Disordered Eating
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Disordered Eating & Body Image
Disordered Eating & Body Image Therapy at Astute
Compassionate, evidence-based therapy and coordinated care to support your recovery and well-being.
Understanding Disordered Eating
At Astute, we recognize that disordered eating and body image struggles can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. “Disordered eating” refers to a spectrum of unhealthy thoughts and behaviors around food, exercise, weight, and body image. This can include restriction, bingeing, purging, overexercising, and obsessive calorie counting. These behaviors may or may not meet criteria for a formal eating disorder diagnosis but can significantly impact mental and physical health.
Our therapeutic approach focuses on creating a safe, supportive space to explore these concerns and build healthier, more sustainable relationships with food and body image.
Therapy Options at Astute
Astute offers evidence-based therapy tailored to your individual needs and goals. Common therapeutic approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Enhanced (CBT-E)
- Addresses unhelpful thoughts and behaviors related to eating, weight, and body image. A leading therapy for disordered eating and eating disorders.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Focuses on emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and building healthier coping mechanisms, often used when eating behaviors are connected to emotional distress.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Helps individuals develop psychological flexibility, reduce avoidance, and live more fully in line with personal values.
- Body Image & Self-Compassion Work
- Therapy that supports healing one’s relationship with their body through body neutrality, acceptance, and self-compassion practices.
Coordinated Referrals for Comprehensive Care
While therapy is a key part of recovery, disordered eating often benefits from a multidisciplinary approach. At Astute, we collaborate closely with trusted professionals to ensure you receive the support you need. We provide referrals to:
- Registered dietitians who specialize in eating disorder and intuitive eating approaches
- Medical providers for monitoring and medical stabilization when necessary
- Other allied health professionals to support holistic recovery
We’ll work with your care team to ensure your treatment is coordinated and supportive at every step.
What to Expect at Astute
- Comprehensive intake: An initial session to understand your history, concerns, and goals.
- Personalized treatment plan: Tailored therapy and referral pathways based on your individual needs.
- Collaborative care: Coordination with dietitians, physicians, and other providers if needed.
- Empowerment-focused work: Building sustainable skills, body trust, and self-compassion.
Why Choose Astute
- Therapists experienced in disordered eating and body image concerns
- Evidence-based, compassionate care
- Collaborative referrals for nutrition and medical support
- In-person and telehealth options available
Video Resource
Signs and symptoms of disordered eating may include, but are not limited to:
Frequent dieting, anxiety associated with specific foods or meal skipping
Chronic weight fluctuations
Rigid rituals and routines surrounding food and exercise
Feelings of guilt and shame associated with eating
Preoccupation with food, weight and body image that negatively impacts quality of life
A feeling of loss of control around food, including compulsive eating habits
Using exercise, food restriction, fasting or purging to “make up for bad foods” consumed
Many people who suffer with disordered eating patterns either minimize or do not fully realize the impact it has on their mental and physical health. This lack of understanding may unnecessarily exacerbate the harm of disordered eating. Detrimental consequences can include a greater risk of obesity and eating disorders, bone loss, gastrointestinal disturbances, electrolyte and fluid imbalances, low heart rate and blood pressure, increased anxiety, depression and social isolation.
Disordered eating is a serious health concern that may be difficult to detect since a person with disordered eating patterns may not display all of the classic symptoms typically identified with eating disorders. It’s important to remember that even a person exhibiting disordered eating habits and behaviors also may be experiencing significant physical, emotional and mental stress.
Registered dietitian nutritionists are vital to the detection and treatment of disordered eating. Often, patients referred to dietitians for nutrition counseling are unaware that their eating patterns are problematic or harmful. Working with a dietitian who has a background in counseling patients with eating disorders is an important step in treating disordered eating and preventing it from progressing to an eating disorder.
https://www.eatright.org/health/diseases-and-conditions/eating-disorders/what-is-disordered-eating
At Astute Counseling Services, we practice “Body Positive” interventions to treat Disordered Eating with an emphasis on self love, gaining control back, general health and happiness.