Eating Disorder Therapy | Winter Park, FL

Does this sound like you?

You feel weighed down by expectations: from your parents, from your teachers or your boss, from society—but mostly from yourself. Your high standards are an honest attempt to be your best self, but they also stress you out and make you feel like you're always failing.

While you struggle with perfectionism in most (if not all) areas of your life, these thoughts come up a lot in your relationship with food and your body. You can't help but think that if your body looked different, you'd feel better about yourself. You pay a lot of attention to what you put in your body, and it takes ups so much of your mental energy. You want to approach things differently, but you're not sure how.

If this sounds familiar, know that you're not alone. Thanks to diet culture, mental health challenges, and our own personal histories, we can often get caught up in trying to conform to a narrow idea of "perfection." It's not your fault, but you can do something about it.

Recovering from eating disorders is possible, even if it feels totally out of reach right now. With professional support, you can push back on all of the forces that have been holding you back. By working together, we can heal your relationship with food—and with yourself.

Understanding eating disorders

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can take a significant toll on a person's emotional and physical health. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), 28.8 million Americans will struggle with an eating disorder at some point throughout their life.

However, this statistic might actually be higher. Research suggests that BIPOC populations are significantly less likely to be screened for eating disorders, so it's likely that some people with eating disorders never get the diagnosis and treatment they need.

While there is no singular cause for eating disorders, there are several risk factors that can increase the likelihood that you'll develop one. Family history, perfectionism, bullying, and Type 1 diabetes are just a few of the risk factors that the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) identifies.

Even though the challenges of eating disorders are significant, recovery is possible. Working with a team of professionals who understand eating disorders and use evidence-based treatments can give you the support you need to thrive.

Types of eating disorders

While there are common symptoms that define certain types of eating disorders, each person has a unique experience. Learning about the different types can arm you with the knowledge you need to start treatment and be a helpful reminder that you're not alone, but your eating disorder does not define you.

At Restored Purpose Counseling, we support people with all eating disorders, including the ones listed here (and more).

Anorexia nervosa

People affected by anorexia nervosa (more commonly referred to as simply "anorexia") significantly restrict their food intake out of an intense fear of gaining weight. Thoughts of food and body image take up a significant amount of brain space, and physical side effects can include stomach cramps, dizziness, feeling cold all the time, and more. Many, but not all, people with anorexia also struggle to maintain a healthy weight.

Bulimia nervosa

In bulimia nervosa (also referred to as "bulimia"), people struggle with cycles of binge eating and engaging in compensatory behaviors, like self-induced vomiting or over-exercising. People affected by bulimia often feel out of control around food and struggle with their body image as well. Like anorexia, there are serious physical health symptoms like weight fluctuation, hair loss, and cuts or calluses across the knuckles from self-induced vomiting.

Binge eating disorder

As the name suggests, people with binge eating disorder (BED) experience episodes in which they consume large amounts of food and feel incredibly guilty afterward. As with bulimia, people with this disorder often feel out of control around food. Unlike bulimia, however, people with BED don't engage in compensatory behaviors.

AFRID

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (AFRID) is different from many other eating disorders in the sense that body image doesn't play a role. People with AFRID struggle to take in enough food and often have strict rules around the types of food they'll eat. This is typically related to things like issues with food textures, lack of interest in eating, and fear of choking.

Orthorexia

While orthorexia isn't a formal diagnosis like other eating disorders, it's still a serious condition that warrants treatment and support. People with orthorexia are preoccupied with healthy eating to a degree that actually negatively impacts their well-being in other ways. For example, they may cut out more and more food groups, obsessively check nutrition labels, and feel very distressed when certain "safe" foods aren't available in social settings.

Disordered eating

Many people experience eating disorder symptoms that don't necessarily meet the criteria for a diagnosis. However, this doesn't make living with those symptoms any less difficult. If you struggle with your relationship with food or your body image (or both), you deserve support.

Treating eating disorders

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to eating disorder treatment. Plus, the recovery process isn't linear and can often ebb and flow. This means that your treatment may take on different forms throughout your recovery.

In general, though, most people with eating disorders benefit from having a treatment team to support them. This often consists of a mental health professional, dietician, other medical providers, and support from family, friends, and peers.

When it comes to therapy for eating disorders, there are many different ways to receive care. Depending on your age and situation, family therapy might be appropriate. Other people engage in group therapy, individual therapy, or both.

There are also different levels of care used to treat eating disorders. The level of care you need depends on the severity of your symptoms. You might hear terms like "intensive outpatient program" or "residential treatment program" used to describe the different care settings. Your treatment providers can help you determine which kind of treatment center is the best fit for your needs.

