Work with the best eating disorder therapist in San Diego

Eating Disorders

Eating disorder therapist in San Diego CA

Comprehensive Therapy for Eating Disorders at Eating Disorder and OCD Therapy

Eating disorders are multifaceted mental health conditions that significantly impact the body, mind, culture, and relationships of those affected. These disorders often develop as coping mechanisms to manage deeply painful life experiences. At Eating Disorder and OCD Therapy, we understand the intricate nature of eating disorders and the profound effect they can have on an individual’s life. Our mission is to help individuals reclaim their lives from the grip of eating disorders through compassionate, evidence-based treatment as well as from the wisdom of lived experience. We recognize that overcoming an eating disorder is a journey that requires a personalized and empathetic approach, addressing the unique challenges and needs of each individual. Our goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore the underlying causes of their eating disorders and develop healthier coping strategies for a more fulfilling life.

Understanding Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious and life-threatening conditions when left untreated. They impact not only the individual but also their families, friends, and partners. Contrary to popular belief, eating disorders are not about vanity. They develop from a combination of psychological, genetic, environmental, socio-political, and interpersonal factors. Common behaviors associated with eating disorders include:

Restricting: Limiting food intake to control weight or body shape. This may look like calorie counting, macro counting, limiting and/or avoiding certain food groups. It is common to start feeling anxious, guilty or shameful around eating experiences when restricting. Often, people restricting themselves are still eating something which can make it hard for people on the outside to detect. Rarely does someone with an eating disorder eating nothing. These behaviors often serve the purpose not only of changing body size, but also to numb out from difficult emotions.
Binging: Consuming large amounts of food in a short period despite nutritional needs otherwise being met, feeling ashamed of food behaviors, often binging in secret, feeling a loss of control around food and eating well beyond fullness to the point of discomfort and pain. Binging often involves some amount of physical or emotional restriction leading up to the binge, like all ED behaviors, we need to look below the surface to determine the appropriate interventions for treatment.
Purging: Compensatory behaviors after eating such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives. These behaviors are often not a one time thing, and to classify as Bulimia Nervosa, must happen at least three times a week for a few months. That being said, purging (specifically self induced vomiting) is one of the most dangerous ED behaviors and any amount of purging deserves psychological attention. You can actually die from cardiac issues with just one purge. We utilize a wide variety of treatment options for purging and understand the complexity of letting go of this behavior. We believe harm reduction approaches are incredibly life saving here.
Over-exercising: Engaging in excessive physical activity to control weight or compensate for eating. Common experiences include feeling guilty or anxious when missing a workout, feeling like you must workout in order to “earn” your food, continuing to exercise despite illness or injury, feeling overly regimented and rigid with exercise routine and difficulty with taking rest days. People who are engaging in over exercise also tend to feel really glued to tracking numbers like calories burned, weight loss, walking steps and measurements. The problem is, when these things are so closely tied to your self worth, this can have devastating impacts on your mental and physical health.

*It is worth noting that many ED behaviors exist together. We rarely fit neatly into diagnostic categories and your Eating Disorder is no less valid if it is not perfectly captured by a specific diagnosis.

The Role of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders often serve as a way to manage difficult emotions and life situations. They can provide a sense of control, identity, and stability during turbulent times. At Eating Disorder and OCD Therapy, we approach treatment with a deep understanding of these underlying factors, including:

Trauma and Stress: Physical and sexual trauma, chronic stress, and family dysfunction can all contribute to the development of eating disorders.
Cultural and Societal Influences: Societal pressures, beauty ideals, and systemic oppression such as racism, sexism, transphobia, anti-fatness, ageism and ableism play a significant role.
Emotional and Psychological Factors: Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and difficulties with emotional regulation are common.

Our Therapeutic Approach

Our approach to treating eating disorders is rooted in a relational, feminist, and liberatory framework. We believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship and the client’s expertise in their own healing journey.

Our therapy focuses on

Restoring Agency: Helping clients regain control over their lives, bodies, emotions, and relationships. Many people turn to Eating Disorders during periods of life where they feel they have no grounding, no voice, and little agency. Treatment that restricts agency tends to do more damage. We aim to decrease the power dynamic in therapy as much as we can to help you make your own treatment decisions and restore a sense of self trust.
Identifying Root Causes: Understanding and addressing the underlying issues that fuel disordered eating behaviors. Treatment that focuses solely on symptom reduction will often not lead to long term healing. We want to help you find lasting healing which requires looking below the surface of symptoms.
Utilizing Diverse Techniques: Incorporating harm reduction strategies, IFS/parts work, feminist therapy, relational therapy, somatic techniques, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), ketamine-assisted therapy, and interpersonal therapy.

Tailored and Inclusive Care

We recognize that eating disorders do not have a specific “look” and can affect individuals of all body types, ethnicities, genders, socio-economic statuses, neurodivergences, and abilities. Our practice is committed to providing affirming and inclusive care, ensuring that all clients feel safe and seen in their identities. By creating a therapeutic environment that respects and values each person’s unique experience, we aim to foster a sense of belonging and acceptance that is crucial for the recovery process. Our inclusive approach also involves understanding the broader socio-cultural factors that contribute to eating disorders and addressing them in therapy.

Exploring the “Eating Disorder Iceberg”

Eating disorder symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg. To achieve lasting recovery, we must delve deeper into what fuels these behaviors. This process involves:

Exploring Core Issues: Identifying the root causes, such as trauma, chronic stress, experiences of oppression, and emotional dysregulation.
Relational Healing: “Practice turning to safe people, not food” is a common motto in recovery for a good reason. So many ED sufferers have experienced relational trauma such as neglect, abuse, bullying. It is hard to feel a sense of self worth when people in your life have treated you less than human. You may have developed beliefs around not being worthy of food because of this. Using a relational lens to build secure attachment is a cornerstone of our eating disorder work.
Building New Coping Skills: Replacing destructive behaviors with healthier coping mechanisms that align with the client’s goals and values.
Developing Resilience: Empowering clients to build resilience and navigate life’s challenges without relying on disordered eating behaviors.

Holistic Support and Healing

Recovery from an eating disorder involves a holistic approach that addresses the mind, body, and spirit. Our therapy includes:

Somatic Techniques: Utilizing body-based therapies to help clients reconnect with their bodies and regulate their nervous systems.
Creative and Expressive Therapies: Encouraging activities such as journaling, art, and spending time in nature to promote healing and self-discovery.
Collaborative Care: Working with a team of specialists, including dieticians, support groups, and medical professionals, to provide comprehensive care.

Your Journey to Recovery

At Eating Disorder and OCD Therapy, we understand the courage it takes to seek help for an eating disorder. Our compassionate and experienced therapists are here to support you every step of the way. Whether you are just beginning your recovery journey or have been struggling for years, we are committed to helping you find healing and reclaim your life. We believe that with the right support and guidance, recovery is possible, and we are dedicated to helping our clients achieve lasting change and a renewed sense of well-being.

If you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, please reach out to us at 619-752-4318 to schedule your free 15-minute consultation. Together, we can work towards a future free from the constraints of disordered eating and towards a life filled with health, happiness, and fulfillment.

619-752-4318

Free 15-min Consultation