Supporting Someone With Negative Body Image: 4 Tips From a Body Image Therapist

The same thing seems to happen every morning. You’re watching your loved one look at themselves in the mirror with scrutiny. “I look disgusting!” they lament. “How is it that you can even stand to look at me?” they continue. A jab at the heart to go through this so often. Looking at this person you love and care about so much, and being so overwhelmed by all of their flaws is heartbreaking. They don’t see themselves the way you do. You don’t see someone that’s disgusting or ugly.  You see someone lovely, kind, and compassionate. You can’t imagine a more beautiful person than the one you’re watching shred their appearance apart every single day. It’s like nothing you do or say seems to make a difference at all. You feel discouraged and deflated. No matter how many times you reassure them that they aren’t disgusting, fat, or ugly, nothing changes. 

It can feel so helpless to be in this position. Loving someone with a negative body image can be challenging because you want so badly to fix it but it doesn’t matter which angle you take, nothing helps. They can’t seem to see themselves the way you do. I know there are days when you are sad that they feel this way, and I also know there are days when it’s frustrating. Whatever you’re feeling it’s completely valid. 

What are the effects of negative body image?

The impact of negative body image can destroy any form of self-confidence or self-esteem you have. People with negative body image avoid social situations or going out because of fear of judgment. They don’t want people to tear their bodies apart in the same way they do. Negative body image has a significant impact on relationships. When a loved one struggles with body image, it doesn’t feel like your opinion or thoughts matter, and they shut you out. The mental health impacts of negative body image are brutal. People with bad body image tend to be more depressed, isolative, and anxious than those that have a more positive body image. 

How do I support someone I care about with a negative body image?

The first thing I want you to know about supporting someone you care about that struggles with body image issues is that it’s really more about than what they look like. It comes down to negative beliefs they have about themselves. We live in a world that is driven by thinness and obtaining attractiveness is the most important thing. It’s understandable that your loved one would care about their appearance but when they look in the mirror it’s about more than just the size of their waist. However, most people aren’t consciously aware of that fact. My clients are convinced that it’s really just about wanting to look good. Try to understand this perspective. 

Tips for supporting a loved one with a bad body image

There is a lot that you can do to help support your loved one struggling with body image issues. Here are just a few of the suggestions. 

Focus on qualities outside of their appearance 

A common response that you might have is to reassure your loved one that they are beautiful and that they aren’t fat. I don’t know your circumstances but for some people, this can make it worse. Reassurance-seeking can reinforce this cycle of negative body image. Saying things like “I don’t see the same things that you see about yourself” is a neutral statement without reinforcing the importance of what their body looks like being so important. Focus on sharing the qualities about them that have nothing to do with their body or appearance. Keep in mind this isn’t going to be a magic fix but it’s important to put less emphasis on the body and appearance in general. Your loved one might need help remembering that they are more than a body and what they look like. 

Don’t comment on your body or anyone else 

It may seem harmless to be critical of your body or other people’s bodies. It may also seem even more confusing why you shouldn’t comment positively on other people’s bodies. We have been trained to believe that this is complementary and a good thing. However, complimenting other people’s bodies continues to place emphasis and importance on appearance. This isn’t helpful to someone that's struggling with body image. Your loved one needs to know there is greater importance on them and other people that have nothing to do with appearance. Avoiding comments can help lessen how important they might seem. 

Talk about feelings rather than flaws 

When you see your loved one standing in front of the mirror being critical of their body, they are feeling something powerful. You might hear them say, “I feel fat!”.  Just so we are clear I went to six years of college in total with 4000 hours of doing therapy before I could get licensed so I feel I can confidently say fat is not an emotion. Fat and ugly might mean the same thing to your loved one as unacceptable and uncomfortable. Encouraging them to talk about how they feel rather than focusing on their flaws can get to the root of their struggle. Talking about how they feel in general will be more helpful than reassuring them that they are beautiful and they look good in that dress. 

Learn to listen & validate 

The most important thing that you can do for your loved one and their body image issues, is to learn to actively listen. Active listening means that you are paying attention to what they are saying rather than how you want to respond. This isn’t where you give advice or tell them they shouldn’t feel the way they do. Be present and engaged. Show them that you hear what they’re saying. Validate their emotions and experience. Validation doesn’t mean that you agree with what they are sharing. It means that you are trying to understand their emotions and experience. This can help them take down the walls they might have up. 

Body Image Therapy can help 

As you probably already know, there’s only so much you can do to help a loved one struggling with body image. As I have shared earlier, there’s way more to it than wanting to be thin and beautiful. Body image therapy can help your loved one work through the beliefs they have about themselves and what is holding the importance of looking a certain way. Many women that I have worked with have shared that they were surprised by the things that came up in therapy that helped them recognize the connection. If your loved one isn’t able to make progress with their body image, try not to be discouraged and consider helping them see the benefit of going to therapy. 

Start working with a body image therapist in Utah 

You don’t have to keep struggling with your body image. You don’t have to hate the person you look at in the mirror or swipe away in disgust when you see a photo of yourself. You can come to a place of not thinking about your body so much. Body image therapy can help. This Utah Counseling Center has a body image therapist specializing in body image therapy. To begin counseling follow the steps below: 

1. Book a free 15-minute phone consultation 

2. Start working with a therapist for body image in Utah 

3. Find peace with your body. 

Online Therapy in Utah 

It can be hard to find time to attend therapy. Your schedule might not always line up with being able to commute to and from a therapy appointment. Many people put off going to therapy because they don’t think they can make time for it. Therapy can change your life and help you find relieve anxiety and self-hatred. I want it to be convenient and accessible for you. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah. It’s just as effective as in-person therapy but you don’t have to leave your house. 

Online counseling allows me to work with you wherever you are in Utah. I work with women living in Salt Lake City, St. George, Logan, Heber City, Cedar City, and more. 

Other mental health services in Utah 

Body image therapy isn’t the only mental health counseling service offered at this Utah Counseling Clinic. Other mental health services offered by Maple Canyon Therapy include eating disorder therapy, anxiety therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, therapy for birth trauma, and EMDR therapy. 

About the Author 

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah. She has been working with women with eating disorders, disordered eating, and eating disorders since 2013 as a graduate student therapist. Ashlee is passionate about empowering women to be more self-compassionate and focus on body neutrality. Ashlee utilizes a health-at-every-size approach to helping women recover and move beyond negative body image.  She has a bachelor's of psychology, and a bachelor's in family life and human development from Southern Utah University. Ashlee has masters in social work from Utah State University.

3 Tips for Dealing with Anxiousness From An Anxiety Therapist

It’s been the third night in a row where you’ve been lying in bed, wide-eyed, and checking the clock to see what time it is. Sleep evades you. You’ve got that tightness in your chest, and you’re feeling anxious. There seems to be nothing you can do to stop feeling this way, and you just want it to stop. Feeling anxiety is one of the most uncomfortable feelings to deal with. It’s difficult when it manifests its symptoms in your body. The tightness, stomach aches, lack of appetite, and insomnia all cause problems in being able to do what you want to be able to do. 

Dealing with anxiousness can be a battle, and sometimes trying to fight it makes it worse. I know how badly you want to stop feeling the way you feel. You’ll do anything just to get rid of it. Part of dealing with anxiousness is being able to surrender trying to get rid of anxiety and finding ways to cope with it. Even if you could take the edge off of it, it might help you deal with it a little better. 

How do I deal with anxiousness?

There are numerous ways that people find relief from those anxious feelings. Not everything will be something you resonate with but here are some beginning tips to deal with anxiousness. 

1. Stop trying to fight it 

There’s a difference between giving into anxiety and to stop fighting it. I am not suggesting that you give up and become overcome with anxiety. What I am suggesting is to stop trying to make it stop and go away. Beating your anxiety into submission won’t work. Accept that you are feeling anxious. It’s ok to feel anxious! There’s nothing wrong with you for feeling this way. I don’t know your specific circumstances but it probably makes sense why you feel the way you do. Acknowledge the anxious feelings and validate yourself for what you are experiencing. What you don’t need is more self-judgment. Once you let go of making it a war, you can start working more to lessen your anxiety. 

2. Utilize movement 

Exercise and movement aren’t going to completely eradicate your anxiousness all the time. I think our society's mental health often gets dismissed as something to treat with diet and exercise. That’s in no way as simple as it is nor is that truly effective. The truth about movement is that it can help you complete the stress response cycle that your body feels when you have anxiety. Not only that but it can help you process what is making you anxious and help calm your nervous system. Movement can help get the nervous energy out of your body. 

3. Talk about it 

Another great form of processing is to be able to talk about what you’re feeling. People hesitate to talk about their anxiety because they don’t want to feel stupid or they don’t think it’s going to make a difference. You don’t need someone to solve your anxiety or necessarily do something about it. However, when you don’t share how you are feeling, it can make things worse. Talking about it is a form of processing your anxiety rather than feeling overwhelmed by it. Make sure that you can share your anxiety with someone that is safe and will be able to be present for you without making you feel invalidated. 

Anxiety therapy can help

One of the most important things you might end up doing for yourself and your life is going to therapy. You shouldn’t have to keep feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, and its impact. I know you probably want to figure it out yourself but you don’t have to. Therapy can be more effective than trying to do it alone, and in turn you will get better faster. Going to therapy doesn’t mean you’re crazy or that something is wrong with you. It means you care about improving yourself and finding relief from your struggles. Going to anxiety therapy not only can give you more ways of coping but it can also help you learn more about the root cause of anxiety. Often we don’t realize that the negative beliefs about ourselves stem from something that has happened in our lives. Part of anxiety therapy is recognizing what that is and finding a way to heal from it. 

