Do you collaborate with dietitians or physicians?

Yes. When needed, I collaborate with registered dietitians, physicians, and psychiatrists to support your emotional and physical well-being.

Eating Disorder Therapy

Q: How do I know if I need therapy for an eating disorder?

If food, weight, or body image take up more mental space than you’d like—or bring guilt, stress, or secrecy—therapy can help. You don’t need a diagnosis or crisis to begin.

Q: Do you offer online therapy in California?

Yes. I provide secure virtual therapy for teens and adults across California, including Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Diego, Santa Clarita, and the Bay Area.

Delicate white dried flowers arranged ag

Specialized Virtual Care for Teens & Adults Ready to Heal

Food shouldn’t feel like a constant battle, yet for many, it’s where control, shame, and self-worth collide. You might spend your day calculating, comparing, or trying to “undo” what you’ve eaten, telling yourself, “If I eat more, I’ll lose control,” or “I’ll just make up for it later.” Sometimes, the pendulum swings the other way and you may tell yourself “I’ve already blown it, so I might as well keep going,” followed by guilt and the vow to “start over tomorrow.”

Eating disorders can quietly take over. You may find yourself restricting until you’re drained, bingeing in secret, or cycling between both. On the outside, you may seem composed and disciplined; inside, food and body thoughts take up far more space than you’d ever admit.

Whether your struggles are new or have been part of your life for years, therapy offers a place to understand why these thoughts feel so powerful and how to quiet them. Healing isn’t about control or perfection. It’s about learning to listen differently to yourself, to trust your body again, and to find peace where shame once lived.

If you’re ready to begin online eating disorder therapy, this is a space to start reclaiming your life.

Why People Develop Eating Disorders

Eating disorders aren’t really about food. They’re about what food represents: safety, control, comfort, identity, or whatever it uniquely means for you.

They can develop when life feels chaotic, when perfectionism or pressure takes over, or when emotions are hard to name. What starts as a coping strategy can become something that feels impossible to stop.

In therapy, we’ll explore:

How your eating behaviors are trying to protect you, even if they now cause pain.
How perfectionism and self-criticism keep the cycle alive.
The beliefs that keep you feeling stuck (“I’ll feel better when my body changes”)
How to start rebuilding trust with your body and yourself

How Eating Disorders Affect the Body and Mind

Eating disorders impact the entire body, not just how someone eats, but how their systems function day to day. When the body isn’t getting enough nourishment, or is caught in cycles of restriction, bingeing, or purging, it moves into survival mode. This can affect the brain, heart, hormones, digestion, and nervous system, leading to changes in energy, focus, mood, and overall well-being.

When your body is deprived, overwhelmed, or pushed beyond its cues, it adapts in ways that can feel confusing, sometimes even like betrayal.

Because every eating disorder disrupts the body in different ways, the physical and psychological effects can vary widely. Below, we’ll look at how three of the most common eating disorders, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder, impact both the body and the mind. Understanding these effects can help bring clarity and compassion to what may otherwise feel confusing or invisible.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge Eating Disorder involves recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, often accompanied by feelings of loss of control, shame, or distress. Unlike bulimia, bingeing isn’t followed by purging, which means the body must manage the physical strain of consistently taking in more food than it can comfortably process. In the short term, binge eating can cause bloating, fatigue, heartburn, and fluctuations in blood sugar that affect mood and energy. Over time, the repeated stress on the body’s metabolic systems can increase the risk of insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure. The digestive system can also become sluggish, and disrupted hunger and fullness cues may make it harder to recognize when the body truly needs nourishment. Emotionally, the cycle of bingeing and shame can feel isolating and exhausting, especially when food becomes both a source of comfort and distress. Therapy focuses on breaking this cycle by exploring the emotions, beliefs, and stressors that fuel binge eating, and by helping you develop a more peaceful, balanced relationship with food and your body. With support, compassion, and consistent care, both the body and mind can begin to find steadiness again.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia places intense stress on both the body and mind. Repeated cycles of bingeing and purging can disrupt the body’s electrolyte balance, strain the heart, and affect digestion. In the short term, these fluctuations can lead to dehydration, dizziness, fatigue, and swelling of the salivary glands. Purging, whether through vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise, can also cause sore throats, dental erosion, and irritation of the esophagus. Over time, the repeated stress on the cardiovascular and digestive systems can lead to more serious complications such as irregular heart rhythms, gastrointestinal damage, and changes in metabolism that make it harder for the body to regulate hunger and fullness cues. Emotionally, these cycles often bring moments of relief followed by guilt, shame, or anxiety, keeping the nervous system caught in a loop of tension and exhaustion. Therapy helps interrupt this cycle by addressing the emotional and physiological triggers behind bingeing and purging, and by helping you restore trust in your body’s signals. With consistent support and steady nourishment, both the body’s rhythms and the mind’s balance begin to return, allowing space for stability and self-compassion to grow.

