Eating Disorder Therapy in Denver

Understanding Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect how you think about food, eating, and your body. They're not about vanity, willpower, or choice - they're serious conditions that deserve compassionate, specialized treatment.

Common signs you might benefit from eating disorder therapy:

• Obsessive thoughts about food, weight, or body shape

• Restricting food intake or following rigid eating rules

• Binge eating episodes or feeling out of control around food

• Using food to cope with emotions or stress

• Excessive exercise or compulsive movement

• Body checking behaviors or avoiding mirrors

• Social isolation around meals or food-related activities

• Physical symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or digestive issues

Types of Eating Disorders I Treat

Anorexia Nervosa: Characterized by food restriction, intense fear of weight gain, and distorted body image.

Bulimia Nervosa: Involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise.

Binge Eating Disorder: Recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food while feeling out of control, without compensatory behaviors.

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder): Limited food intake due to sensitivity to textures, smells, tastes, or other factors.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED): Eating disorder symptoms that don't fit neatly into other categories but are equally serious and deserving of treatment.

Disordered Eating: Problematic eating patterns that may not meet full criteria for an eating disorder but still significantly impact your life.

The Root Causes of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders rarely develop in isolation. They often serve as coping mechanisms for deeper pain and can stem from:

Trauma and Adverse Experiences:

• Childhood abuse or neglect

• Body-related trauma or medical procedures

• Sexual assault or boundary violations

• Bullying or peer rejection

• Family dysfunction or emotional neglect

Cultural and Social Factors:

• Diet culture messaging about "good" and "bad" foods

• Appearance-based discrimination or weight stigma

• Social media and unrealistic beauty standards

• Sports or activities that emphasize body size or performance

• Family beliefs about food, weight, and worth

Biological and Psychological Factors:

• Genetic predisposition to eating disorders

• Perfectionism and anxiety

• Difficulty with emotional regulation

• Neurodivergence (ADHD, autism, etc.)

• Other mental health conditions

My Liberation-Focused Approach to Eating Disorder Recovery

Traditional eating disorder treatment often focuses on behavior change without addressing the oppressive systems and beliefs that contribute to these struggles. My approach goes deeper:

Challenging Diet Culture: We'll explore how diet culture has shaped your relationship with food and your body, helping you reject harmful messages about worth, health, and appearance.

Trauma-Informed Care: Many eating disorders have roots in traumatic experiences. We'll address these underlying wounds using approaches like EMDR therapy and somatic healing.

Body Liberation: Instead of pursuing a "healthy relationship with food," we'll work toward true body liberation - accepting and honoring your body as it is while challenging systems of oppression.

Intersectional Understanding: I recognize how eating disorders intersect with identity, culture, sexuality, and other aspects of who you are.

Therapeutic Approaches I Use

Intuitive Eating Principles: Learning to trust your body's hunger, fullness, and craving cues while rejecting diet mentality.

Body Neutrality and Acceptance: Moving beyond body positivity to a place of body neutrality and functional appreciation.

EMDR for Food and Body Trauma: Processing traumatic experiences that have shaped your relationship with food and your body. Learn more about EMDR therapy.

Internal Family Systems (IFS): Understanding the different parts of yourself that developed around food and eating, including protective and wounded parts.

Mindfulness and Somatic Approaches: Reconnecting with your body's wisdom and learning to eat from a place of presence rather than anxiety.

Family and Systems Work: Addressing how family dynamics and social systems contribute to eating disorder behaviors.

Eating Disorder Recovery: What to Expect

Recovery from an eating disorder is possible, and it looks different for everyone. Rather than focusing on weight or specific behaviors, we'll work toward:

Food Freedom: Eating without guilt, shame, or rigid rules - trusting your body to guide your choices.

Body Acceptance: Developing a peaceful relationship with your body that isn't based on changing its size or shape.

Emotional Regulation: Building healthy ways to cope with difficult emotions that don't involve food or body-related behaviors.

Identity Beyond the Disorder: Rediscovering who you are outside of the eating disorder and what brings you joy and meaning.

Authentic Relationships: Developing genuine connections that aren't centered around food, exercise, or appearance.

Recovery isn't about achieving a perfect relationship with food - it's about finding peace, freedom, and authenticity in how you nourish and care for yourself.

Specialized Areas of Focus

Athletes and Eating Disorders: Working with athletes who struggle with sport-related eating disorders, exercise compulsion, or body image issues in competitive environments.

LGBTQ+ Eating Disorder Support: Understanding how gender identity, sexuality, and community belonging intersect with body image and eating behaviors.

Eating Disorders in Later Life: Supporting adults who develop eating disorders later in life or who have struggled for decades without proper treatment.

Neurodivergent Eating Support: Addressing eating challenges related to ADHD, autism, sensory processing, and other neurodivergent traits.

Working with Your Treatment Team

Eating disorder recovery often benefits from a collaborative approach. I work closely with:

• Registered dietitians who specialize in eating disorder recovery

  • Note: I am a registered dietitian with this specialty, if you don’t already have one

• Medical doctors and psychiatrists

• Other mental health providers

• Support groups and peer communities

I'm happy to coordinate care and communicate with your other providers to ensure you receive comprehensive support.

Taking the First Step

Reaching out for eating disorder therapy takes tremendous courage. Many people struggle with shame, fear, or ambivalence about recovery. These feelings are completely normal and understandable.

You deserve to live a life free from the constant mental chatter about food and your body. You deserve to eat without guilt, move your body in ways that feel good, and find your worth in who you are rather than what you weigh or what you eat.

Schedule a consultation to discuss how eating disorder therapy can support your journey toward food and body freedom.

Related services: Depression Therapy | Anxiety Therapy | Trauma Therapy | Body Image Therapy | EMDR Therapy | Relationship Therapy | Postpartum Therapy | Nutrition Therapy

More about my approach: My therapeutic philosophy