Begin working with a therapist for anxiety in Utah

You don’t have to keep feeling anxious all the time. Anxiousness doesn’t have to keep impacting your life. Anxiety therapy can help you find relief from these feelings. This Utah Counseling Center has an anxiety therapist specializing in anxiety. To begin counseling follow the steps below: 

1. Book a free 15-minute phone consultation 

2. Meet with an anxiety therapist in Utah 

3. Find relief from anxiety 

Online Anxiety Therapy in Utah 

Taking the time out of your schedule to go to and from a therapy appointment in the middle of the day can be a challenge. I don’t want this to be a reason for you to put off going to therapy. I want you to be able to work through anxiety and feel that you are coping better and all around feeling less of it. This is why I provide online anxiety therapy in Utah. It’s accessible, convenient, and just as effective as in-person therapy. Online anxiety therapy is provided through a HIPAA-compliant video platform. 

Online therapy allows me to work with you wherever you are in Utah. I work with women in Logan, St. George, Cedar City, Heber City, Salt Lake City, and more. 

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy 

Anxiety therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided by this Utah Counseling Practice. Other mental health services provided by Marcus Hunt Therapy include depression therapy, therapy for men, EMDR therapy, trauma therapy, marriage counseling, and premarital counseling. Reach out today to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. 

About the Author 

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker at Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah. Ashlee works with women who struggle with generalized anxiety disorder, performance anxiety, dating anxiety, social anxiety, and postpartum anxiety. She believes that dealing with the symptoms of anxiety can help temporarily but an important aspect of therapy is digging deep into why anxiety is there in general. Ashlee has a bachelor's in psychology from Southern Utah University as well as a bachelor's in family life and human development also from SUU. She obtained her master's in social work from Utah State University. When Ashlee isn’t practicing therapy, she enjoys spending time riding her bike through the Spanish Fork River Bottoms.

5 Reasons to Go to Eating Disorder Therapy

Some of my clients share that they believe they are better people with their eating disorder. For some women, it feels like an eating disorder shows they have control, and that feels empowering to them. It can feel this way at the beginning but eventually, you surrender all of your control to your eating disorder. You are no longer the one calling the shots but it’s your eating disorder. You don’t want to feel like this anymore but you don’t know any other way to live. You might be skeptical that therapy can even help you. It’s hard to know if it’s worth the risk. 

What is eating disorder therapy?

Eating disorder therapy involves working with a therapist who has the specialized training to know how to help you overcome your eating disorder. Often times when you have an eating disorder, it is helpful to use a team approach. I recommend my clients work with an eating disorder dietitian and a medical provider to monitor their physical heal and nutrition. What I do in eating disorder therapy with my clients is help them recognize the underlying issues and experiences that have contributed to their eating disorder. As much as your eating disorder is about food and body image, it’s also about so much more. What you do with food and how you feel about your body are symptoms of negative beliefs you may be holding onto. 

Eating disorder therapy focuses on identifying the negative beliefs and where they came from. You can learn to challenge these beliefs and focus on viewing yourself in more helpful ways. How you feel about yourself holds a lot more power over you than your relationship with food does. 

Why should I go to eating disorder therapy?

There are probably hundreds of reasons why you going to eating disorder therapy might be beneficial for you. I’m happy to keep writing blog posts on the reasons why you should go to eating disorder therapy but here are some things to think about for now. 

Reasons to go to eating disorder therapy: 

       1. Eating disorder therapy can help you feel better physically 

Here is the reality, eating disorders cause physical complications in the body that you may not even realize. In fact, if a doctor isn’t trained in treating eating disorders, they can also miss them. Honestly, getting my clients to understand the medical issues that are associated with is one of the most difficult parts of my job. My clients have had medical doctors tell them to lose weight even in the midst of their eating disorders. They have missed issues that are a result of my client’s eating disorder or minimized at the least. If you have read “Sick Enough” by Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani then you know about the medical complications of your eating disorder. 

Attending eating disorder therapy can help you recognize the physical impact that your eating disorder is having on your body and to focus on getting your body to heal physically while therapy helps you heal emotionally and mentally. Clients have shared that they didn’t realize how much their eating disorder was impacting them physically until they start to focus on decreasing eating disorder behaviors and utilizing an intuitive eating approach to eating and recovery. 

2. Eating disorder therapy may improve your relationships 

One of the hardest things for the women I work with who have been struggling with their eating disorders is recognizing how it’s impacted their relationships. You don’t realize when you are in your eating disorder how much it is changing your relationships with the people you love. One of the ways an eating disorder thrives is in secrecy. You keep things from the people who love and care about you, and it’s hard to remain connected. Your eating disorder can keep you isolated and lead you to believe you don’t need other people or even worse that other people don’t care about you. Eating disorder therapy helps you rebuild and improve your relationships. A significant part of eating disorder recovery is replacing your eating disorder with meaningful and caring relationships. There will be people in your life that don’t even realize you have an eating disorder and being able to gain support from them can aid you in eating disorder recovery. Therapy can help you change your relationships for the better and help you feel more connected again. 

3. Eating disorder therapy can help manage anxiety better 

Part of what we explore in therapy when it comes to your eating disorder is how much it is used to manage or numb anxiety. This isn’t always a conscious connection for some people. Realizing that you are coping with anxiety using eating disorder behaviors is something that is addressed in eating disorder therapy. Finding newer healthier ways to cope with anxiety is also an important aspect of counseling. You can learn to understand how you started dealing with your anxiety using eating disorder behaviors and start utilizing healthier strategies instead. You may be reading this now and feeling skeptical that this is true for you. The women I work with don’t always realize they have anxiety until they stop using eating disorder behaviors. Eating disorder therapy can help you make connections that you haven’t realized before. When you begin focusing on eating disorder recovery, your anxiety might get higher than it was before because you have stopped using eating disorder behaviors. This is a normal part of the experience. However, the more you utilize therapy and understand yourself better the less anxiety will have an impact on you. 

4. Eating disorder therapy will help you make peace with food 

You have learned to manage a lot of your life using food. Food has become a weapon in some ways. You don’t trust it, and you don’t trust yourself with it. The women I work with share experiences where they heard someone, a parent, or a grandparent make a negative remark about themselves or someone else’s body. This changed the way they viewed their body and learned that food could be used to change their size in some ways. The clients I work with also have learned that foods are “good” or “bad” and have learned to avoid certain foods because they are “bad” and might make them “fat”. There is a lot to try and undo when these experiences have had a profound impact on how you view food. This is not a helpful way to view food or use food. Eating disorder therapy can help you learn to challenge the messages you have received about your body and foods. Working with an eating disorder therapist allows you to change what you believe about food to something more helpful and healthy. 

5. Eating disorder therapy can help you recognize your values

When we have troubles in our lives sometimes it’s helpful to recognize what we value the most and find ways to align our actions more so with our values and beliefs. What happens when you are engaged in eating disorder behaviors is that you often neglect the values and beliefs that mean the most to you. The women I work with share how they don’t even feel like themselves. When it comes to their eating disorder it feels like someone else is controlling them when are using eating disorder behaviors. They feel like they’ve abandoned themselves and the things they care about most for their eating disorder. Eating disorder therapy can help you find your values again and what you care about. Therapy can help you recognize how your eating disorder behaviors are behaviors that go against your values. Letting go of your eating disorder will help you live what you value more fully. 

Eating disorder therapy can change your life. 

Eating disorder therapy has the power to change the entire trajectory of your life. I know that sounds like a big and bold statement but it’s the absolute truth. I have worked with women in inpatient hospital settings to outpatient therapy, and I’m confident in saying therapy is the thing that has impacted these women. When you don’t have the tools it can be hard to see another way out of this. The feeling of hopelessness and being trapped doesn’t have to last. As a therapist, I have spent years and years learning how to help women that feel just like you. I have been able to see them leave their eating disorders behind and live happy and purposeful lives. You can experience this too. 

Start working with an eating disorder therapist in Utah 

You don’t have to live the way you are living now. You know you feel miserable in your eating disorder but you just can’t find a way out of it. You’ve probably tried everything you can think of on your own to feel better. You don’t have to do it alone and eating disorder therapy can help. This Utah Counseling Clinic has an eating disorder therapist specializing in eating disorder therapy. To begin counseling follow the steps below: 

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation 

2. Meet with an eating disorder therapist in Utah 

3. Begin eating disorder recovery

Online Eating Disorder Therapy in Utah 

It can be hard to find a therapist that lives close by in the town you live in Utah. There are many areas in Utah that are rural and don’t live close to an eating disorder therapist. Just because you live away from an eating disorder therapist doesn’t mean you can’t get quality care to help you recover. This is why I offer online therapy in Utah. Using online eating disorder therapy can help you recover from your eating disorder just as effective as in-person therapy.

Online eating disorder therapy means that I can help you wherever you are located in Utah. I work with clients in Salt Lake City, St. George, Cedar City, Logan, Heber City, and more. 

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy 

Eating disorder therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Utah Counseling Clinic. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include body image therapy, anxiety therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, EMDR therapy, and birth trauma therapy. 

