|
By: Olivia Kline, EDC Administrative Assistant  Starting your recovery journey can bring up a lot of emotions. Choosing recovery takes a lot of strength and just starting treatment can feel like a journey of its own. Finding a therapist, what level of care to choose, and finding a clinician licensed in the state you live in can all be challenging aspects of starting treatment. In this blog, we’ve put together some resources for treatment options that specialize in eating disorder treatment in Florida. If you are wanting to start your recovery journey and live in Florida, but not sure where to start, reading this blog could be a good first step! Below are some options to finding treatment and treatment centers that offer different levels of care. 1. National Alliance for Eating Disorders The National Alliance for Eating Disorders is an excellent resource when you are trying to explore your options. This site has options for you to find treatment in your state, and guides you for what you’re looking for. They have an option for you to call and talk with someone to help you find treatment or an online version that helps narrow down what you are seeking in your treatment journey! Additionally, this site offers free virtual support groups that have a range of topics that are discussed. There are also resources for loved ones supporting those in eating disorder recovery and information on eating disorders in general. This site is an excellent place to start when you are just trying to learn what options are out there. 2. Monte Nido Centers in Florida The Monte Nido Centers in Florida have 9 different locations that offer higher levels of care services. This means they offer more intensive treatments than outpatient services such as intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, and residential treatment. If you have been recommended by a healthcare provider such as your primary care physician, a therapist, etc. to pursue a higher level of care option, this could be a good place to start! Since the Monte Nido Center offers a wide range of options for higher levels of care, this resource may be a good place to start if you feel like this level of care is right for you. Additionally, many of the programs have a focus whether it is an age group or specific eating disorder, so you can get the specialized help you deserve! 3. The Eating Disorder Center The Eating Disorder Center is considered an outpatient therapy option where we provide virtual services throughout the state of Florida. Our team specializes in eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors and are here to help you on your recovery journey. Many of our clinicians also have subspecialities such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder and can help address issues in addition to eating disorder symptoms. We are experts dedicated to guiding individuals towards achieving food freedom, fostering body acceptance, and cultivating healthier self-relationships. A number of our team members have personally gone through the recovery process or have supported loved ones in their healing journey, so we understand how overwhelming this process can be. Our approach is proactive — we don’t just listen, we engage. We’re passionate about helping clients set clear goals for their treatment and encouraging meaningful actions between sessions to support their recovery. When suitable, we also incorporate food exposures during sessions to further enhance the therapeutic process. Eating disorders are highly treatable, and specialized therapy can be a game-changer! Interested in therapy at The Eating Disorder Center? Here at The Eating Disorder Center in Boca Raton, Florida, our clinicians, Jennifer Rollin LCSW-C, Lauren Levine, MSW, LCSW-C, and Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC provide virtual therapy throughout the state of Florida. Reach out to us via our contact form or call us at 301-246-6856 to get started with a free 15-minute consultation with an eating disorder specialist. We are happy to answer any questions you have and provide more information about our center or clinicians on the team! Interested in additional help beyond therapy? If you’re looking for more help to supplement therapy, we offer eating disorder recovery coaching. Coaching can be a great addition to your treatment and be a game-changer during recovery! Our coaches, Javoni Cobb, MA and Sarah Baginski, MSW are here to help you in your journey. Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. Eating Disorder Therapy Boca Raton is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide virtual eating disorder therapy in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida.
