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Counseling Specific to Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex and often deeply personal struggles that can have a profound impact on both physical and emotional well-being. At Symmetry Counseling, we provide specialized eating disorder counseling services designed to guide you on the path to recovery, healing, and a healthier relationship with food and your body.

Understanding Eating Disorders

Worldwide, 70 million individuals suffer from eating disorders, and 30 million of these people live in the USA. A common misconception is that having an eating disorder and maintaining the behaviors involved are lifestyle choices. Eating disorders can be incredibly serious and often result in fatal illnesses. People who suffer from eating disorders struggle with self-destructive thoughts and behaviors related to food, eating, weight, and body image.

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, making treatment critically important. Eating disorders can affect anyone and are on the rise in every culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and background. While there are multiple diagnoses that can encompass eating disorders, behaviors tend to fall into three main groups: restricting, purging, and binging.

If you or a loved one are living with an eating disorder, professional counseling from Symmetry Counseling can help. Contact us today to get the support you need.

Common Types of Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

The primary symptom of anorexia is an obsessive preoccupation with weight loss and the entire process of eating.

It’s common for individuals struggling with anorexia to refuse eating or restrict themselves to a limited caloric intake or repertoire of foods. They may also engage in compulsive exercising and weigh themselves frequently, to the point of obsession. These behaviors can result in significant weight loss, absent or irregular menstruation, vitamin/mineral deficiency, and hair loss. Additionally, it places these individuals at risk of organ failure. Individuals can maintain what appears to be a “normal” weight while still engaging in anorexic behaviors and are still recommended to receive treatment for their symptoms.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is characterized by a cycle of binging — consuming large amounts of food in one sitting — followed by purging. A diagnosis of Bulimia Nervosa is typically distinguished from Anorexia Nervosa by an absence of restrictive food intake in the former.

Individuals with Bulimia may maintain a normal weight despite their binging and often suffer from poor body image and self-esteem. Behavior patterns may include other harmful activities such as periods of fasting, overuse of laxatives or diet pills, and compulsive exercise. Individuals with bulimia tend to be discreet and hide their behavior from family members and loved ones.

Both Anorexia and Bulimia often have features of perfectionism and obsessiveness and are often accompanied by depression and/or anxiety.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is often characterized by an individual consuming a large amount of food with limited ability to stop or moderate, even after a sense of being ‘full.’ Individuals with BED may also consume food to the point of illness or physical incapacitation. A ‘binge’ is distinct from an instance of overeating. Binging refers to an episode in which an individual eats more than an average person would consume in a single sitting or distinct period of time. BED is distinct from Bulimia Nervosa due to an absence of purging behavior.

OSFED (Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder)

OSFED is a category reserved for individuals who struggle with unhealthy patterns of eating but may not meet the specific requirements for any other disorder. OSFED can encompass a range of symptoms, including fasting, unhealthy use of laxatives, compulsive exercise, feelings of body dysmorphia, and occasional purging. Purging involves a number of unhealthy behaviors, including actions that manipulate body shape or induce weight loss, such as self-induced vomiting.

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Creating a Safe and Supportive Space

We understand that addressing an eating disorder requires a supportive and nonjudgmental environment. Our counselors are trained to provide a safe space for you to share your experiences, challenges, and emotions. Your well-being is our utmost priority.

Personalized Treatment Plans

We work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. Our evidence-based approaches are aimed at fostering a healthy relationship with food, body image, and self-esteem.

At Symmetry Counseling, we can assist you with:

Engaging with medical professionals to obtain physiological care, including nutritional counseling.
Addressing underlying psychological roots of the eating disorder, including trauma.
Identifying unhealthy behaviors and developing new, adaptive patterns.
Assessing and treating the presence of co-occurring mood and substance use disorders.

Your Journey to Recovery Starts Today

At Symmetry Counseling, we believe that recovery from an eating disorder is not just possible; it is attainable with the right support and guidance. If you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, contact us today to take the first step toward recovery and a healthier relationship with food and your body. Your path to rediscovering balance and well-being begins here.

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