About the Author 

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed therapist and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah. She has a master's degree in social work from Utah State University in Logan and two bachelor's degrees from Southern Utah University in Cedar City. Ashlee has worked with women with eating disorders since being a student therapist at Utah State University CAPS. She enjoys helping women find freedom from their eating disorders by utilizing self-compassion and learning their identity again. Ashlee believes that women (and of course men!) can recover from their eating disorders and live happy and fulfilling lives. When Ashlee isn’t doing therapy, she enjoys exploring the outdoors of Utah County. 

4 Tips From A Body Image Therapist

If you are one of the many women that struggle with looking in the mirror, avoid photos, and are constantly thinking about how you need to change what you eat and exercise, that probably means you struggle with body image. I understand how hard it is to deal with these feelings day after day. It seems like no matter what you do you continue to hate what you look like. It doesn’t seem to matter. It can be hard to know where to start and how not to keep doing what you’ve always done when you know it won’t work long term. 

Tips to improve your body image from a body image therapist 

As a body image therapist, I work with women who really struggle to exist in their bodies. They can’t stand how they feel and they believe things would be better if they were smaller, or they just looked different. While that isn’t anywhere close to being the truth, I want to offer you some tips on how to relieve some of the body image stress. 

Wear Clothes That are Comfortable 

This might seem like a no-brainer but when you think about it how many items of clothing do you wear that you feel comfortable in? If you are constantly thinking about how tight your waistband is then you are going to be thinking about your body a ton more than when you are dressing comfortably. Dressing in comfortable clothes even if it means you go up a size can help you stop feeling so consumed by your body image. When clothes don’t feel right on your body you are more prone to think negatively and to spend more time considering ways to change your body. The solution might be to find different clothes. 

Get rid of clothes that don’t fit 

Every time I talk to my clients about getting rid of clothes that don’t fit, they tell me, “I don’t want to spend the money on new clothes!”. I totally understand that financially it can be difficult to get rid of the clothes that don’t fit and replace them with new ones. However, first I want to challenge you on whether is it really the money that is the biggest barrier to this. Or is it because you have rules for yourself on what size you can be or that you might hold beliefs about yourself if you go up a size? If it is financial stress, you can consider selling your clothes that don’t fit as well as consider buying clothes that do fit from a thrift store. Holding onto clothes that do not fit your body in hopes that you will lose weight or fear that you will gain weight is going to hold more power over you and your body than you realize. 

Stop body checking 

Body checking can be an unconscious behavior that you don’t realize you do to make sure your body is “ok”. Body checking can be looking in the mirror too often to check what you look like, weighing yourself, or measuring parts of your body to make sure it hasn’t changed. There are numerous behaviors that people can engage in that I couldn’t even name them all. I have had clients who have measured how their towel fits around their body after they shower to make sure their body hasn’t changed to other behaviors. Whatever they look like for you, work on decreasing these behaviors. They aren’t serving you and they are keeping you focused on your body and its size. 

Don’t keep changing clothes 

The women I work with have been known to change their clothes numerous times a day. It could be that you try on 5 outfits before leaving the house and you hate what you look like in all of them. It seems like the more and more you do this and look in the mirror the more and more unsatisfied you are. Please realize it’s how you feel about yourself and not the outfits that are causing the problem. If you are a compulsive clothes changer stick to not changing your outfit more than two times to start. Again, this is in an effort to help you stop focusing on what you look like. If you never looked in the mirror again, I think your life might be better for it. I’m not going to go to the extreme but if you can decrease it, you’ll likely feel better. 

Body image therapy can help

If you are struggling with your body image, and you’ve done everything you can on your own, and you still feel horrible consider body image therapy. It’s not easy to overcome this all on your own especially when you’ve struggled with body image issues for a long time. Struggling with body image and going to therapy doesn’t mean that anything is wrong with you. It means that you are a person that wants to grow and change. That’s something admirable. You deserve to feel better about yourself and your body. Working with a body image therapist that can help you work through how you feel can change your life. 

Ready to start working with a body image therapist in Utah?

You don’t have to keep battling with your body and cringe every time you look in the mirror. You can feel so much better about yourself and body image therapy can help. This Utah Counseling Clinic has a body image therapist specializing in treating body image. To begin therapy follow the steps below: 

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation 

2. Meet with a body image therapist in Utah 

3. Start making peace with your body

Online therapy in Utah 

I know it’s not always convenient to take time out of your schedule to travel to a therapy appointment. However, I believe therapy is worth it and can lead to big changes in your life. I want to make it more accessible for you, which is why I provide online therapy in Utah. This is safe and effective as much as in-person therapy is. 

Online counseling means I can work with you wherever you are in Utah. I work with clients in Salt Lake City, Heber City, Logan, St. George, Cedar City, and more. 

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy 

Body image therapy isn’t the only mental health service provided by this Utah Counseling Center. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include eating disorder therapy, anxiety therapy, EMDR therapy, and birth trauma. 

About the Author 

Ashlee Hunt is a therapist and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy in the state of Utah. Ashlee has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a bachelor's degree in family life and human development from Southern Utah University. She has a master's degree from Utah State University in Social Work. Ashlee works with women who struggle with eating disorders and negative body image by helping them utilize self-compassion. She has been working with women with eating disorders since 2013 and hopes to continue working with these wonderful women forever. When Ashlee isn’t doing therapy she enjoys spending time outside and playing with her Goldendoodles in Spanish Fork.

Online Eating Disorder Therapy: A Therapy Guide

Struggling with an eating disorder is so difficult, and it’s hard to talk about it when it feels like nobody understands where you are coming from. “Just eat”, they say,  “I don’t know why it’s so difficult. Just focus on eating healthy foods”. What’s the point in talking about this when all you get are unhelpful responses? You end up keeping your feelings and struggles to yourself because talking about them doesn’t seem to make it any better. It’s frustrating when the people in your life don’t understand eating disorders and why it’s so complicated to stop doing eating disorder behaviors. You don’t even understand why it’s so hard but you know that it’s not simple. 

I totally get where you’re coming from. I understand how taking advice or getting help from someone that doesn’t understand eating disorders can actually make it worse. When I meet with my clients and they share some of the things that people have said I sometimes have to pick my jaw up off of the floor. I know many clients who have seen a therapist for their eating disorder that didn’t have the experience and training, and the client ended up feeling triggered and spiraling further into their eating disorder. I know how important it is that you get help from someone that knows exactly how to help you. I also know it’s not always accessible for you to see an eating disorder therapist. 

I can’t solve all of the problems that make eating disorder recovery hard but one thing I can do is make it a little more convenient for you. I have lived in rural parts of Utah myself and know how hard it is to travel and get access to the mental health support that you need. This is why I offer online eating disorder therapy. 

What is online eating disorder therapy?

Online eating disorder therapy is pretty similar to in-person eating disorder therapy. Online eating disorder therapy involves meeting with an eating disorder therapist through a face-to-face video call (like Facetime) on a HIPAA-compliant video platform. Online eating disorder therapy sessions happen once a week and involve focusing on your goals for eating disorder recovery. Sometimes you won’t know what your goals are but know that you want to feel better and stop using eating disorder behaviors. As an eating disorder therapist, I can help you know where to start and what would be the most important to focus on but you’re always in the driver's seat and get to decide how fast and how slow we go. Online eating disorder therapy is for people who are not medically compromised in their eating disorder and are stable enough to not need a higher level of care. 

Is online eating disorder therapy effective?

 Many people wonder if it’s as effective as meeting with a therapist in person, and it definitely is! I was doing online therapy before the Covid-19 pandemic but when the whole world shut down and went online it solidified how much it works! I get excited about online therapy because I know how hard it is for people to struggle with an eating disorder and there is nobody in their Utah town that specializes in treating eating disorders. This idea has always kept me up at night, and I can’t stand to think about people not getting the help they need because there is nobody close by. Online eating disorder therapy is an effective form of therapy and is not any less impactful than meeting in person. I totally understand that you may have a preference for meeting in person, and if that’s what you want to do by all means do it but I don’t want you to struggle to travel and attend appointments because you think it’s superior to online. It’s no different. 

How does online eating disorder therapy help?

Online eating disorder therapy allows you to meet with an eating disorder therapist from the comfort of your own home. Online eating disorder therapy helps to be able to recognize and understand the contributing factors of your eating disorder. Eating disorders are complicated and it’s not that simple to try and figure out what contributes to your eating disorder. Eating disorders aren’t just about wanting to be thin and to lose weight. It’s not just about hating your body and wanting to eat healthily. Eating disorders are about so much more than that. Some women with eating disorders, they’ve experienced trauma that impacts how they feel about themselves and don’t realize what they experienced was a traumatic event. Eating disorders can be about trying to control chaos and manage anxiety. They can be about the negative beliefs you have about yourself. Online eating disorder therapy can help you work through these things and make connections in order to fully recover from your eating disorder. 

What is online eating disorder therapy like?

Online eating disorder therapy involves meeting for 50 minutes with an eating disorder therapist face-to-face via a video chat platform that’s similar to facetime. It’s best to meet every week in order to get the best results and gain more traction in eating disorder recovery. In these therapy sessions, we can talk about whatever you want to focus on! For some of the women that I work with this brings up too much anxiety, and they don’t know what to talk about. That’s ok! I can help you and guide you through the process. I don’t talk to my clients about what they’re eating and how much. I leave that to their eating disorder dietitian and nutrition counseling. What we do focus on are your emotions around food and your body. We will talk about experiences that made you feel like what you looked like matters and how your eating disorder developed. We don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to. I want you to feel safe with me before anything else. 