0 Comments
By: Olivia Kline, EDC Administrative Assistant Reviewed by: Megan Samuels, MSW, LCSW-C  Starting your recovery journey from an eating disorder can be scary, overwhelming, and confusing. It can be hard to figure out what steps to take to start this journey and what resources are available to help. Many people on our team have recovered from eating disorders, and we have generated some tips that our professionals thought are essential in starting your recovery journey. You don’t have to do this alone, we are here to help! 1. Get connected with an eating disorder specialist Eating disorders can be fatal, and without proper, specialized treatment, the risks can be severe. While eating disorders are treatable, it’s crucial for therapists to have specialized training in order to provide effective care. This type of education is not usually included in graduate programs, meaning therapists must actively pursue this additional training on their own. Moreover, we all grow up immersed in diet culture and societal systems of oppression. It's essential for therapists to have worked through their own understanding of these influences to provide effective care for those with eating disorders. To put it into perspective, you wouldn’t trust a general doctor with brain surgery, even if they were excellent at their job. A primary care physician may be skilled in many areas, but brain surgery requires a specific expertise that only a trained neurosurgeon can offer. Similarly, specialized knowledge in eating disorders is necessary for therapists to effectively help clients recover. 2. Work on your motivation to recover When recovery feels overwhelming or hopeless, it can be easy to lose motivation. Many people with eating disorders fall into “black-and-white thinking,” where they feel like if they’ve struggled, they’ve already failed, and recovery is no longer worth pursuing. These thoughts can feel like an automatic response to setbacks, but it's important to remember that recovery isn't a straight path. Progress is often non-linear, and setbacks don't mean failure. If these negative thoughts arise, it’s important to treat yourself with the same compassion you would show a friend. Then, pause and reflect on why you want to recover. This can help you reconnect with your motivation and when those unhelpful thoughts surface. Acknowledge where you are, and also recognize that this moment doesn’t define the whole journey. One helpful exercise is to imagine what your life could look like five years from now if you stay in your eating disorder, versus five years from now if you embrace recovery. As you think about life with the eating disorder, also consider the amount of times it takes your attention away from the present moment, the thoughts it occupies, and how you tend to feel as the eating disorder voice gets louder. Also consider any events it tells you to avoid or opportunities it makes you miss out on. What will your life look like after 5 years of this? Consider all the possibilities — including the impact on your health, your relationships with friends, family, and/or significant others, and any experiences you’d like to have. How is the eating disorder helping you pursue your personal values, and how is it getting in the way of what you value? What might be different in 5 years if you pursue recovery? An eating disorder often makes promises that life will be better if you do what it says, yet doing so eventually leads to feeling more and more trapped. You deserve to experience the fullness of life. Recovery can be hard at times, however it’s also a more rewarding path to the life you truly deserve. 3. Re-evaluate your social media feed. Review your social media and unfollow or unfriend anyone who triggers negative feelings about your body or self-worth. Take the time to block or remove accounts that focus on weight loss, dieting, body transformations, and unhealthy obsessions with food and exercise. Instead, curate your feed to include body-positive and eating disorder recovery accounts that promote healing and self-acceptance. Beyond cleaning up your social media, consider diversifying your feed with content that celebrates diverse body types, health at every size, and mental wellness. Follow accounts that focus on self-love, body neutrality, and content that emphasizes holistic health, not just physical appearance. Surrounding yourself with positivity online can help reframe your mindset and serve as a daily reminder to practice self-compassion. Although it's impossible to completely eliminate diet culture or anti-fat bias from your surroundings, you can make a conscious effort to create a social media environment that supports recovery and body positivity. Feeling like you want more help? Here at The Eating Disorder Center in Boca Raton, Florida, we have therapists on the team who specialize in eating disorders and can help you in your recovery journey. Our clinicians, Jennifer Rollin LCSW-C, Lauren Levine, MSW, LCSW-C, and Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC provide virtual therapy throughout the state of Florida. Reach out to us via our contact form or call us at 301-246-6856 to get started with a free 15-minute consultation with an eating disorder specialist. We are happy to answer any questions you have and provide more information about our center or clinicians on the team! Interested in additional help beyond therapy? If you’re looking for more help to supplement therapy, we offer eating disorder recovery coaching. Coaching can be a great addition to your treatment and be a game-changer during recovery! Our coaches, Javoni Cobb, MA and Sarah Baginski, MSW are here to help you in your journey. Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. Eating Disorder Therapy Boca Raton is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide virtual eating disorder therapy in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida.
