Eating Disorder Counseling

Are you experiencing guilt, shame, or distress around food?

• Do you or your loved one struggle with disordered eating patterns, distorted body image, or an unhealthy relationship to exercise?

• Have you sought medical support but been unable to make progress due to entrenched habits?

The most common forms of eating disorders include:

• Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. Individuals with anorexia often severely restrict their food intake, leading to significant weight loss and potential health complications.

• Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia nervosa involves recurrent episodes of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or the misuse of laxatives or diuretics. Individuals with bulimia may have a normal weight or may fluctuate between weight loss and weight gain.

• Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming large quantities of food in a short period, accompanied by a loss of control. Unlike bulimia, there are no regular compensatory behaviors. Individuals with BED may experience feelings of guilt, shame, and distress related to their eating episodes.

It's important to note that eating disorders can manifest in various forms and may not fit neatly into these diagnostic categories. Some individuals may experience symptoms that overlap or may exhibit behaviors that do not meet the full criteria for a specific eating disorder diagnosis.

While anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most well-known and commonly diagnosed eating disorders among teenagers, there are other less common forms of eating disorders that can also affect adolescents. Some of these less common eating disorders include:

• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): ARFID is characterized by a limited range of food intake, often due to sensory issues, fear of choking or vomiting, or avoidance based on the food's appearance, texture, or smell. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies and significant weight loss or failure to meet expected growth and developmental milestones.

• Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): OSFED, previously known as Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS), includes presentations that do not meet the full criteria for a specific eating disorder but still involve significant disordered eating behaviors and distress. This category captures a range of atypical or subthreshold eating disorder presentations.

• Orthorexia Nervosa: Orthorexia nervosa is characterized by an obsession with consuming only "pure" and "clean" foods, often driven by an extreme fixation on healthy eating. Individuals with orthorexia may become overly preoccupied with food quality, ingredient lists, and rigid dietary rules, to the point where it interferes with their social life, relationships, and overall well-being.

• Rumination Disorder: Rumination disorder involves the repeated regurgitation and re-chewing of food. It is not due to a medical condition but rather a learned behavior that may be associated with stress, anxiety, or other psychological factors.

• Pica: Pica is characterized by the persistent consumption of non-food substances, such as dirt, hair, paper, or chalk. It typically emerges in childhood but can continue into adolescence. Pica is often associated with nutritional deficiencies, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disorders.

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