How do I prepare for an online eating disorder therapy session?

My clients love to prepare and feel ready before they sign up for therapy. My general recommendations are first to make sure you will have privacy. I have had clients meet with me from their closets and their cars parked in their driveways because that’s where they felt the safest. It doesn’t matter to me where you are for the session as long as you have a good internet connection and will feel comfortable sharing without someone else listening in. It’s also helpful if you have earphones to use as it often helps us be able to hear each other better. 

What’s different about online eating disorder therapy?

The only thing different about online eating disorder therapy is that we won’t be in the physical presence of each other. I won't find you in the waiting room and you won’t sit on my couch. Otherwise, everything else is the same. I talk to you and approach you the same way as I would in person. Sometimes I will explain to you what I’m doing because you can’t see everything from a computer screen. If I spill my soda all over the carpet I will let you know what you missed :). 

How long does an online eating disorder take?

Online eating disorder therapy is a 50 minutes session and most of the clients I work with for an average of 18 months. I know that can seem like a long time when you want a quick fix but eating disorders don’t have a quick fix. You will gradually feel better and better throughout the process but if you are committed to eating disorder recovery and you want to get better, just know it won’t be quick. It will be worth it and you won’t regret it but it will be a commitment. 

What’s the goal of online eating disorder therapy?

The goal of eating disorder therapy is to help you fully recover from your eating disorder. As an eating disorder therapist, I want you to be able to eat without fear and anxiety. I want you to be able to manage and cope with your anxiety in healthier ways that aren’t restricting or binging. My goal is to help you work through the painful experiences you’ve had with your body and with others. I want you to be able to trust yourself and in turn to help your body trust you back. Your overall mental health should improve the more you focus on getting rid of your eating disorder. The number one priority is helping you feel better and feel like you can approach life in a more stable way. 

Online Binge Eating Therapy 

Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. Many people who struggle with binge eating are too ashamed to ask for help and don’t feel like their struggle is as valid as someone with a different eating disorder though. People who binge eat need just as much help as anyone else. Online binge eating therapy can help you overcome binge eating disorder and heal your relationship with food. I’m not here to judge you and just want to help you find relief. Online therapy works for binge eating disorder treatment as well. 

Online eating disorder therapy gives you access to an eating disorder therapist in Utah

Utah is a big state and there might not be an eating disorder therapist where you live. You can travel an hour or more to get to a therapy appointment or you can get the same results by utilizing online therapy. You deserve eating disorder recovery. I know it doesn’t feel good to hold all of this heaviness, to feel trapped, and to have no idea how you’ll get out. You don’t have to 

feel this way. There is help for you. Working with an eating disorder therapist online can make a huge difference for you. I have known since I first started working with eating disorders when I was a brand new therapist that this was the population I wanted to work with. I have never met more tenacious and inspiring women. They have been through painful things and all I’ve ever wanted is to show them compassion that they don’t give to themselves. You can recover from your eating disorder and working with an eating disorder therapist can help you through the process. 

Begin working with an eating disorder therapist in Utah 

You don’t have to keep feeling trapped in your eating disorder. I know the cycle is exhausting over and over again. You can find peace with food and your body, and eating disorder therapy can help. This Utah Counseling Clinic has an eating disorder therapist specializing in eating disorder therapy through online therapy in Utah. To begin counseling follow the steps below: 

1. Book a free 15-minute phone consultation 

2. Meet with an online therapist in Utah 

3. Start recovering from your eating disorder 

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy 

Online eating disorder therapy isn’t the only mental health service provided at this Utah Counseling Center. Other mental health services offered by Maple Canyon Therapy include binge eating disorder treatment, anxiety therapy, EMDR therapy, body image therapy, and birth trauma therapy. 

About the Author 

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed therapist and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah. Ashlee has two bachelor's degrees from Southern Utah University, a bachelor's in psychology, and a bachelor's in family life and human development. She obtained her master's in social work from Utah State University. Ashlee has been working with eating disorders since 2014 when she was a graduate student therapist at Utah State University Counseling and Psychological Services. She has worked with eating disorders at all levels of care from inpatient and residential to outpatient and partial hospitalization. Ashlee enjoys working with women on an outpatient basis the best and finds that working with motivated women who want to leave their eating disorders behind is the most rewarding job. She enjoys continually learning and gaining knowledge in the field of eating disorders as this is her life’s passion. 

6 Reasons to Go to Body Image Therapy

I know you aren’t the biggest fan of your body. Maybe that’s putting it lightly? You avoid mirrors but also feel consumed by them at the same time. You can’t remember a time when you actually liked your body. You’ve done a lot to try and feel good about yourself but it’s been short-lived. Nothing has really lasted. You’ve done the diets and other things to change your body, hoping you might finally like it. You’re growing tired of living like this and want to stop feeling like you are failing. Negative body image doesn’t feel like a real problem, yet you can’t shake it. No matter what you can’t stop caring about it. 

I get it. Girl, it’s not just you. Body image issues wreak havoc on women everywhere to varying degrees, and we have just somehow accepted that it’s normal. As women, we even bond over how much we hate our bodies and how much we just need to gain more control over ourselves. We sit at dinner with our friends and tell ourselves how bad we are for eating french foods and how the diet starts on Monday. Someone else will chime in and agree that they too need to be more focused on what they eat because their pants don’t fit anymore. I don’t know about you but I think it’s kinda messed up that we do this as women. Mutual self-hatred isn’t the way to build connection. Honestly, the world would be a better place if we could stop talking about our bodies altogether. 

You don’t have to keep living like this though. You can listen to what feels best to your body on how it’s nourished, moves, and how rests. You don’t have to keep talking negatively about your body to your spouse, your family, and your friends. You can stop the madness of being consumed and ruled by your appearance but as you and I both know, it won’t go away on its own. The answer isn’t finding another way of changing your body. 

Why should I go to body image therapy?

Body image therapy allows you to work with a professional who specializes in treating body image issues. There are only so many books you can read (although there are some good ones) to make a difference in how you feel about yourself. It’s no secret to the women I work with that I think negative body image is about so many other beliefs you have about yourself. Negative beliefs can manifest themselves through how you feel about yourself. We do live in a world that is OBSESSED with what we look like. It’s hard to be surrounded by messages that we need to take up less space and shrink our bodies but it goes even further than that. Body image therapy can help you bring those issues to light and help you work through them. 

Reasons to go to body image therapy 

There are many reasons to go to body image therapy. Everyone has a unique experience and they gain something unique from the experience but these are some of the common reasons for body image therapy. 

Body image therapy can help you make peace with your body 

Constantly trying to change and alter your body creates a war between you and your body. Being angry at your body for not dropping weight or looking a certain way makes it hard to live with yourself. Many women tell me they know they should be grateful for their bodies and feel guilty because they don’t feel that way. I think it’s pretty normal to be frustrated with your body from time to time and struggling with your body image isn’t something that you need to feel guilty for. It’s a hard enough struggle to deal with without the guilt on top of it all. Body image therapy can help you change the anger you feel about your body to something more neutral. You can stop actively trying to change your body and accept it for what it is you. Working with a body image therapist can help you stop this battle and find more compassion and respect for the body you live in. 

Body image therapy can help decrease the negative thoughts you have about your body 

You probably don’t realize all the negative thoughts you have about your body in a day. We think so many thoughts and aren’t consciously aware of how much negativity we are putting out about our bodies. You can be thinking a series of negative thoughts about your body hundreds of times a day. This can lead to behaviors that don’t align with your values and feelings of depression and anxiety. Body image therapy can help you increase your awareness of the thoughts you are having about your body and what triggers them. You can learn to understand more about the situations, places, and people that bring up these negative thoughts about your body. Once you have more awareness and understanding you can learn how to manage them better. A body image therapist can help you find ways to cope with thoughts and decrease having negative thoughts altogether. You might be skeptical that you can feel any different about your body than you do now but I assure you that you can feel much better. 

Body image therapy can help you find value outside of your body and appearance

There are many things that make you valuable and worthy as a person. The way you treat others, your relationships, the passions you pursue, and just simply because you exist to make you worthy and valuable. As a woman, you get the message that one of the biggest values lies in your appearance. You are expected to have a perfect body (whatever that means) if you want to measure up. While some women know they have worth outside of their appearance they still feel strongly about needing to look a certain way. You also may look at others and know they are more than their body and have meaning and purpose regardless of what their body looks like but you may not realize that about yourself. Body image therapy can help you recognize other values you have in your life that aren’t related to your appearance. Recognizing these values and finding ways to align your behaviors more with them can make a difference in how you feel about yourself. 

Body image therapy can help you heal from past negative experiences about your body 

The hurtful things people have said to you about your body don’t just go away. I have listened to clients share that it’s silly or weird that they still think about the thing that a friend said to them when they were young kid. Why would that still have an impact on them? Many women I work with have had parents be critical of their bodies or they’ve experienced trauma because of their bodies. Even if you haven’t had these experiences, witnessing other people speak negatively of their bodies or other people’s bodies may have influenced you to start viewing your own body in that same way. Body image therapy helps you get to the root of these experiences and the emotions that come up when you think about them. It makes sense that they still have an impact on you and haven’t just gone away. The way our brains work is that it processes these experiences as important and shows us how to act. Body image therapy can help you reprocess these experiences and heal from them. Being able to heal and work through these experiences can help them not to have such an impact on you. 