By: Olivia Kline, EDC Administrative Assistant  Searching for a therapist can be exhausting and frustrating. It can be difficult to find a clinician who is a “match” or that you feel understands what you are going through. In addition, general therapists often do not have the specialized knowledge or skills needed to effectively help people with eating disorders. While it’s true that therapists often work with different populations to gain experience and expert level skills, few therapists receive adequate training in diagnosing and treating eating disorders. Therefore, finding a therapist who specializes in eating disorders can be a game changer — as they’ll more likely have the skills, experience, and training needed to best help with eating and body image issues. Why is it crucial for clients with eating disorders to work with a specialized therapist rather than a generalist? To put it into perspective, you wouldn’t consult a general practitioner for a complex brain surgery. A doctor might be excellent in general care but still lack the specialized knowledge and skills required for such a delicate procedure. We become good at the skills we practice and train for, and the same logic applies to treating eating disorders. Eating disorders are among the most life-threatening mental health conditions, and failing to receive targeted care can have severe consequences. While these disorders are treatable, effective therapy requires expertise that goes beyond the scope of standard professional training. Most graduate programs don’t offer much, if any, education on treating eating disorders, and practicing therapists must pursue additional training on their own. Pursuing specialized training often includes taking additional courses and pursuing years of experience working closely with specialized clinicians in settings that treat eating disorders. Moreover, eating disorder therapists need to understand how societal factors, such as diet culture and systemic oppression, shape the development and experience of eating disorders. Without doing their own work to unpack these influences, therapists may unintentionally perpetuate harmful ideas that are prevalent in society, which can hinder recovery. Why The Eating Disorder Center in Boca Raton, Florida? The clinicians on our team all have a wealth of experience and training in treating eating disorders, which they also continue to build on. Our clinicians already have years of professional expertise and skills they’ve learned in a variety of settings such as residential centers, inpatient units, and outpatient work focused on eating disorders. Additionally, some of our clinicians have personally recovered from an eating disorder or have helped a loved one through recovery. So, while each person’s experience is different, our therapists have experienced their own personal recovery journeys, which may help you relate to them more than with someone who has not. While all of our clinicians mainly specialize in eating disorders and body image issues, they also have subspecialties to help with other issues you may be experiencing. Some of the subspecialties include: obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. Our therapists aim to help you in every way they can to address not only issues around eating and body image but also other mental health issues. When reaching out to us, our administrative team aims to match you to a therapist with expertise and training in your symptoms related to eating and body image as well as any other mental health issues that you want to address. Click on our clinicians’ biographies below to see what their subspecialities are! Our clinicians, Jennifer Rollin LCSW-C, Lauren Levine, MSW, LCSW-C, and Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC are all licensed in the state of Florida, meaning that no matter where you reside in Florida, they can see you virtually. This way, you are able to have sessions in the comfort of your own home. We aim to make our services as accessible as possible and having sessions virtually can overcome potential barriers from other commitments or being in an area that doesn’t have a lot of mental health services. Interested in seeing a therapist at The Eating Disorder Center? Our excellent Florida licensed clinicians, Jennifer Rollin LCSW-C, Lauren Levine, MSW, LCSW-C, and Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC provide virtual therapy throughout the state of Florida. If you want to pursue services with us, reach out to us via our contact form or call us at 301-246-6856 to get started with a free 15-minute consultation with an eating disorder specialist. We are happy to answer any questions you have and provide more information about our center or clinicians on the team! Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. Eating Disorder Therapy Boca Raton is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide virtual eating disorder therapy in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida.
