At Joyful Living Behavioral Health, we understand the complex and often overwhelming nature of disordered eating. If you’re in Eugene, Oregon, and looking for support to overcome challenges related to your relationship with food, our therapy for disordered eating offers personalized guidance and compassionate care to help you find healing and balance.
Understanding Disordered Eating: Causes, Impacts & Types
Disordered eating encompasses a range of behaviors and emotions surrounding food that can significantly impact your physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. It often begins with attempts to control food intake as a way to manage emotions, cope with stress, or meet societal expectations around body image. Over time, these behaviors can escalate, leading to unhealthy eating patterns, emotional distress, and physical health complications.
The impact of disordered eating extends beyond the body. It can interfere with relationships, diminish self-esteem, increase anxiety and depression, and limit your overall quality of life. Early intervention and compassionate support are crucial for breaking the cycle and promoting lasting recovery.
Types of disordered eating and eating disorders can include:
- Anorexia Nervosa – Severe food restriction, an overwhelming fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of body shape and size.
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – Extremely limited eating habits often due to sensory issues, fear of choking, or a general disinterest in food.
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED) – Recurring episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food, often accompanied by feelings of helplessness and guilt.
- Bulimia Nervosa – Patterns of overeating followed by compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting, extreme dieting, or excessive physical activity.
- Emotional eating – Turning to food as a primary coping mechanism for dealing with emotions such as anxiety, sadness, loneliness, or boredom.
- Orthorexia – An intense fixation on consuming only foods deemed “clean” or “healthy,” to the point that it disrupts daily routines and overall well-being.
A Compassionate Approach to Therapy for Eating Disorders
Through a combination of evidence-based techniques and personalized support, we guide you towards lasting positive change. Our sessions incorporate a variety of therapeutic modalities designed to address the emotional, psychological, and physical aspects of disordered eating. In the process, we use techniques such as:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on identifying and challenging the negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to disordered eating. Through CBT, you’ll develop healthier thinking patterns, improve self-esteem, and learn practical skills for managing triggers and setbacks.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. It teaches you how to cope with overwhelming emotions without resorting to harmful eating behaviors and helps you build a foundation for balanced, mindful living.
Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness-based techniques encourage greater awareness and acceptance of thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. By practicing mindfulness, you can reconnect with your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues, reduce emotional reactivity, and cultivate a compassionate relationship with yourself.
Nutritional Counseling
Nutritional counseling provides education and support to help you rebuild a healthy, balanced relationship with food. Working alongside therapy, it focuses on restoring nourishment, reducing fear around eating, and fostering body trust through intuitive and mindful eating strategies.
Benefits of Choosing Our Therapy in Eugene for Disordered Eating
When you choose our therapy for disordered eating, you’re selecting personalized care that prioritizes your well-being and recovery journey. Our expert therapists create a supportive, judgment-free environment where healing and growth are possible.
Benefits of working with us include:
- Individualized treatment plans that honor your unique experiences and goals.
- Compassionate support through every stage of the recovery process.
- Evidence-based techniques proven to promote lasting positive change.
- A safe space for exploring emotions, triggers, and underlying issues.
- Skill development for healthier coping, emotional regulation, and communication.
- Integration of nutritional counseling for holistic recovery.
- Family collaboration and support when helpful for the individual’s success.
- Empowerment to embrace self-acceptance, body positivity, and balance.
With therapy and support from our team, you can break free from the cycle of disordered eating and embrace a life of balance, joy, and self-acceptance.
Contact Us for Therapy for an Eating Disorder
Don’t let disordered eating hold you back from living a fulfilling life. With our compassionate therapy approach and personalized support, you can overcome obstacles, cultivate self-awareness, and embrace a healthier relationship with food. Contact Joyful Living Behavioral Health to learn more about how we help clients in Eugene, OR.