Body image therapy can help you to stop trying to change your body 

How most women try to feel better about their bodies is through trying to change them. That’s what they’ve been told by the media and other people would make you feel better about yourself and your body. The irony is that changing your body does the opposite. You may temporarily feel better about yourself and your body but then you aren’t satisfied long term. You constantly feel empty and that you need to keep changing yourself. It’s a body image blackhole to go through this cycle. The goal of body image therapy is for you to accept your body for what it is. You don’t have to be thrilled about your body. You don’t even have to like your body but if you can stop hating it and stop trying to change it then you are in a much better position than you are now. Body image therapy can help you stop the cycle. 

Body image therapy can help decrease your anxiety about your body 

When you think about going to social situations you might dread them because you think that everyone is going to notice your body. You imagine hushed whispers and people being critical about what you look like. Believe it or not, you don’t have control over this and even though most of the time people don’t care about what your body looks like as much as you do, other people still aren’t the problem. It’s the anxiety and fear you have about what other people think about you. Body image therapy can not only help you cope with the anxiety you have about your body but to lower the amount you have in general. If you recognize why your brain is responding with anxiety and fear you can begin to learn to find ways to manage triggers and find healthy outlets for this stress. 

Begin working with a body image therapist in Utah 

You don’t have to keep hating your body. You can stop thinking about what you look like in every social situation. You can find the relief you are after, and body image therapy can help. This Utah Counseling Practice has a body image therapist specializing in body image therapy. To begin counseling follow the steps below: 

1. Book a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a body image therapist in Utah 

3. Start making peace with your body 

Online Therapy in Utah 

I know how important it is to prioritize therapy because it can have a profound difference in your life. I also understand how you may not have all the time or access to seeing a therapist in person. Utah is a big old state, and it has many rural parts that don’t have access to working with a therapist that specializes in body image. I’m passionate about helping women have greater access to the specialized therapy they need, which is why I offer online therapy in Utah. 

I work with women all over the state of Utah who experience body image issues. I provide therapy for people located in Logan, Salt Lake City, Heber, St. George, Cedar City, and more. Reach out today to start online counseling. 

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy 

Body image therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided by this Utah Counseling Center. Other mental health services offered by Maple Canyon Therapy include anxiety therapy, eating disorder therapy, trauma therapy including birth trauma, and binge eating disorder treatment. 

About the Author 

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah. She has a bachelor's in psychology and a bachelor's in family life and human development from Southern Utah University. Ashlee has a masters in social work from Utah State University. Ashlee has worked with women with eating disorders and body image issues since she was a graduate student therapist. She enjoys helping women make peace with their bodies and learning to heal from experiences that taught them their appearance mattered. Ashlee believes in using self-compassion to help women in therapy. When Ashlee isn’t doing therapy, she enjoys exploring Utah and most recently discovered the beauty of Tibble Creek Reservoir and loves watching her dogs swim in it.

Body Image Therapy: A Therapy Guide

You cringe thinking about having to have your picture taken or to have to go shopping for clothes because you can’t stand to look at yourself. Whether it’s been recently or for a long time, dealing with body image struggles is hard. It seems to take over your life and prevents you from enjoying your experiences. You wish that you didn’t even have to think about your body but as of right now it seems to take up too many of your thoughts. You feel kinda dumb for struggling with these things because you think people have real problems and hating your body doesn’t seem like a big enough problem to you. Despite all of that you can’t seem to change how you feel. You’ve tried over and over to change your body. You’ve lost weight, dyed your hair, contour your cheeks, and more but regardless you still struggle.

Worrying about your body feels like a never-ending cycle for you. You have tried to solve it all on your own but it doesn’t seem to change long-term for you. Do other people feel this way about their bodies or are you the only one? 

I totally get it. You’ve done everything you possibly could think of try and feel better about your body but you haven’t been successful. You’re tired of feeling this way but aren’t sure there is the hope of feeling better. As a body-image therapist, I have worked with many women who feel just like you. They’ve been able to make peace with their bodies through body image therapy and you can have this too. It’s not unreasonable to expect that you can have a life you enjoy that’s not completely plagued by tugging and pulling at your clothing, thinking about your next diet, or cosmetic procedures to change your appearance. 

What is body image therapy?

Body image therapy is a mental health service focused on body positivity or body neutrality with the help of a body image therapist. Body image therapy focuses not only on how to develop coping skills to deal with body image issues but to heal from the underlying issues contributing to negative body image. Women aren’t born hating their bodies but they learn how to do it somewhere. Many women have seen family members be critical of their bodies or other people’s bodies. They’ve learned that it’s important to be a certain size or look a certain way or else they don’t feel worthy. Body image therapy helps women heal from these experiences and change the negative beliefs they have about their bodies. Body image therapy helps women to utilize more helpful and positive behaviors when they are feeling triggered by their appearance. 

How does body image therapy help?

Working with a body image therapist can help you change your overall view of your body. It can help you recognize triggers to think negatively about your body and challenge you on how you compare yourself to other people’s bodies. Body image therapy can help you recognize the impact social media has on how you feel about your body and how to manage those thoughts. Being able to verbalize the thoughts and feelings that you’ve never been able to share out loud before can be more cathartic than you realize. Body image therapy helps improve your overall mental health and helps you stop fixating on all your flaws but helps you focus on the things your body can do and how it helps you live your values regardless of what you look like. 

How do body image issues impact mental health?

Women with body image issues often have higher rates of depression and anxiety. They have lower self-esteem and are more vulnerable to developing disordered eating and eating disorders than women who don’t have a negative body image. Body image issues are often minimized because they seem like a “first world problem” but it impacts a woman’s ability to function in her daily life. Not only do body image issues impact mental health but they also impact intimate relationships. Body image issues impact overall mental health when you are consumed with thinking negative thoughts about yourself and engaging in behaviors to change or alter your body. Behaviors to alter your body might offer temporary relief but long term they are damaging, and require these behaviors to be effective. 

What therapy is best for body image issues?

There are several different therapy types that can be helpful in dealing with body image issues. The three therapy styles that I use in working with body image issues are these: 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)  focuses on utilizing mindfulness and acceptance with committed behavioral techniques to be able to change. ACT focuses on something called psychological flexibility to change behaviors that are consistent with your values. ACT helps focus on distancing yourself from the thoughts you have about your body image through cognitive diffusion. 

EMDR Therapy

Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma therapy that helps reprocess traumatic experiences. EMDR is helpful to anyone who has a negative body image but especially to those who have traumatic experiences that involved their bodies. EMDR not only helps with trauma but it also helps change negative beliefs held about your body

IFS

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is not a family therapy contrary to the name. IFS focuses on recognizing parts of the mind that function as a system and how to give each of these parts what they need in order to overcome mental health issues.

How can a therapist help with body image issues?

A body image therapist is trained in therapeutic approaches that can help you combat negative thoughts about your body and go to the root of the issues. As a body image therapist, I am able to see an outside perspective of your experiences and help you make connections about your body image. It might be hard to believe that your body image has less to do with your body size and appearance than you think it does. Working with a body image therapist can help you recognize this and make lasting changes to how you view yourself.

How will body image therapy help with body dysmorphia?

I need to clarify that negative body image and body dysmorphia are not the same things. I see on social media that these two things are often confused. Negative body image is being critical and unsatisfied with your appearance. Body dysmorphia is a hyper fixation on certain body parts resulting in severe emotional distress. Body dysmorphia is a significant mental health issue that goes beyond negative body image. Body image therapy can help but what helps the most with body dysmorphia is medication and Exposure and Response Therapy.  To be diagnosed with body dysmorphia these are some of the symptoms: 

Symptoms of body dysmorphia

• Abnormally concerned with a small or non-existent flaw

• Thoughts about these flaws are severe enough to significantly impact your daily functioning

• A strong belief that you have a defect or deformity in appearance that is not real

• The belief that other people are judging and mocking you for your appearance 

Why should I work with a body image therapist?

You should work with a body image therapist because you deserve to feel better about yourself. You deserve to enjoy your life and create memories with the people you love without having to be consumed by what your body looks like. There is a life for you that you can enjoy without having to feel anxious and self-hated. Working with a body image therapist can help you achieve those goals. You might not know this because you don’t know anything different than being consumed by what you look like. There is hope for you to find relief from your struggles, and working with a professional who knows exactly how to help you can make a big difference. You deserve to do this for yourself so you can keep showing up for the people in your life that you love so much. 

Maple Canyon Therapy’s Approach to Body Image Therapy 

The primary goal that I have for the women I work with in body image therapy is for them not only to stop hating their bodies but for them to just stop thinking about their bodies in every situation. I don’t try and tell my clients that once they are finished with body image therapy they will be in love with their bodies. I can’t promise that, and to be honest many women never get to the point of loving their bodies. It’s ok not to love your body all the time but the most important thing is that you start to feel neutral about it and learn to give it respect regardless of what it looks like. The thing I want the most for you is for you to stop actively trying to change your body. I want you to heal from all of the messages you’ve received that your body is the most important thing about you when it’s not. You are much more than your body. 

My focus in body image therapy is to help you heal from the trauma that your body has been involved in. Many women have been told hurtful and horrible things about their bodies. Many women have experienced trauma around their bodies and this contributes to how they feel. I want to help you heal from all of that so you don’t have to spend so much of your energy trying to avoid thinking about it. I want you to be able to enjoy the activities you love without worrying about what your body looks like and what other people must be thinking about you. I want you to make peace with your body. 