By: Olivia Kline, EDC Administrative Assistant  When starting eating disorder recovery, it can be difficult to know where to start. There are several different levels of care offered to people struggling with eating disorders. Below is an outline of different types of higher levels of care. At Eating Disorder Therapy of Boca Raton, we offer outpatient eating disorder treatment, as well as level of care evaluations to see what the best level of care for you is. What is a higher level of care? A higher level of care refers to any treatment or program that goes beyond attending weekly therapy sessions. In the eating disorder community, there are several well-established types of these more intensive treatment programs. Inpatient: Clients reside in a hospital-like environment for close medical supervision. This is often necessary for individuals with lab irregularities or EKG issues that require regular monitoring by healthcare professionals. The length of an inpatient stay varies and is influenced by factors such as insurance coverage, medical stability, co-occurring conditions, and overall functioning. Inpatient settings may or may not include therapy or nutrition-focused group sessions. Residential: This level of care is designed for individuals who are medically stable but still face challenges related to their eating disorder or co-occurring conditions that cannot be effectively addressed in a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Residential treatment can serve as a transition from inpatient care or as an escalation for those in PHP or IOP who need more support. Clients typically stay overnight in a residential facility for at least four weeks, though the length of stay often depends on factors like insurance approval and individual needs. Partial Hospital Program: A PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) is designed for clients who are medically stable and don’t require continuous monitoring but still benefit from daily support and assessment. Typically, clients attend a treatment center five days a week for the majority of the day. The program often includes supervised meals, individual therapy, nutritional counseling, psychiatric care, and group therapy to address the eating disorder and any relevant co-occurring conditions. Intensive Outpatient Program: An IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) is often a transitional step, either following PHP or as an alternative to standard outpatient care. This program usually involves group therapy and occasional individual sessions, scheduled three times per week for a few hours each day. It is suitable for clients who are medically stable and do not require daily monitoring. IOP can be especially helpful for individuals who have been seeing an outpatient therapist but have observed a worsening of their eating disorder symptoms. Outpatient: Here at Eating Disorder Therapy of Boca Raton, we are considered outpatient! Outpatient treatment generally involves working with a therapist one or two times per week to address eating disorder symptoms and any co-occurring conditions. Clients might also meet weekly with a recovery coach for additional support. The treatment team may also include professionals such as a registered dietitian or psychiatrist to provide comprehensive care. Still feeling confused on what level of care is right for you? Therapists at Eating Disorder Therapy of Boca Raton conduct evaluations to determine the appropriate level of care (LOC). This process typically involves one or two sessions where the therapist discusses your symptoms, overall functioning, and any potential health risks before recommending a suitable level of care. Scheduling a physical exam with a doctor, including lab tests and an electrocardiogram (EKG), can also be beneficial in identifying any medical issues related to eating disorder symptoms. These assessments help determine medical stability, which is often a requirement for certain levels of treatment. Interested in a Level of Care evaluation? Reach out to us via our contact form or call us at 301-246-6856 to get started with a free 15-minute consultation with an eating disorder specialist. Schedule a free 15 minute consult for eating disorder therapy in FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. Eating Disorder Therapy Boca Raton is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide virtual eating disorder therapy in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida.
*Disclaimer: The information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for your independent medical decision-making nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. The information may change without notice. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information. By: Olivia Kline, EDC Administrative Assistant  She has been invited to go out to eat with her extended family and she is panicking. Her brain is filled with fears about the food that will be served and not feeling “in control.” She is terrified of her body changing. Due to fear about eating out, she has limited her eating during the day. So she is starting to feel tired and kind of out of it. She struggles with constant thoughts about food and her body. She feels exhausted and so trapped. She is struggling with an eating disorder. It can be hard to recognize if you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder and it’s best to meet with an eating disorder therapist for an evaluation who can help you to determine this. However, the following are some common warning signs from an eating disorder therapy practice, serving Boca Raton, Florida, that your loved one may be struggling with an eating disorder. 