Anorexia Nervosa

When the body is deprived of nourishment for extended periods, it slows down to conserve energy. Heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature may drop, and thinking can become foggy as the brain works to protect itself. Many people feel anxious, irritable, or emotionally distant, not out of choice, but because the nervous system is struggling to function on too little fuel. Over time, prolonged malnutrition can have serious effects on nearly every organ system. The heart muscle can weaken, increasing the risk of irregular heartbeat or heart failure. Hormone production often declines, leading to loss of menstrual cycles, infertility, and bone density loss (osteopenia or osteoporosis). Muscles shrink, digestion slows, and the immune system weakens, leaving the body more vulnerable to illness and injury. These changes can make recovery feel even harder—not because someone lacks motivation or willpower, but because both the body and brain are doing their best to survive. With steady nourishment, consistent therapeutic support, and time, the body begins to heal. As the nervous system stabilizes, warmth, focus, and emotional balance gradually return, and many of these physical effects can improve or even fully reverse with sustained recovery.

Eating Disorder Therapy FAQs

It’s completely understandable for you to have questions about starting therapy, especially when it comes to something as personal as your relationship with food and your body. Below are some of the most common concerns clients share before reaching out. If you don’t see your question here, please reach out.

How do I know if I need therapy for an eating disorder?

If food, weight, or body image takes up more mental space than you’d like, therapy can help. You don’t need a diagnosis or a crisis to reach out. Many clients begin when they simply realize, “I don’t want to keep feeling this way.

What types of eating disorders do you treat?

I offer therapy for anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and disordered eating that doesn’t fit neatly into any label. If your relationship with food or your body feels complicated, we can explore what’s underneath and build a path toward healing.

Do you offer online therapy in California?

Yes. I provide virtual eating disorder therapy across California, including Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Santa Clarita and surrounding areas. Sessions are held through a secure video platform, giving you flexibility and privacy while maintaining the depth and connection of in-person work.

What if I’m afraid recovery will mean losing control or changing my body?

That fear is common, and completely understandable. We move at a pace that feels safe. Therapy isn’t about forcing change; it’s about building trust with yourself and your body. You’ll never be pushed into something you’re not ready for.

How long does therapy take?

There’s no set timeline for recovery. Some clients start feeling relief after a few months; others continue longer-term as they deepen emotional growth. What matters most is consistency, honesty, and a therapeutic relationship that supports real, sustainable change.

Do you collaborate with dietitians or medical professionals?

Absolutely. I often work in coordination with registered dietitians, physicians, or psychiatrists to ensure that your care is comprehensive and aligned across disciplines. When needed, I help you assemble a collaborative team that supports both your emotional and physical well-being.

Can family members join sessions?

Yes, when it supports the process. For teens or family systems affected by an eating disorder, joint sessions can help repair communication, reduce shame, and strengthen support at home.

Still have questions?

You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. Sometimes the first step is simply giving yourself space to talk things through. If you’re curious or unsure, I invite you to schedule a free consultation to see whether this feels like the right fit.