Ready to start working with a body image therapist in Utah?

You don’t have to keep hating your body and repeating the cycles of hating everything you wear and avoiding the mirrors. There’s a better and more balanced way of living, and body image therapy can help. This Utah Counseling Clinic has a body image therapist specializing in body image therapy. To begin counseling follow the steps below: 

1. Book a free 15-minute phone consultation 

2. Meet with a body image therapist in Utah 

3. Start making peace with your body 

Online Therapy in Utah 

It’s easy to put therapy on the back burner and put it off because you have a busy schedule or get anxious about trying to find a therapist’s office. I totally get that it’s hard to prioritize yourself. I also believe you deserve it because therapy can and should change your life. I can’t solve all of these problems but I want therapy to be more convenient and accessible to you which is why I provide online therapy in Utah. Online counseling is just as effective as in-person therapy but is more convenient for you. 

Online counseling allows me to work with clients who are struggling with body image issues in Utah. I work with clients in Cedar City, St. George, Logan, Salt Lake City, Heber City, and more. Reach out today to make an appointment. 

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy 

Body image therapy isn’t the only mental health therapy service provided by this Utah Counseling Practice. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include anxiety therapy, eating disorder therapy, EMDR therapy, birth trauma, and binge eating disorder treatment. 

About the Author 

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah. Ashlee has a bachelor of science in psychology and a bachelor of science in family life and human development from Southern Utah University. Ashlee received her masters in social work from Utah State University. She enjoys working with women with eating disorders and negative body image. Ashlee loves helping women see what’s under their body image issues and to stop believing they need to change their bodies to be happy. When Ashlee isn’t doing therapy, she likes spending time with her Goldendoodles and exploring Southern Utah.

Everything You Need to Know About Eating Disorder Therapy

If you are struggling with your relationship with food you might be thinking about eating disorder therapy. You might not be sure that what you have is an eating disorder but you know you would like to stop having so much anxiety around food and eating. Most of the women I work with aren’t convinced they have an eating disorder, and I’m not necessarily here to convince you that you have an eating disorder but I want to help you understand more about what your options are. 

Whether you have an eating disorder or not, you can still make peace with food and stop waging the war on your body. I am here to help you decide if eating disorder therapy is something that might help you and know what to expect. I want you to be able to make the decision for yourself on whether treatment is right for you or now. 

What is eating disorder therapy?

Eating disorder therapy is a therapy service provided by a licensed therapist for the treatment of eating disorder symptoms. The goal of eating disorder therapy is to decrease anxiety around food, eating, and the body. Successful eating disorder therapy entails elminating the symptoms of an eating disorder. Eating disorder therapy is uniquely tailored to you, and what you are struggling with specifically. Furthermore, this type of therapy utilizes an intuitive eating approach. Intuitive eating is a non-diet approach to changing eating habits. Intuitive eating helps you learn to trust your body and listen to what it wants rather than eating by rules you have created for yourself—eating disorder therapy involves focusing on healing from past experiences where you have learned that the size of your body is essential. Eating disorder treatment often requires a team approach with the help of a psychiatrist, registered dietitian, and medical provider. 

What are the symptoms of an eating disorder?

• There are many different symptoms of an eating disorder. These are just a few to consider: 

• Preoccupation with food and weight

• Frequent dieting or weight loss tactics

• Rules around food and eating 

• Anxiety around eating and food

• Cutting out entire food groups 

• Restricting when you are allowed to eat

• Discomfort with eating around others

• Refusing to eat certain foods

• Fluctuations in weight

• Gastrointestinal problems 

• Feelings of guilt or disgust after eating

• Eating food in secret or hiding food

What is eating disorder therapy like?

Eating disorder therapy involves meeting with a therapist on a weekly basis. As an eating disorder therapist, I tell my clients to plan on attending on a weekly basis for 12 months to 18 months on average. Honestly, it often takes longer. I know it can be discouraging to think about the timeframe, but keep in mind that during this period, you are making progress week by week and feeling better gradually. It doesn’t mean that you are in for 18 months of torture. You don’t have to expect to keep feeling the way you are feeling now through the entire process. Your eating disorder therapist might also recommend you see a registered dietitian who specializes in eating disorders. It’s important that both your dietitian and your therapist have specialized training in eating disorder treatment. Eating disorders are complex conditions and require the right type of support in order to recover. I have had several clients who have seen therapists without the right experience and training, and it has been detrimental to their recovery. I want you to have a good experience and be able to trust you are going to get good care. 

How do you get over an eating disorder?

Recovering from an eating disorder involves focusing on working with your eating disorder treatment team to achieve the goals you have as well as goals they believe will help you recover. In order to really recover from an eating disorder, you have to really be invested in changing your attitudes and beliefs about yourself and food. This doesn’t mean you have to know how to do it but to be all in and committed is something necessary. Everyone’s needs and goals for their specific eating disorder will be a little different. Some people need to restore weight because they are medically compromised at their current weight. Everyone should be working with a therapist and a dietitian on how to manage anxiety around eating and to make sure you are eating enough and a variety of foods. A big part of recovery is to utilize help and support outside of therapy and dietary appointments. Your family, friends, and other supports can also benefit from learning and understanding your eating disorder and what they can do to support eating disorder recovery. 

Is binge eating an eating disorder?

Binge eating disorder is an eating disorder, yes. Does everyone who binge eats have an eating disorder? No. Just like all eating disorders, there is a frequency of behaviors for it to be a diagnosable eating disorder. However, Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder in the united states.  To meet a binge eating disorder diagnosis, one has to have recurrent and persistent episodes of binge eating. 

What are the symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder?

Some common symptoms of Binge Eating disorder include the following: 

• Feelings of disgust or guilt after overeating or binging 

• Distress around binge eating behaviors

• Eating alone because of embarrassment around binge eating

• Eating large amounts of food not due to physical hunger

• Eating until uncomfortably full

What is disordered eating? 

Disordered eating encompasses eating disorder behaviors but isn’t quite to the level of an eating disorder diagnosis. Disordered behavior is often the things people do with food that might be socially acceptable or even encouraged but are unhealthy. One example is intermittent fasting. This is a disordered behavior and can also progress to a full-blown eating disorder. Disordered eating involves frequent dieting, or cutting out certain food groups. People with disordered eating might have rules around food such as having to skip breakfast in order to feel like they can eat dinner. People that choose to stop drinking soda or have demonized sugar in hopes of manipulating weight or becoming thinner demonstrate signs of disordered eating. The list could go on forever but there are a lot of things that might seem normal behavior with food in our society that are actually on the spectrum of disordered eating. 

What is the most successful treatment for an eating disorder? 

The most successful treatment is the one that works best for you and helps encourage recovery. CBT is a commonly prescribed eating disorder therapy model to use but it’s also not sufficient to help someone recover. It’s one tool that people can use to help combat eating disorder thoughts. More important than a therapy model is that you are attending therapy every week and have a safe and trusting relationship with your eating disorder therapist. If you feel that you can work together to alter the approach so it fits you and your current needs then you will likely have more success in recovery. Along with working with a therapist is receiving nutrition education and nutrition therapy from an eating disorder dietitian. Acceptance and commitment therapy and EMDR are also used for eating disorder treatment. 

EMDR for Eating Disorders

Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma therapy model that can also be used to help with the treatment of eating disorders. EMDR alone definitely will not cure an eating disorder but it’s one tool to help. EMDR is used when a client is determined as medically stable and is eating consistently according to their dietary guidelines. Furthermore, this therapy model helps clients be able to challenge the negative beliefs they have about themselves and how they should eat or present that may not be helpful. Many people with eating disorders have negative experiences in their past that also contributed to their eating disorder. Full recovery from an eating disorder requires 

What is the average time to overcome an eating disorder?

The answer to this is different for everyone but the answer probably is longer than you probably would have hoped. I know the answer can be discouraging because it’s not a quick process. Eating disorders are complex illnesses and a variety of factors need to be treated in order for you to be considered recovered. You can expect to be in therapy for several years and even when you finish therapy you won’t be fully recovered. You will have to focus on making sure you are following your meal plan and managing your triggers. Recovery is a gradual process and you have to work at it but one day you’ll wake up and realize you don’t feel the way you feel right now. You’ll realize you don’t have to put in so much work to maintaining recovery but it feels more natural. You won’t feel as triggered or overwhelmed with anxiety around food. It will happen but it’ll happen slowly. 

Eating disorder therapy can help you get your life back

Working on eating disorder recovery will truly be the best thing you’ll ever do with your life. I have never met a person who fully recovered from their eating disorder that regretted it. It can be challenging and painful to do but your life will be better than you can ever imagine. You might not be able to see it now but one day you’ll be eating waffles for breakfast with the person you love, and you’ll be able to enjoy the moment and the food. You won’t have to calculate the calories that you are eating or figure out how to compensate for them later. Eating disorder therapy can help you get there. Working with an eating disorder therapist can give you the skills you need to fully recover. 