It's okay if you're not sure exactly what kind of treatment you need or even which eating disorder you have. Even if you've been in eating disorder treatment before, your symptoms and needs can change over time. The most important thing is reaching out for help to start the process.

Our approach to eating disorder treatment in Winter Park, FL

If you're ready to seek help for your eating disorder, we're here for you. Our team of expert clinicians, including both mental health professionals and registered dieticians, have extensive training in treating eating disorders of all kinds. Plus, many of us use our own lived experience to inform the work we do with clients.

We're passionate about providing wrap-around care to treat eating disorders in a comprehensive, effective way. Our robust programming allows us to tailor your care to your unique situation, needs, and goals so you can get exactly the kind of support you need to thrive.

We understand that the recovery process might feel daunting and even out of reach. Diet culture makes it especially difficult to get unstuck from thoughts of perfectionism and inadequacy. However, we're firm believers that reconnecting with your individual purpose can help you find freedom and meaning in a way that you may never have thought possible.

During your eating disorder treatment, you can expect to build strong relationships with each of your team members. Our connections are meant to be a safe space where you can feel free to be the real, true you: even if you aren't exactly sure what that looks like yet. Plus, these relationships can help you foster the one that matters most: your relationship with yourself.

Together, we can help you find the freedom to enjoy food, embrace your body, and learn new ways to care for your emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Sound good? Reach out today to get started. We can't wait to meet you!

Services we offer

At our eating disorder treatment center, we provide a range of services tailored to your specific requirements. Although our program isn't a formal intensive outpatient setting, our comprehensive services offer a significant level of support to people in recovery. Not sure if we're right for you? Get in touch to find out.

Individual therapy

For many people with eating disorders, individual therapy is a key piece of recovery. Studies also show that those with eating disorders are at a higher risk of developing a mental illness. Our clinicians use evidence-based psychological treatments for eating disorders, and many have lived experience that further connects them to this work. You'll be connected with a mental health professional whose style and approach resonate best with you.

Nutrition counseling

Mental health and physical health go hand-in-hand during the recovery process. Our team of registered dieticians is specially trained in the treatment of eating disorders and can help you learn how to nourish your body in a sustainable way. We understand that food can bring up a lot of emotions, especially for those in recovery, and we incorporate this awareness as we help you heal your relationship with food and your body.

Group therapy

While individualized support is essential, getting support from peers can also be incredibly healing. Connecting with other people with eating disorders can help you gain new perspectives, feel validated in your experience, and build a community to help support your recovery. Group therapy is a powerful reminder that you're not alone.

Meal support

Meal times can be especially stressful for people in eating disorder recovery. Yet, they can't be avoided. We offer customized meal support to help you navigate meal planning, cooking, and eating. Our professionals will work with you to determine exactly the kind of support you'll need to help mealtimes feel more manageable.

FAQs about working with an eating disorder therapist

Staring treatment is a big decision, so it's normal to have questions. Here, we've answered some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about therapy for eating disorders in Winter Park (and throughout Florida). Don't see your question here? Contact us directly.

How do I find an eating disorder therapist?

There are many great providers and programs out there, so it's important to find the one that fits your needs, wants, and values. Some people get a referral from their primary care doctor. Others might use search engines, therapist directories, or even social media to find care.

People start treatment in all sorts of ways, and there's no right or wrong way to go about it. If you think our practice might be the right fit for you, please reach out to schedule a consultation.

What is the best kind of therapy for eating disorders?

Again, recovery is a highly individual process, and there's no singular way to treat eating disorders. Many people benefit from a combination of different treatments, like individual, group, and family-based therapy.

There are also many different therapy approaches that are used in treatment for eating disorders. Here are just a few:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E)

• Cognitive remediation therapy

• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

• Exposure therapy

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)

Each of our therapists has a unique approach to therapy. We use some of these approaches and more in our work with clients. You can read more about each of our therapists here.

What is the most appropriate goal for a patient with an eating disorder?

Since eating disorders therapy is tailored to each person, there's no right or wrong goal to have. Plus, your goals can change throughout treatment.

You might set a goal of going a certain length of time without purging. Maybe you want to try a fear food within the next three months. Maybe you want to start with journaling for five minutes every day. You'll work with your therapist to determine which goals make sense for you.

Eating disorder therapy in Winter Park, FL can help you reconnect with your purpose.

Ready to break free from the thoughts, feelings, and patterns that are holding you back? We're here for you. Reach out today to start your road to recovery. We'll be there for you every step of the way.