Disordered Eating and Body Image
Healing Beyond Appearance
Food, exercise, and body image struggles aren’t just about appearance—they’re deeply connected to our emotions, beliefs, and sense of control.
If thoughts about food, weight, or body image are consuming your energy and stealing your peace, you’re not alone—and help is available.
We offer a compassionate, nonjudgmental approach to help you heal your relationship with food, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and build lasting self-compassion. Our work is rooted in evidence-based techniques designed to support meaningful, lasting change and promote overall wellness. We understand that some cases require more people on the care team. We are happy to coordinate with physicians, dietitians, nutritionist, other mental health providers, and so on. We also understand that some cases require a higher level of care than what we can provide. We will do what we can to work with you to find a plan that will be most successful. Eating disorders are serious and can be life threatening, but help is out there.
In this post, we’ll explore common symptoms, screening tools, and how therapy can guide you toward healing and recovery.
Understanding Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders
Disordered eating refers to a wide range of irregular eating behaviors that may or may not meet the criteria for a specific eating disorder diagnosis.
Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, are clinically recognized conditions that significantly affect a person’s physical and emotional health.
Both disordered eating and eating disorders often stem from complex interactions between emotional, psychological, and environmental factors.
Common struggles include:
- Obsessive calorie counting or food tracking
- Compulsive exercise driven by guilt or fear
- Rigid food rules or extreme dieting
- Emotional eating (using food to cope with stress or emotions)
- Binge eating episodes followed by shame or secrecy
- Avoidance of social events involving food
- Persistent dissatisfaction with body size, shape, or weight
- Viewing self-worth primarily through the lens of appearance or fitness
Symptoms of Disordered Eating
and Eating Disorders
Some key symptoms to watch for include:
- Intense fear of gaining weight, even if underweight
- Preoccupation with food, body image, or weight
- Frequent dieting or fluctuating between restriction and overeating
- Eating in secret or feeling ashamed about eating habits
- Excessive exercise despite injury, illness, or exhaustion
- Extreme body dissatisfaction or distorted body image
- Withdrawal from family, friends, or social activities
- Physical symptoms like dizziness, fainting, gastrointestinal issues, or changes in menstrual cycles
- Significant weight loss or gain without medical cause
Early detection is key to getting the right support and preventing long-term physical and emotional consequences.
Screening Tools for Disordered Eating and Body Image Issues
If you or someone you know is struggling, these screening tools can help identify potential concerns:
Eating Attitudes Test
(EAT-26)
A widely used standardized self-report measure to screen for symptoms and concerns characteristic of eating disorders.
SCOFF Questionnaire
A quick 5-question tool designed to detect possible eating disorders.
Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire
(BIDQ)
Assesses concerns related to body image dissatisfaction.
Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire
(EDE-Q)
Measures the range and severity of eating disorder symptoms.
How Therapy Can Help Heal Disordered Eating and Body Image
Healing from disordered eating and body image issues is not about willpower—it’s about rebuilding trust with your body and mind.
Therapy offers a supportive, evidence-based approach that includes:
Understanding the Root Causes
Together, we explore the emotional, social, and psychological factors driving unhealthy food and body behaviors.
Building Self-Compassion
Challenging critical self-talk and cultivating kindness toward yourself are central to lasting recovery.
Developing Balanced Eating Habits
We help you reconnect with hunger and fullness cues, create flexible eating patterns, and break free from rigid food rules.
Addressing Body Image Distress
Learn skills to view your body with greater neutrality or acceptance, reducing the emotional distress tied to appearance.
Incorporating Evidence-Based Techniques
We use tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed approaches, and mindfulness practices tailored to your needs.
You Deserve a Healthy Relationship with Food and Yourself
Disordered eating and body image struggles can feel overwhelming, but they don’t have to define you.
With the right support, you can reclaim your energy, rebuild self-trust, and move toward a life fueled by compassion—not criticism.
For more resources on eating disorders,
check out the National Eating Disorder Association’s website.
What to Expect
Learn more about what to expect before, during and after your session.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ready to start your healing journey?
Contact us today to learn more about therapy for disordered eating and body image support.