Start eating disorder therapy in Utah

You don’t have to stay stuck in your eating disorder. You don’t have to feel like food consumes your every thought. You can stop thinking about food the moment you wake up until your head hits the pillow at night. Eating disorder therapy can help you make peace with food and your body. This Northern Utah Counseling Center has an eating disorder therapist who can help. To begin eating disorder therapy follow the steps below: 

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation 

2. Meet with an eating disorder therapist in Utah 

3. Begin eating disorder recovery

Online Eating Disorder Therapy in Utah 

I know how important it is to work with a therapist that specializes in eating disorders to help you recover. Unfortunately, there are many parts of Utah that don’t have access to someone with eating disorder training and experience. This is why I offer online therapy in Utah. This allows you to meet with an eating disorder therapist without having to commute or travel. It’s already a lot to try and heal from disordered eating and you shouldn’t have to worry about having access to a therapist. Online counseling is effective, safe, and convenient. 

Telehealth therapy allows me to work with clients in Salt Lake City, Cedar City, Heber City, St. George, and Logan. 

Other mental health services at Maple Canyon Therapy

Eating disorder therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided by this Utah Counseling Practice. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include anxiety therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, birth trauma, EMDR therapy, and body image therapy in Utah. 

About the Author 

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah. Ashlee has a degree in psychology and a degree in family life and human development from Southern Utah University. She received her masters in social work from Utah State University. Ashlee has wanted to work with eating disorders since she was a freshman in high school and had her first eating disorder client as a graduate student therapist. She loves helping women find peace and empowerment in their bodies. Ashlee believes eating disorder recovery is fully possible and has seen many women successfully recover. When Ashlee isn’t in therapy mode she is enjoying Utah landscape and most recently discovered Mirror Lake near Heber City, Utah. 

6 Things Not to Say to Someone with Binge Eating Disorder

If you love someone who struggles with symptoms of binge eating disorder, and you want to support them in their recovery, I’m glad you are here. I  am glad that you care enough to consider how you can help be supportive and caring to your loved one. I try to help my clients see that a significant part of eating disorder recovery is to have support and to be open with others about their struggles. 

Can you and I also make a pact before we go any further? I need you to be open if you see yourself in some of these points, AND for you not to close the tab ok? I also need you to know that I am going to be pretty bold, and it might hurt to know some of these truths but your loved one with binge eating disorder needs you to be better. I know you’ve done your best with what you’ve had but once you learn how to do better, please rethink how you’re speaking to someone with this eating disorder. 

Some hard truths about Binge Eating Disorder 

I have worked with all different types of eating disorders at all levels of care so I feel like I have enough experience to say these things. People with binge eating disorder have more shame than any other eating disorder. It makes my eyes water every time I see it on their face.  It’s absolutely heartbreaking, and to be honest, it infuriates me at the same time. The shame comes from well-meaning friends and family members, our society, and especially other medical professionals. In this world, It’s not as sexy to binge as it is to restrict food. What people don’t realize is that they are both harmful and people with binge eating disorder are less likely to reach out for help because of the shame. 

If you aren’t reading every word of my other blogs because you’re likely not my mom, then let me say again what I have said before: binge eating disorder is derived from restricting foods. This means that people don’t develop binge eating disorder because they just didn’t have enough control but because they restricted and controlled food for way too long. It’s a normal and natural biological response to be deprived of food. If you’ve dieted over and over you likely are going to binge at some point. Why? Again because your body doesn’t like being deprived and doesn’t trust you anymore. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news that your body is upset with you. Even mental restriction is enough to make your body rebel and restrict. Trust me restricting food ain’t it, and it sure isn’t a solution to binging. 

Things not to say to someone with Binge Eating Disorder 

Trust me there are plenty of things you shouldn’t say to someone with binge eating disorder but these are some common phrases that are harmful and will likely lead to us talking about you in therapy ;). 

1. “Are you sure you want to eat that?”

Being the food police to someone struggling with binging will not be helpful. What your loved one is eating is not your business and even if you are concerned don’t say this. Also, don’t say this to anyone even if you don’t think they have an eating disorder. Our bodies send us hunger and fullness signals and don’t require an outside source to tell us not to eat something. This is also incredibly embarrassing to anyone and especially someone with an eating disorder.

2. “Have you just tried ____ *insert diet* to control your eating?”

Dieting is the reason why binge eating disorder is born. Cutting out foods and restricting them will increase cravings for these foods. Encouraging more dieting and restrictions will continue to fuel the eating disorder. This is already a common approach to binge eating disorder to just diet to regain control when dieting is what made you lose control. 

3. “Did you eat all of the ____*insert food item*?”

This is a shame-based approach and it’s not a helpful way to confront a loved one with binge eating disorder. I am not saying that you shouldn’t be frustrated when food disappears or the money that you spend on food. I totally get it, and there’s a better way to talk about this with your loved one. Make sure you regulate yourself first before going into this conversation. If you value your relationship with the person in your life that is binging there are ways to talk about this. Most importantly don’t have these conversations in front of other people. 

4. “You just need to have more control.”

Implying that someone with binge eating disorder is struggling because they don’t have enough control is not accurate. People who binge have utilized a great deal of self-control with food with dieting and restriction but they eventually can’t keep doing it. Our bodies aren’t made to restrict without it rebelling. Your brain doesn’t realize that you are trying to fit into different size of jeans; it thinks you are starving and it will do anything to stop you from doing it. It’s hard to imagine that your brain is actually your homie and is fighting to protect you but it is. 

5. “It doesn’t seem like you are trying that hard”

I am trying to think of a scenario even outside of an eating disorder where saying this would be helpful, and I can’t think of one. Neither you nor I know what anyone is trying to work on from the outside. Eating disorders are complex and difficult to recover from. It requires time, professional help, and support from loved ones. People suffering from eating disorders want it to be over and done with more than anyone else. Saying a statement like this won’t motivate your loved one to kick it into high gear. They are going to feel bad about themselves and believe nothing they do is enough. 

6. “Your eating disorder isn’t as bad as others” 

Maybe this isn’t the exact statement you would use but my clients have shared that having binge eating disorder compared to other disorders like anorexia or bulimia makes it feel like their problem isn’t that serious. Minimizing a serious struggle isn’t helpful. Binge eating disorder has serious physical complications but the emotional and mental consequences are overwhelming and just as painful as any other eating disorder. If your loved one is a normal weight or “overweight” their eating disorder isn’t something to dismiss. 

Give yourself compassion if you’ve found yourself saying these things out of frustration or lack of not knowing what else to do. You have never been in this position before, and you’re just trying to figure it out as you go. It’s ok to make mistakes but hopefully now that you know there’s a better way you’ll try something different. It can be a connecting experience to talk to your loved one about what they need from you and how you can support them. Some things can be hard to hear but they can also make for a better relationship. Educating yourself on binge eating disorder and eating disorders, in general, will help you understand more about what your loved one is experiencing. 

Supporting a loved one through binge eating disorder treatment

Encouraging your loved one in kind and supportive ways to seek out binge eating disorder treatment can help them get the help they need for their eating disorder. It’s discouraging for you and for them to continue to struggle and repeat the cycle over and over again. Eating disorders don’t have a quick fix and require the help of someone with specialized training. Encouraging your loved one to attend weekly therapy and supporting them in this will make a huge difference.  It can take some pressure off of you to know they are working with someone who knows exactly how to help them. It might also be important for you to get your own therapy and have increased support as you are trying to help them heal and recover. 

Binge Eating Disorder Treatment can help if you are struggling

If you are struggling with binging or someone you love then binge eating disorder treatment is your answer. People who binge eating issues are hesitant to reach out because they think they’re going to be judged for their body, behaviors, or prescribed another diet. Let me assure you I am not here to do that. You can trust that you are safe with me, and I know how harmful dieting is and how diet culture deserves punched in the face. I promise you I won’t make you feel bad about your struggle. I know that your eating disorder is about way more than food and I want to help you heal those past experiences. It’s possible to feel better about yourself and your body. 

My Approach to Binge Eating Disorder Treatment 

The goal of binge eating disorder treatment is to help you learn to accept your body and to stop binging and restricting. This is the cycle that fuels this eating disorder and learning to stop is an important part of healing. I don’t talk to my clients a lot about food because I’m a therapist and not a dietitian. I always recommend my clients see an eating disorder dietitian but with me, we work on healing from the past experiences that contribute to you not feeling like your enough and the overemphasis that’s been placed on your body. I’m not here to help you lose weight and hell will freeze over before I would :) Why? Because that involves restrictions that will fuel your eating disorder. I want you to learn to trust and listen to your body’s cues and get your body to trust you again. Intuitive eating binge eating is the approach I recommend. 

Start Binge Eating Disorder Treatment in Utah 

You don’t have to keep living like this. You don’t have to feel like you can’t trust yourself with food. You can stop the war with eating and making peace with your body. This Northern Utah Counseling Practice has an eating disorder therapist specializing in binge eating disorder treatment. To begin counseling follow the steps below: 

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation

2. Meet with a binge-eating disorder therapist

3. Start finding food freedom 

Online Eating Disorder Therapy in Utah 

I know how important it is to have access to a therapist that has the specialized training to treat eating disorders. I know there are many parts of Utah that don’t have access to a mental health professional with this expertise. This is why I began offering Online Therapy in Utah. It allows you to have access to help regardless of where you are in Utah. Online counseling is just as effective as in-person therapy but saves you time from having to travel to a therapist that knows how to help. 

This allows me to work with you if you are located in Logan, Salt Lake City, St. George, Heber, Cedar City, and more. 

Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy 

Binge Eating Disorder Treatment isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Utah Counseling Clinic. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include eating disorder therapy, anxiety therapy, body image therapy, EMDR therapy, and birth trauma. 

