Compassionate and Expert Eating Disorder Treatment in Providence

Providence Therapy Group provides informed and understanding care for those seeking treatment for:

  • Anorexia nervosa and other restrictive eating practices

  • Bulimia nervosa

  • Binge-eating disorder and compulsive overeating

  • Compulsive exercise

  • Excessive exercise

  • Compulsive dieting and weighing

  • Body dysmorphia/body image concerns

  • Orthorexia

Individuals with eating disorders may restrict their food intake, engage in bingeing or excessive exercise, or become preoccupied with their weight loss. Without treatment, an eating disorder may become potentially life-threatening. Whether you're struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, or another type of eating disorder, recovery is possible with treatment.

What are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are a group of mental health disorders characterized by an unhealthy relationship or obsession with physical appearance, body image, and food intake. Individuals with eating disorders may experience significant disturbances in eating patterns, such as restrictive food intake, the avoidance of large amounts of food, fasting, excessive exercise, binge-eating, or any combination of these behaviors.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is used by mental health experts to diagnose mental health conditions. While the DSM-5 doesn't cover every type of eating disorder, it outlines the most common types, disorder symptoms, and their diagnostic criteria:

  • Anorexia nervosa: Anorexia involves extreme weight loss due to excessive exercise and restrictive food intake, often until the point of starvation. Individuals with anorexia often experience low self-esteem, a preoccupation with weight loss, a distorted body image, and an intense fear of overeating. Without professional help, anorexia can lead to serious health problems.

  • Bulimia nervosa: Bulimia involves excessive food intake, known as bingeing. The binge is followed by purging or other behaviors, including purging, the use of medications such as diet pills, diuretics, and laxatives, as well as excessive exercise, to compensate for overeating. Individuals with bulimia often struggle with embarrassment or a lack of control over food.

  • Binge-eating disorder (BED): Like bulimia, binge-eating disorder involves episodes of overeating and a loss of control. For many adolescents and young adults, binge-eating is often related to emotional eating. Without professional help, BED can lead to high blood pressure, weight gain, obesity, and other health problems.

  • Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Individuals with ARFID do not consume enough food to meet their daily nutritional needs. While ARFID rarely involves an obsession with bodyweight or physical appearance, the condition often leads to weight loss. Orthorexia, a form of ARFID, involves perfectionistic behavior and an aversion to unhealthy food.

  • Orthorexia: An unhealthy obsession with eating only foods perceived as pure or “clean,” often leading to rigid dietary rules, emotional distress, and disruptions in daily life. While it may start as a desire to eat healthfully, orthorexia can interfere with well-being, relationships, and overall mental health.

Often, individuals with eating disorders will have symptoms of another mental health condition, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance abuse, or a personality disorder, that requires treatment. Whenever possible, it's important to identify and address all mental health issues to ensure a long-lasting recovery.

How are Eating Disorders Treated?

Successful treatment plans typically involve a treatment team, including a dietitian, clinician, and mental health provider. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, treatment varies depending on the type and severity of the eating disorder, as well as the individual's mental health and nutritional needs.

Outpatient treatment is considered an effective treatment approach for those who are stable and able to function in daily life. To help individuals successfully cope with their eating disorder, meal plans, nutritional counseling, and therapy are essential.

When individuals are psychologically or medically unstable and in poor physical health, hospitalization, partial hospitalization, and/or residential treatment are recommended depending on the levels of care needed. Like outpatient treatment, residential treatment at a hospital or disorder treatment center generally involves therapy, wellness classes, and nutritional counseling.

The most effective treatment approaches are comprehensive and target the different components of the disorder, as well as the mental and physical functioning of the client. Since psychotherapy is integral to any successful treatment plan, it's essential to find a therapist specializing in eating disorder treatment.

Eating Disorder Recovery in Providence

At the Providence Therapy Group, we provide compassionate care to help you on the road to recovery using empirically supported treatments for disordered eating and exercise. Effective treatment approaches for disordered eating include:

Successful recovery means that you regain control of your life and find your way back to a healthier relationship with food, exercise, and new coping skills that work for you.