You may be confused as to whether or not you or your loved one has an eating disorder. I am here to help you find out what is going on, and what steps to take next.
I provide assessment, collaborative treatment, individual therapy, family therapy, classes for mothers, and interventions.
I see male and female teens and adults suffering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and other food-related or body image problems. I work collaboratively with other health care professionals to provide a consistent and comprehensive team approach.
I also offer classes for Mothers of Daughters with Eating Disorders, present workshops for Parents of Daughters with Eating Disorders, and provide interventions in situations when family members are concerned about a loved one who is suffering from an eating disorder.
ASSESSMENT[back to top]
I conduct a thorough assessment to determine what exactly is going on with you or your loved one. With teens and young adults, I meet with both the family and the individual. At the end of our time together, I will give you my treatment recommendations.
COLLABORATIVE TREATMENT[back to top]
Effective treatment of an individual recovering from an eating disorder requires medical and nutritional support in addition to psychotherapy. I collaborate with a number of physicians, psychiatrists, therapists and nutritionists in order to provide comprehensive treatment, and I engage in ongoing consultation with the other health professionals involved. I refer to twelve-step programs when appropriate. If either inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment is needed, I maintain communication with the treatment center staff to facilitate a smooth transition to and from the intensive setting.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY[back to top]
As we begin the recovery process, I will meet with you, or your loved one who has an eating disorder, one or more times each week. Individual therapy helps you understand and change behaviors, beliefs and feelings, relationships with others, and how to bring this knowledge into your everyday life. You may be experiencing obsessive thoughts and feeling ashamed of not being able to control your behavior. Depending on your needs, we can explore how to reduce anxiety and manage other feelings, move through trauma, be kind to yourself, and nurture a healthy family system.
FAMILY THERAPY[back to top]
Just as the individual with the eating disorder needs to heal, so too does the family. Families are usually eager to know how to support their loved one who is suffering from an eating disorder. Weekly family therapy, which includes the individual as well, provides an opportunity to learn, support family members, improve communication, and begin to heal family relationships.
CLASSES FOR MOTHERS[back to top]
Mothers in particular often ask for help making sense of what is going on with their daughter, and want advice about handling their situation. I offer 3-hour classes for mothers to help them better understand their daughter’s illness and what they can do.
Please call me to get more information about these classes.
INTERVENTION[back to top]
Intervention is a process of educating and supporting family members, friends and others impacted by a loved one’s eating disorder. An intervention may be the appropriate choice when the fear, worry or concern about the person with the eating disorder impacts the family’s quality of life. My model of intervention is invitational, with the focus on understanding the consequences of the eating disorder and offering options for relief and recovery both for the individual with the eating disorder and for every other concerned participant.
For more information on interventions, please call me.
