eating disorder therapy in portland, oregon.
I provide therapy for those who are fed up living their lives revolving around food and negative body image, and want to re-discover who they are without the eating disorder.
I believe that full eating disorder recovery is possible, and everyone has the wisdom in them to find full recovery and to live a full life. Our work together will revolve around guiding you back to the body trust you once had, so you can live your fullest, most authentic life as your most authentic self.
Together we will get to the root of and process the messages you learned about food and your body, unlearn the diet culture b.s, and create your unique path to healing.
imagine you have the freedom to:
01
Go out to eat with friends and family without anxiety
02
Release any shame over how you eat or what your body looks like
03
Get out of the comparison trap and feel confident in who you are
schedule a free 20-minute consultation
my approaches to eating disorder therapy:
Health at Every Size: This perspective on health is a weight-inclusive framework. It is the idea that health does not have a size, look, or shape. Health at Every Size strives to diminish weight bias and discrimination in eating disorder treatment and beyond.
Intuitive Eating: Although intuitive eating may feel far away if you’re just starting eating disorder recovery, many of the principles can be applied in different ways along your journey. Aiming for intuitive eating will ultimately lead to lasting recovery.
Self-Compassion: The way we speak to ourselves matters. In our work together, we will examine your patterns of self-talk and self-understanding. Self-compassion allows you to develop a respectful and caring relationship with yourself.
Internal Family Systems: There are so many parts of you that are serving you in different ways (hint: the eating disorder is one of them). We will take a deeper look into the parts of you that are helping, those that are hurting, and those that might do a little of both!
heal your relationship with food, your body, and yourself.
anorexia
Those with anorexia nervosa may find themselves compulsively restricting food. This fear of eating, often accompanied by a fear of gaining weight, can be extremely distressing. Anyone in any body size can experience anorexia. You deserve to feel like you can eat freely and live a life free of food deprivation and restriction!
binge eating disorder
Feeling out of control around food, eating until you’re uncomfortably full, feeling completely disconnected from your body when eating, eating in secret, followed by feelings of shame and guilt are all signs of binge eating disorder. It’s totally possible to release the shame and guilt around food, stop the binge eating, and reconnect to your body.
bulimia
Bulimia nervosa can be identified as binge eating followed by self-induced purging (such as vomiting or over-exercise). Bulimia can have detrimental effects on your physical health as well as your mental health. Being stuck in this cycle can bring up a lot of shame and discomfort, but it doesn’t have to be your forever.
orthorexia
Orthorexia is an obsession with health and healthy eating. Those with orthorexia have a tendency to constantly check ingredient labels, cut out or avoid food groups, and feel extremely stressed when “safe” foods aren’t available. Although orthorexia is not “officially” recognized as a diagnosis, you still deserve healing.
eating disorder treatment faq’s
+ how do i know if i have an eating disorder?
You do not have to have a diagnosed eating disorder to work with me. We can work together to see if a diagnosis would benefit you. If you are struggling with your relationship with food and/or your body in any way, you deserve support and healing!
+ how long does it take to recover from an eating disorder?
This will vary so much depending on the individual. Recovery will likely take on many different shapes and forms as you go through the process. There is no timeline, and healing is rarely linear. Building trust with yourself, your support system, and the process will lead you to lasting full recovery.
+ can therapy help with body image issues and body dysmorphia?
Absolutely. Eating disorders often come with a side of negative body image or body dysmorphia. Therapy will help you build skills and tools to combat negative body image moments and re-connect you to the body you have now and all the beautiful versions of you that will be in the future!
+ is full recovery possible?
"Full recovery" will look different for each person. For some, full recovery will mean never having an eating disorder thought ever again. For others, full recovery will mean being aware of any eating disorder thoughts that pop up, and can dismiss them with ease. Unfortunately, diet culture doesn't disappear just because we decide to ditch it. What you can do is build resiliency to those triggers to live a full life without the eating disorder!
+ do you take insurance?
I do not accept insurance, which protects your privacy and allows me to keep my rates appropriate. Paying privately means that your treatment is solely between us and your mental health diagnosis and other information is not shared with an insurance company. You can learn more about my rates and insurance reimbursement here.
+ how do i find an eating disorder therapist near me?
If you are not in the state of Oregon, we unfortunately cannot do therapy together. You can find an eating disorder therapist near you using PsychologyToday, or by looking up eating disorder professional networks in your area.
hi i’m Lauren, your eating disorder therapist.
With over 4 years working in the eating disorder field including at the PHP and IOP levels of care, I have experience working with, assessing, and treating all types of eating disorders. My treatment philosophy stems from a Health at Every Size and social-justice oriented approach, where I strive to provide weight-inclusive care while recognizing my own thin and white privilege.
As someone who has personally struggled with an eating disorder in the past and found full recovery, it is my passion to help people do the same. I take an extremely individualized approach with each client, because I know just how unique and unpredictable eating disorders can be. You deserve eating disorder treatment that is as individual as you are!