influences - Emphasis on health and wellness, often amplified by media and social networks.
Professional Pressures - Professions that stress body image or health, such as athletes, healthcare professionals, and fitness trainers.
I work with adults struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating, often tied to perfectionism, anxiety, trauma, or body image concerns. Many feel stuck in harmful patterns with food or exercise and are looking for a way to feel more at peace in their bodies. I also support athletes facing unique challenges around performance, identity, and body standards, whether they're currently competing or adjusting to life after sport. Therapy with me offers a space to untangle these struggles and begin healing in a way that feels sustainable and self-compassionate.
Our Approach
There are a variety of therapeutic techniques we use to address eating disorders and disordered eating:
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CBT focuses on changing negative thoughts about food and body image.
For example, if you think you’re not good enough because of your weight, CBT helps you understand and challenge these thoughts.
By doing this, you can start to see yourself in a more positive light and develop healthier eating habits.
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DBT provides practical skills for managing emotions and improving your relationships with others. It can help you deal with intense feelings, like anxiety around eating, and teach you how to communicate better with those around you.
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ACT focuses on accepting your thoughts and feelings without letting them control your actions. It encourages you to act in ways that are in line with your values. If you value health, ACT helps you make choices that support a balanced relationship with food, rather than reacting to negative thoughts.
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EMDR Therapy is used to process and reduce the impact of past traumas related to eating behaviors. If you have had traumatic experiences that affect your eating habits, EMDR can help you work through these feelings and reduce their hold on you.
body image therapy
Struggling with body image can feel exhausting in a world of filters, comparison, and constant pressure to look a certain way. Body image therapy offers a supportive space to unpack where those thoughts come from, build self-compassion, and work toward body acceptance.
We will work to navigate cultural pressures, quiet self-criticism, and create a kinder, more confident relationship with your body—at your own pace.
If you’re ready to step away from self-criticism and move toward body acceptance, body image therapy can help.
We embrace a weight-inclusive approach, integrating Intuitive Eating and the principles of Health at Every Size to help you build a more compassionate relationship with your body and food.
When helpful, we collaborate with nutrition professionals and other medical providers to ensure your care is holistic and aligned with your individual needs.