1. Unusual eating habits or eating rituals. Eating rituals can manifest in various ways, such as slicing food into very small portions, organizing food into specific arrangements, or consistently measuring portions before eating. Some individuals may also insist on using the same utensils for every meal or stick to eating foods in a particular sequence. While these behaviors can sometimes be harmless habits, they might also indicate underlying concerns. Such rituals are often associated with anorexia nervosa and may also appear as an early indicator of binge eating disorder. However, it’s important to recognize that these habits alone do not necessarily signify an eating disorder. They should be evaluated alongside the person’s broader relationship with food, body image, and emotional well-being to determine their significance. 2. Overuse or uncommon usage of condiments and drinks. A potential indicator of an eating disorder is if your loved one uses condiments or beverages in unusual or excessive ways. For instance, consistently adding large amounts of mustard, salt, or spices to their meals might signal a deeper issue. This behavior may signal struggles with disordered eating patterns. Another warning sign to watch for is if your teen starts misusing beverages, such as drinking excessive amounts of coffee or diet soda, as a way to suppress hunger or create a feeling of fullness. These behaviors, when combined with other changes in eating habits or attitudes toward food, may indicate struggles with their relationship to eating and body image. 3. Fixation on weight, body image, and food. If your loved one suddenly becomes fixated on their weight, body shape, or food choices, it may indicate an underlying issue. For example, an intense fear of gaining weight can be a significant warning sign of an eating disorder. A sudden and dramatic change in eating habits is another behavior to watch for. If your teen announces they are cutting out entire food groups—such as refusing to eat carbs—or adopts a vegetarian diet without prior ethical interest in it, it’s important to assess their motivations and observe how rigidly they follow these new rules. Other concerning behaviors might include sticking to a very limited list of "safe foods," rejecting many foods they previously enjoyed, obsessing over fat or calorie content, hoarding food, or preparing elaborate meals for others but not eating them themselves. Frequent trips to the bathroom immediately after eating could also be a red flag. Finally, keep an eye on any sudden disappearance of large amounts of food, as this may signal episodes of binge eating. Recognizing these behaviors early can help address potential struggles with disordered eating. 4. Withdrawing from social activities or losing interest in hobbies. Someone who starts withdrawing socially and isolating themselves may be exhibiting signs of an eating disorder. If they lose interest in spending time with friends or family and instead become preoccupied with activities like researching recipes, discussing food or dieting, obsessing over calories, or spending excessive time at the gym, it could indicate a deeper issue. For many individuals with eating disorders, the focus on food, exercise, and body image can take precedence over genuine relationships. Over time, the eating disorder itself may become their primary focus, overshadowing meaningful connections with others. Recognizing this shift is crucial for providing early support. Full Recovery From An Eating Disorder Is Possible! If you observe these warning signs and suspect your loved one might be struggling with an eating disorder, it’s essential to consult a professional specializing in eating disorder treatment. They can conduct a thorough evaluation and, if necessary, recommend appropriate evidence-based care to support recovery. Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, with one of the highest mortality rates among psychiatric illnesses. Early intervention plays a crucial role in improving outcomes, so seeking help as soon as possible is key. It's important to understand that eating disorders can affect individuals of all body types, shapes, and sizes. Weight is not an accurate indicator of whether someone is struggling. Eating disorders do not discriminate and can impact anyone, regardless of appearance. When addressing these concerns with your teen, approach the conversation with empathy and support rather than judgment. These behaviors and feelings are not a choice, but with proper treatment and understanding, recovery is entirely possible, enabling them to lead fulfilling and healthy lives. Lastly, be kind to yourself throughout this process. Missing early signs is not your fault, and families do not cause eating disorders. However, your role as a source of love and support can be instrumental in your loved one’s recovery journey. Families and friends can be powerful allies in helping their loved ones heal. Looking for eating disorder therapy for yourself or a loved one? At The Eating Disorder Center, we help individuals struggling with body image and other related eating disorders such as, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, OSFED, ARFID, orthorexia, and compulsive exercise. Our excellent Florida-licensed clinicians--Jennifer Rollin LCSW-C, Lauren Levine, MSW, LCSW-C, and Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC—provide virtual therapy throughout the state of Florida. We are here to help you through your journey and support you on those difficult body image days. Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. Eating Disorder Therapy of Boca Raton is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide virtual eating disorder therapy in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida.