About the Author

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Maple Canyon Therapy in Utah. She has two bachelor's degrees from Southern Utah University. A bachelor's in psychology and a bachelor’s in family life and human development. Ashlee obtained her master's degree from Utah State University. She has been treating eating disorders since being an intern starting her counseling career. Ashlee is passionate about helping women learn to accept their bodies and not try to change them to fit a certain mold. When Ashlee isn’t in therapist mode she enjoys visiting different parts of Utah and most recently is loving Zion National Park. 

Binge Eating Disorder Treatment: Everything You Need to Know

Struggling with binge eating disorder is incredibly difficult. The women I work with that struggle with binging feel so embarrassed that this is their struggle. “Why can’t I have the *good* eating disorder?” they lament. I have to assure them there is no such thing as a good eating disorder, and they are all dangerous. However, reading between the lines, what they are telling me how awful it is to struggle with binging and not restricting. Our society seems to think restricting and starving is sexy when it’s actually deadly. Another thing these women don’t realize is that binge eating is born out of restriction. If you were to scan your history and think about when you started deciding food was good or bad, you tried eating less of certain kinds of foods, or you went on diets, this might be when restriction began for you. Even mental restrictions of telling yourself you shouldn’t eat certain foods will induce a binge and increase cravings. 

It all happens before you even realize what’s happening. Before you can even blink, it’s been ten years, and you’ve been stuck in this cycle. You don’t understand why you can be successful in so many different ways, but this is something you can’t seem to shake. You unknowingly try to buckle down and have more self-control, but you don’t realize this is fueling the fire. 

Binge eating Disorder Treatment is the key

Addressing your relationship with food and the cycles you find yourself in with food are all aspects to address in Binge Eating Disorder Treatment. You can change your reactions to stress through therapy. You probably don’t realize everything you take out on food in your life. You also don’t realize you’re a good person who deserves good things; binging doesn’t change anything. These are all beliefs that can be worked on in therapy. 

What is Binge Eating Disorder Treatment?

Binge eating disorder treatment is an eating disorder therapy focusing on treating binge eating disorders. This therapy involves meeting with a specialized therapist who understands the contributing factors to this disorder. Binge eating disorder treatment is not a weight loss appraoch. Many women come to therapy in hopes I will help them “be skinny” or lose weight. I don’t have control over what your body weighs or decides to be, and I won’t perpetuate the cycle that you need to change your appearance. Binge Eating Disorder treatment is about you digging deep into your emotions, thoughts, and past experiences. It also involves addressing body image issues and your relationship with food.

What are the symptoms of binge eating disorder?

Everyone's experience is different, but here are some of the common signs of needing therapy. 

• Feeling out of control with food

• Eating in secrecy

• Consuming large amounts of food

• Eating until you are uncomfortable

• Consuming food rapidly

• Engaging in binge behaviors weekly or more

• Feeling disgusted or guilty about the amount of food eaten 

How will Binge Eating Disorder Treatment Help?

The goal of this treatment is to stop the cycle of binging and to be able to help you cope with your emotions and stress in ways you feel more comfortable with. It’s normal for people to soothe themselves with food, but when this becomes the primary way of coping and dealing with life, we need to add other approaches. Binge eating disorder treatment can help you gain more confidence in yourself and trust with food. Counseling can also help you deal with underlying past experiences and negative beliefs that you have about yourself and your body. My goal for my clients is for them to decrease their symptoms of anxiety and depression and to feel happier overall with themselves and their lives. 

What type of approach is used in Binge Eating Disorder Treatment?

Here are some of the approaches that are used in treating this disorder. These are not all of them but some of the aspects I utilize and recommend. 

Psychotherapy

Therapy is a significant part of eating disorder recovery. Meeting with a therapist helps you to be able to process your eating disorder history and how it’s impacted your life. Therapy helps give you coping skills, work through past experiences and memories that may be contributing to the experience, manage triggers, and more. Counseling is meant for you to feel safe, let down your guard, be honest with a professional about what you are struggling with, and get help from someone with the right training. 

Health at Every Size

Health at Every Size (HAES) is an approach focusing not on your body size or weight. HAES focuses on incorporating healthy behaviors and being able to use body acceptance. This approach is also about eating for your well-being. HAES is also about getting respectful care regardless of your body size or shape. 

Body Positive 

Being body positive doesn’t mean trying to get you always to feel positive about your body. This is unreasonable and is going to discourage you if you expect this. Body positivity is about respecting and accepting your body regardless of anything. It also focused on the belief that you deserve to have a positive body image without changing or altering your body. 

Nutrition Counseling

Most people get slightly triggered when I mention working with a dietitian, and I don’t blame them. Dietitians are often associated with dieting and weight loss. However, nutrition counseling involves working with a dietitian trained to treat eating disorders. As a therapist, I am not qualified to give you nutrition advice as a dietitian does. Nutritional counseling is also about your attitudes and beliefs about food and working through these with a dietitian. 

Medications

Medication management for your depression and anxiety is a decision that's up to you. Many people are afraid of using medications that might impact their mood. There is nothing wrong with utilizing medications to help you through the treatment process; many women find this helpful. Medication is something you could discuss with your doctor if you are interested. Some of the women I have worked with hope there is a medication to stop them from overeating, but this is not something I recommend as it doesn’t help you become in touch with your hunger or fullness cues. The problem is still there when the medication is discontinued. 

What is the therapy used in treatment for binge eating disorder?

Different therapists utilize different models of therapy for binge eating disorders. These are some of the models I use in therapy. 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on six core processes to promote something called psychological flexibility. ACT involves recognizing and responding from your own value system regarding behaviors. This therapy also helps you distance yourself from negative thoughts without making you track them down and change them. ACT is about being present and mindful and taking steps toward action. 

EMDR Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder

EMDR therapy is one of my favorite therapy models to use with the women I work with. EMDR focuses on helping you work through the negative beliefs you have about yourself and working through past experiences that contribute to those beliefs. You might not realize how past experiences have contributed to how you think and feel about yourself now. EMDR was originally used to treat PTSD in vets, but we have now found that we can use it to treat various issues. 

IFS for Eating Disorders 

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an incredible therapy model that was actually created in response to eating disorders. IFS focuses on the parts of our personality that may be in conflict with our overall values and goals. We have many different aspects of our personalities, which are called parts. The creation of IFS compares these parts of our personality to family members. If you have heard yourself say, “Part of me feels sad, but part of me feels grateful,” this therapy approach digs deep into these different parts of us. 

How long does Binge Eating Disorder Treatment take?

I try to be really honest and open about the length of treatment everywhere because I want you to have realistic expectations. Therapy for eating disorders is no walk in the park, and it’s not done quickly. The women I work with tend to be high achievers and tell themselves they can do it faster. I am begging you to let go of that hope because it’s not helpful to you. Binge eating disorder treatment involves meeting weekly for 12-18 months or more. People will start this process and quit too soon because they told themselves they should be better by four months. Again eating disorder recovery takes time, patience, and work. It’s worth it, and you won’t regret it. 

Will Binge Eating Disorder Treatment Cure Binge Eating Disorder?

The goal of this treatment is to be able to stop your binges and for you to feel comfortable about yourself and with food. Going to therapy can set you up to not struggle with binging any longer, but I don’t want you to think going to therapy once a week is enough. Therapy is only one hour out of your week, and the real work will happen outside of the therapy chair. The good news is that if you put in the work and are committed, you will be freed from binge eating disorder. 

Why should I start Treatment for Binge Eating disorder?

I think you should start binge eating disorder treatment because you deserve to feel better. You don’t deserve to feel guilt and shame all the time. You can have a peaceful relationship with food and your body. You should do it because it’s something for you, and you probably give a lot of yourself to others in your life. I think you should start therapy because it will change everything for you, and you can be a lot happier than you are now. 

Start binge eating disorder treatment in Utah

You don’t have to keep feeling out of control with food. The cycle of binging can stop, and treatment for binge eating can help. This Utah County Counseling Clinic has an eating disorder therapist specializing in binge eating disorder treatment. To begin therapy, follow the steps below: 

1. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation 

2. Meet with a binge eating disorder therapist

3. Begin counseling 

Binge Eating Treatment through Online Therapy in Utah

It is important to have access to a therapist specializing in what you are struggling with, especially when it’s an eating disorder. Many parts of Utah don’t have an eating disorder therapist. This is why I offer Online Therapy in Utah. This allows you to access care without having to travel or commute. Online Therapy is just as effective and helpful as in-person therapy. 

Through online therapy in Utah, I am often able to work with clients located in Salt Lake City, Logan, Heber, Cedar City, St. George, and more. 

Other mental health services at Maple Canyon Therapy 

Binge Eating Disorder Treatment isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Northern Utah Counseling Center. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include eating disorder therapy, trauma therapy, including for birth trauma, anxiety therapy, and body image therapy in Utah. 

About the Author

Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker and Maple Canyon Therapy owner outside Provo, Utah. She specializes in eating disorder treatment and loves to be able to assist women in their eating disorder recovery. Ashlee believes that women can be free from binge eating disorders and never have to return. She understands that recovery isn’t easy and takes work and support. Ashlee has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a bachelor's degree in family life and human development from Southern Utah University. She has a master's degree in social work from Utah State University. When Ashlee isn’t doing therapy, she’s finding plants to add to her collection at Highland Gardens in Highland, Utah.