Therapy for Eating Disorders

Find the care and expertise needed
to help you rebuild your life.

At ECC, we provide personalized therapy to help you manage and recover from eating disorders.

What defines an eating disorder? 

An eating disorder is a serious illness marked by severe disturbances in a person's eating behaviors (Source: NIMH), and can span a range of disorders from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating, and others. 

While that is the clinical definition of an eating disorder, an eating disorder is far more than a person’s relationship to food; it’s an acutely personal and complex struggle, and is often deeply tied to past trauma. For many, food–or the control over it–becomes a way to manage emotions that feel too overwhelming to face. This can show up in different ways—whether through restricting food intake, binge eating, purging through laxative abuse or vomiting, or orthorexia. At the heart of it, eating disorders are often an attempt to find control or relief in a world of emotional chaos/internal turmoil. They are never a choice or a sign of personal failure. Instead, they are usually a reflection of deeper struggles with self-worth, unresolved trauma, or emotional needs that have yet to be met. It’s important to recognize that these disorders are rooted in pain, and healing begins with deeper understanding.

What causes eating disorders? 

Eating disorders often emerge as a response to a combination of personal struggles and environmental pressures, as well as genetics and biology. While anyone can develop an eating disorder at any age, it is common for eating disorders to start in a person's adolescent or teen years. 

There are several risk factors that can increase a person's likelihood of developing an eating disorder: 

• Family history: People are more likely to develop an eating disorder if one of their immediate family members also have or had an eating disorder.

• Weight shaming or bullying: People are more likely to develop an eating disorder if they have been shamed, teased, or bullied for their size–whether by a family member, or by a peer, or an authority figure in their life, such as a teacher, coach, or doctor.

• Dieting: Frequent dieting can increase a person's risk for an eating disorder, especially if their weight fluctuates with each change in diet. Frequent dieting starves the body, which can impact brain chemistry and make it more difficult for a person to regain balanced eating habits. 

• Stress: Major life transitions, such as moving, attending a new school, starting a new job, or experiencing relationship conflict, can cause stress and increase a person's risk for an eating disorder. 

• Other mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or another presenting issue can also increase a person's risk for an eating disorder.

• Trauma: For many, unresolved wounds from past trauma—whether it is abuse, neglect, the weight of imposed perfectionism, or difficult life experiences—create an overwhelming need to control their body and eating behaviors. While this trauma may not always be visible or easy to recognize, it profoundly shapes how someone views themselves and relates to food and their body.

• Societal expectations of a person’s appearance can add to the emotional magnitude, but a person’s eating disorder is often rooted in deeper emotional and psychological pain. 

Whatever the risk factors that lead to someone’s eating disorder, the disorder becomes a way to cope—an attempt to find some sense of control or comfort when everything else feels unsafe, overwhelming, or out of reach. Healing begins with understanding, compassion, and the recognition that these behaviors are born from a place of deep, unmet need.

Signs you may have an eating disorder

Recognizing an eating disorder can be difficult, especially if it feels like a way of coping with life’s pressures. An eating disorder can even convince you it’s helping ease stress. However, there are emotional, physical, and behavioral signs that may indicate you’re struggling with an eating disorder: 

• Emotional signs of an eating disorder: You may feel disconnected from your body, experience overwhelming guilt or shame around eating, or feel like you’re constantly trying to meet unattainable standards of appearance. You might find yourself engaging in restrictive eating, binging, or purging as a way to soothe difficult emotions. 

• Physical signs of an eating disorder: On the physical side, there may be noticeable changes in your weight, energy levels, or overall health. 

• Behavioral signs of an eating disorder: Engaging in restrictive eating, binging, and purging are behavioral signs of an eating disorder. You may also start to withdraw from social situations involving food, isolating yourself in an attempt to avoid the discomfort of eating in front of other people. It’s important to recognize that these behaviors are signals of deeper emotional pain, and awareness is the first step toward healing.

How can therapy help treat eating disorders

When addressing eating disorders, it is essential to recognize that each individual's experience is unique and may require tailored therapeutic interventions. Several therapeutic modalities have proven especially effective in supporting individuals through their recovery:

• Psychodynamic Therapy is particularly valuable in uncovering the emotional and psychological factors that contribute to disordered eating behaviors. Rather than focusing solely on changing external behaviors, psychodynamic therapy delves into the unconscious mind, exploring the deep-rooted emotional wounds and unresolved conflicts that often fuel disordered eating. By promoting self-awareness and understanding of past experiences, this therapy helps individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms and emotional resilience, leading to lasting healing at the core of their struggles.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective tool for identifying and challenging the distorted thoughts and beliefs that underlie disordered eating patterns. It not only focuses on changing eating behaviors but also addresses how individuals view themselves, their bodies, and their sense of self-worth. Through a gentle, supportive approach, CBT empowers individuals to confront and modify these negative thought patterns, promoting healthier self-perceptions and behaviors.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is especially beneficial for individuals struggling with emotional dysregulation and distress, which often trigger unhealthy eating behaviors. By teaching mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance skills, DBT helps individuals manage overwhelming emotions in a constructive way. It also emphasizes self-compassion and acceptance—critical elements in the journey toward recovery from an eating disorder.

• Family-Based Therapy (FBT): can play a pivotal role in healing when a person’s eating disorder impacts their relationships. This approach actively involves loved ones—whether biological or chosen family members—in the therapeutic process. By fostering open communication and collaborative support, FBT helps create a strong, supportive environment that is crucial for recovery. Additionally, educating loved ones about the complexities of eating disorders enhances the overall healing process for the individual.

• Mindfulness and Body-Based Therapies aim to help individuals reconnect with their bodies in a compassionate and non-judgmental way. Trauma often leads to a disconnection from the body, but mindfulness practices provide a safe, gentle means of rebuilding that relationship. Through mindfulness, individuals can learn to accept and care for their physical selves, promoting a healthier, more integrated sense of well-being.

Eating Disorder Therapy in Chicago

When choosing outpatient treatment for an eating disorder, it's important to find a place that truly understands the complexity of these struggles and offers a compassionate and trauma-informed approach. At ECC, you’ll find a supportive environment where the focus goes beyond just addressing eating behaviors to address the emotional and psychological pain that often lies beneath. There are multiple members of ECC’s team that are experienced in recognizing the underlying challenges that can fuel eating disorders and provide a safe space for you to explore, understand, and mend these foundational problems.

At ECC, you’ll find the care and expertise needed to help you rebuild your life. We hope you will also experience understanding and support to help you restore your sense of self and reclaim your relationship with food and your body. You don't have to walk this path alone.

“From my own experience, having come from higher levels of care, I truly believe in the importance of connecting my clients with additional support. Whether it’s working with dietitians or medical professionals who understand the delicate process of building trust and safety, these connections are crucial to recovery. Healing is a deeply personal journey, one that requires time, patience, and a lot of self-compassion. We’re here to walk the healing path with you.”

— Emily Long, MSW, LCSW
ECC Staff Therapist

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