By: Olivia Kline, EDC Administrative Assistant  Binge eating disorder often brings feelings of shame and a sense of ‘losing control’ around food. It is frequently misunderstood, and many individuals with this disorder face external or internalized stigma related to struggling with binge eating disorder. This judgment can make it hard to seek help, as past negative experiences can create barriers within a support system. Nevertheless, we recognize the challenges, symptoms, and realities of binge eating disorder and are dedicated to assisting clients on their path to recovery. Living with binge eating disorder can be incredibly draining. Being constantly preoccupied with thoughts about food and your body can leave you feeling overwhelmed, especially during episodes of bingeing. You might promise yourself after each binge that it won't happen again, yet it continues to recur. Below are some tips to help in your journey in recovering from binge eating disorder from The Eating Disorder Therapy of Boca Raton, a practice that provides therapy for binge eating disorder virtually throughout Florida. 1. Try to find providers who are “health at every size” informed. Whether it is your primary care doctor, psychiatrist, general therapist, or a dietitian, it is so important to find someone who aligns with health at every size (HAES). You deserve to receive compassionate and non-stigmatizing care. Finding someone who is warmhearted and who is knowledgeable about providing HAES informed care can be a key component of recovery from binge eating disorder. 2. Utilize free resources (from trusted sources). There are tools you can utilize on your own at home outside of therapy. Our founder, Jennifer Rollin, MSW, LCSW-C created the PAUSE skill to help those who are recovering from binge eating disorder. Utilize this skill whenever you feel yourself wanting to binge. Download our free PAUSE skill pdf HERE! 3. Explore the underlying reasons for your binge eating struggle. It can be beneficial to examine the role binge eating plays in your life. With the help of a therapist, or even on your own, you can begin to understand how binge eating might fulfill certain needs and where it falls short. For some individuals, binge eating can offer a sense of “calm,” serve as a distraction from stress or boredom, help cope with past trauma or feelings of oppression, or assist in managing difficult emotions. Engaging in therapy focused on binge eating disorder allows you to identify more adaptive and value-based ways to meet your needs. Additionally, therapy can help you improve your relationship with food and your body while also addressing underlying issues like trauma, low self-esteem, relationship challenges, or struggles with emotional regulation. 4. Notice your relationship with food outside binge episodes. Many individuals who binge eat also engage in physical restrictions (like not eating or limiting certain foods) or emotional restriction (such as feeling guilty for eating something or vowing to start a diet the next day). Restriction can significantly trigger binge eating; historically, binge eating helped humans survive during times of scarcity. Therefore, it’s crucial to discuss your overall relationship with food with a therapist and a dietitian—not just focus on binge episodes. Often, the foods that people binge on are ones they don’t “permit” themselves to enjoy at other times. It’s important to explore the foods you tend to binge on and consider whether you are emotionally or physically restricting those foods. 5. Practice self-compassion towards yourself and your struggle with binge eating. Beating yourself up after a binge is unkind to yourself and also typically only serves to keep the binge/restrict cycle going. You are not ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ for struggling with binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorder also has nothing to do with ‘willpower,’ rather it is a serious mental illness that many need professional therapy to recover from. If you are struggling it is NOT your fault. Practice speaking to yourself how you’d speak to someone that you love, such as a small child in your life or your best friend. You deserve to be kind to yourself. Recovery is possible! At The Eating Disorder Center, we’ve achieved significant success in supporting clients on their journeys to overcome binge eating disorder and related challenges. Through therapy and the use of practical tools and skills outside of sessions, recovery is attainable! You deserve to break free from the exhausting cycle of binge eating disorder and regain control of your life. We help individuals struggling with binge eating disorder along with other related eating disorders such as, anorexia, bulimia, OSFED, ARFID, orthorexia, and compulsive exercise. Our excellent Florida licensed clinicians, Jennifer Rollin LCSW-C, Lauren Levine, MSW, LCSW-C, and Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC provide virtual therapy throughout the state of Florida. We are here to help you through your journey and help you get through eating disorder recovery. Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. Eating Disorder Therapy Boca Raton is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide virtual eating disorder therapy in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida.
