Managing the College Transition When You’ve Had an Eating Disorder

A woman packs clothes into an open suitcase. Does the college transition trigger anxiety about maintaining eating disorder recovery away from home? Family-Based Treatment (FBT) in Los Angeles, CA, equips families with tools for ongoing support during separation.

Transitioning to college can be exciting yet challenging, especially for those with a history of eating disorders. It’s crucial to prioritize your recovery during this time. Here are key strategies: Build a Support System: Reach out to family, friends, and potential new connections at college. Keep a list of contacts for support. Follow Your Meal …

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Expert Guidance: When to Add an Individual Therapist in FBT-Phase 1

Picture of a teen in an individual therapy session. Is an individual therapist during FBT necessary? An expert family-based treatment therapist in Los Angeles, CA, explains why it might not be a great idea.

TL;DR In Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for teen eating disorders, experts discourage adding an individual therapist during Phase 1 (nutritional rehabilitation). Most teens do not require individual therapy at this stage, as it can undermine the family’s role and the focus on nutritional restoration. Experts agree that individual therapy should only be considered if there are …

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How We Set Recovery Weights and Why It Matters for Long-Term Healing

Drawing of a doctor weighing a teen patient. Are you wondering how to feed and recovery weights in eating disorder recovery? Learn how Family-based Treatment in Los Angeles, CA, prioritizes health and long-term success for teens and adults.

TL;DR Weight gain is a vital part of recovery from eating disorders for individuals of all sizes, including those with Atypical Anorexia and bulimia. However, there’s a lack of consensus on how to set appropriate recovery weights. Research shows that complete weight restoration is often essential for psychological recovery, as it helps alleviate eating disorder …

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Maintaining Recovery During Short Lunch Times

Eating Lunch in Recovery [Image description: Neon Light spelling "EAT"] Depicts the instruction for a person in eating disorder recovery to eat lunch.

Guest post by 2024-2025 doctoral extern, Natalie Cynamon.  School lunchtime is ideal for catching up with friends, decompressing, or watching a show on your phone. However, it’s not long until the bell rings again, telling you it is time to return to class. With so little time to do what you want, it can be …

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ARFID and Holidays: Strategies for Managing Eating Challenges

ARFID and Holidays [Image description: Purple scrabble tiles spelling "ARFID and Holidays"]

The holidays are supposed to be joyous occasions where families gather and eat together. But these two particular elements combined—family and food—can be extremely challenging for adults with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). If you are an adult who has ARFID you may struggle with eating enough overall and or with variety. You may …

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Eating Disorder Therapy Vs. Ozempic and Other GLP-1s

Guest post by 2023-2024 doctoral extern, Vera Levi, MA Many of our prospective clients are curious about GLP-1s for weight loss. They arrive seeking therapy for their eating disorder while simultaneously pursuing a prescription for Ozempic–not to treat a medical condition– but to lose weight. Here’s what you should know. Eating Disorder Clients Seeking Weight …

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Private Equity and Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know

Private equity and eating disorders [Image description: an empty boardroom with windows] depicts a potential private equity firm investing in eating disorder centers

In case you haven’t been paying attention, the economics of eating disorder treatment centers have been evolving. And it is doing so in ways that may be harmful. Today, a very small number of large entities own and run most of the country’s residential treatment and day treatment centers. Private equity firms now back most …

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Group Therapy for Eating Disorders

Eating Disorder Group Therapy in California and Online [Image description: purple scrabble tiles spelling "Eating Disorder Group Therapy"]

What is Group Therapy? Group therapy is when several patients are treated together in the same room—or as is often the case today, the same zoom meeting—as other patients with the same problem, usually with one or two leaders or therapists. Group Therapy can be helpful for people with eating disorders and their supportive loved …

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Are You Ready for Eating Disorder Counseling?

Are you ready to begin eating disorder therapy [Image description: a man wearing a purple sweatshirt is looking at his calendar on a wall] Represents a person beginning eating disorder therapy in California

Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting help for a while but haven’t known where to look. Or perhaps someone has recently confronted you about your eating and you’re feeling pressured to get help now. Or maybe your problems have recently begun to feel worse. Even so, you’re still not sure it’s the right time. It’s …

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Orthorexia

Post by Carly Poynter, Psy.D., staff therapist What is Orthorexia? Orthorexia is an eating disorder in which an individual is fixated on the quality of food and avoidance—in the pursuit of health—of foods labeled as “unhealthy” or “bad.” The person continues to pursue “health” despite experiencing considerable negative health consequences and an impact on psychological …

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