By: Olivia Kline, EDC Administrative Assistant  Bad body image days can pop up at any time in eating disorder recovery. Body image may be your only symptom or could be an additional symptom on top of other eating disorder symptoms that you are experiencing. In any case, living with bad body image is painful, exhausting, and can be overwhelming. Living in a state, such as Florida, where the weather is normally warm or warmer compared to other places, can contribute to an increase in negative body image thoughts. Living in a place with warm weather makes it more likely for someone to wear clothes where more of their body is exposed, which isn’t always easy to deal with. Here, at The Eating Disorder Center, we help individuals struggling with body image along with other related eating disorders such as, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, OSFED, ARFID, orthorexia, and compulsive exercise. Our excellent Florida licensed clinicians, Jennifer Rollin LCSW-C, Lauren Levine, MSW, LCSW-C, and Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC provide virtual therapy throughout the state of Florida. We are here to help you through your journey and help you get through bad body image days. Even though the goal is to eventually be able to focus less on your appearance and body, this is so hard when you have an eating disorder and/or diet culture yelling in your ear. The following are some tips for bad body image days in eating disorder recovery. 1. Practice Self-Compassion Talk to yourself the way you would talk to someone you love or to your childhood self. Think about things that you love about yourself that have nothing to do with your body or appearance. Give yourself grace in these moments. 2. Lean on Your Support System Reach out to your loved ones that you feel supported by. You deserve to have support, especially when you’re having a tough day. Be open with your loved ones and allow them to support you. 3. Practice Mindfulness Mindfulness can help you become more aware of your thoughts and how you are feeling. Practice observing your thoughts and feelings and imagine them floating by like clouds passing in the sky, rather than getting ‘hooked’ by a thought and engaging with it. 4. Do an Activity You Love Try to do something that you love to help take your mind off of your body. For me, I love to go on walks, read, or facetime with a long-distance friend. Figure out what works for you and take time to do an enjoyable activity. 5. Practice ‘Opposite Action’ Opposite action is a DBT skill where basically we want to practice acting opposite to our emotional urges. When your brain is telling you to skip breakfast, instead ask a loved one to eat with you and have a nourishing meal. 6. Think About What You Want to be Remembered For What kind of impact do you want to have on the world, and how is ruminating about the appearance of your body taking away valuable time and energy from this? Think about the legacy you want to leave behind. 7. Process How You Are Feeling Journal, talk to a loved one, or reach out to or meet with a therapist. Take some time to process the emotions that you are experiencing related to and underneath your bad body image. Let yourself feel your feelings without judgment. 8. Grab Some Comfy Clothes Although it can be hard to find comfort in warm weather, find clothes that help you feel comfortable. Prioritize your comfort for your mind and body. 9. Follow Body Diverse Folks Online Studies indicate that following individuals with a variety of body sizes on social media can significantly enhance body image. Consider exploring and following accounts that feature people of different body sizes who promote positive messages about food. 10. Self-Care Engage in self-care in a way that suits you best! Dedicate some time to yourself and indulge in activities you love. Whether it’s drawing, diving into a good book, or enjoying your favorite series, find what resonates with you. Consider incorporating self-care practices that nurture your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or personal well-being. Looking for additional support from Jennifer Rollin LCSW-C, Lauren Levine, MSW, LCSW-C, or Rachel Steinhardt, LMHC. Reach out to us via our contact form or call us at 301-246-6856 to get started with a free 15-minute consultation with an eating disorder specialist. Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. Eating Disorder Therapy Boca Raton is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide virtual eating disorder therapy in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida.
By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Therapist & Outreach Coordinator  Summer can be a challenging time for people struggling with eating disorder urges. During the summer months, people tend to wear less clothing to compensate for the increase in temperatures. Wearing less clothing and/or tight clothing can bring up icky body image thoughts. I’ve found that these thoughts often lead to eating disorder urges to restrict or use other eating disorder behaviors. For example, you may put on a pair of shorts for the first time this year and say to yourself, “I don’t like the way my legs look in these clothes, maybe I should try to lose weight.” The body image thought of not liking the way your legs look in the shorts is contributing to the urge to restrict food intake, in the hopes of losing weight to look better in the shorts. Then, you go on to limit the amount of carbs and fat that you take in during dinner. But, what if you tried something different. DBT Skill: Separating urge from action. A great skill to practice to move towards recovery can be increasing the amount of time between an urge and an action. An urge is the desire of impulse to do something and an action is actually doing that thing. In the example above, the urge is wanting to restrict food intake and the action is limiting the amount of carbs and fat during dinner. If you wanted to practice separating urge from action, you could notice that you are having the urge to restrict food, and then decide to wait 20 minutes. If you wait 20 minutes and that urge to restrict is still intense and you still want to act on the urge, then you can. For some people, during this waiting time, the urge decreases and they realize that they do not want to act on the urge anymore. Steps for this skill: 1. Notice the thought.
2. Notice the urge.
3. Notice the action.
4. Separate urge and action.
As you can see through the reflection step, there are two different responses. The first response shows when this skill works effectively and the second response shows what someone might say to themselves when the skill may not have worked as well. In both cases, the skill was practiced. In DBT therapy, the skills need to be practiced and reinforced to be effective. Meaning, each skill may not work as intended each time. Additionally, some skills may work better for some individuals than others. What I like about the second response under the reflection step is that there are aspects of self-compassion and accountability. The person is giving themselves credit for being able to try and practice the skill and they are not beating themselves up because they still chose to engage in the action. Additionally, they are choosing to reach out to their therapist so they can discuss in their next session ways to troubleshoot the skill and/or time to learn other skills that may be more effective. The bottom line: This skill can be helpful for lowering the immediate distress of an eating disorder urge. In turn, this can decrease the amount/intensity of eating disorder actions/behaviors. And this skill takes practice and patience. It can be helpful to consult with your eating disorder therapist before starting to practice this skill to make sure you have resources to support you in this process. You got this! Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in Florida or recovery coaching worldwide! Click here. Eating Disorder Therapy Boca Raton is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide virtual eating disorder therapy in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida.
 We offer virtual eating disorder therapy for teens and adults in Tampa, Florida. We love working with teens, and adults who are tired of feeling trapped by an eating disorder, exhausted from constantly thinking about food and their body, and hate what they see when they look in the mirror. You don't have to continue to feel so trapped! The Eating Disorder Center provides virtual eating disorder therapy in Florida for teens, and adults with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, OSFED, orthorexia, ARFID, and compulsive exercise serving clients in Boca Raton, Florida. Serving Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida. Freedom is possible. We offer a free 15 min phone consultation to see if it's a good fit! By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator  ARFID stands for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. This is a common eating disorder that can often be under-diagnosed, or just labeled as “picky eating.” ARFID has not always been recognized as a disorder, but was added to the DSM-5, which is the fifth edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. According to the DSM-5, a diagnosis of ARFID is met with all of the following: A. An eating or feeding disturbance (e.g., apparent lack of interest in eating or food; avoidance based on the sensory characteristics of food; concern about aversive consequences of eating) as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs associated with one (or more) of the following:
C. The eating disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and there is no evidence of a disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced. D. The eating disturbance is not attributable to a concurrent medical condition or not better explained by another mental disorder. Additionally, when the eating disturbance occurs in the context of another condition or disorder, the severity of the eating disturbance exceeds that routinely associated with the condition or disorder and warrants additional clinical attention. ARFID stands out from the other eating disorders as it includes a lack of interest or avoidance because of sensory or aversive consequences, as opposed to a desire to change the way that one looks. Some warning signs for ARFID may include (but are not limited to):
What does recovery from ARFID look like? Typically, recovery from ARFID includes getting a therapist, dietitian, and doctor on board. The therapist can treat the eating disorder, do food exposures, and any other symptoms, including anxiety or depression. A dietitian can make sure that you are getting enough nutrition and food, along with facilitating food and meal exposures. A doctor can regularly assess to make sure that lab work is normal and that the body is getting enough nutrition. Full recovery from ARFID is possible! If you or a loved one may be struggling with ARFID, we can help! The Eating Disorder Center has therapists and recovery coaches who are trained in treating ARFID, among other eating disorders. Contact us today for a free 15-minute consultation. References: American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596 *Disclaimer: The information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for your independent medical decision-making nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in MD, VA, DC, NY, FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. Eating Disorder Therapy Boca Raton is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide virtual eating disorder therapy in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Pinecrest, Parkland, Naples, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay. Virtual eating disorder therapy throughout Florida.
|
eating disoRdeR theRapy of boca RatonWe provide eating disorder therapy virtually throughout the state of Florida. Archives
March 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed