By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator *Content Warning: This blog post discusses grief and loss.  If this is something that you are struggling with or have struggled with, we invite you to take care of yourself in whatever that looks like for you. What is Disenfranchised Grief? Kenneth Doka coined the term, “disenfranchised grief,” meaning grief that is not “openly acknowledged, socially validated, or publicly mourned” (Doka, 2002).  Some examples of disenfranchised grief include pet loss, miscarriage, or loss of a person who is not familial/blood-related.   ..read more

By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator This blog will discuss eating disorder recovery, what it means, how it can differ from other forms of recovery, and how recovery takes time.  The end of this blog offers some journal prompts for further reflection.  These journal prompts can be done independently, with supportive friends or loved ones, or with your therapist or other treatment team members. Eating disorder recovery may mean different things to different people.  For many folks, eating disorder recovery means that being able to live a life free from eating disor ..read more

We are excited to announce that our blog has been named number 26 out of 100 Best Eating Disorder Blogs!  Our blog provides content for clinicians, individuals struggling with an eating disorder, and loved ones looking for information on how to support someone with an eating disorder. Our team is happy to provide blog content with the goal of helping to increase education and awareness about eating disorders.  Our blog features content around eating disorders, eating disorder recovery, body image, OCD, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, trauma-informed care, and more! Here is th ..read more

By Jennifer Rollin, MSW, LCSW-C Many individuals who struggle with eating disorders have a harsh inner critic. Some folks also struggle with perfectionism and “all or nothing thinking.” One example of “all or nothing thinking” and self-criticism in eating disorder recovery is as follows: “I restricted at snack today-I’m failing at eating disorder recovery; I may as well just give up!” A more self-compassionate response: “I restricted at snack today. I’ll work to do better in the future AND I can be kind to myself for having a tough day today in recovery.” ​Many people believe that being ..read more

By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator Eating disorders differ from other mental health disorders as they often require a multi-disciplinary approach.  What that means is that multiple specialties may be needed to monitor and reduce symptoms. Having a multi-disciplinary team can improve and speed up recovery outcomes and treatment goals, especially if team members collaborate with one another frequently.   Here are some people who may be a part of your eating disorder recovery treatment team: Therapist An eating disorder therapist (that's us!) can diagnose and tr ..read more

By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator This year, eating disorder awareness week is from Monday, February 26 to Sunday, March 3, 2024. Eating disorder awareness week helps to promote education about eating disorders and get people connected with treatment options. I wanted to provide some statistics to emphasize that eating disorders do not discriminate - they are happening all around us and they are impacting people of all races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations.  The second half of this blog will dive into warning signs and symptoms of eating disorders. 87 ..read more

By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator People struggling with bipolar disorder can experience mood fluctuations that may be severe and that can impair everyday functioning.   While we cannot prevent all contributions to clinically impairing mood fluctuations, such as a potential genetic predisposition, we can take a look at other areas of a person’s life to reduce the intensity or frequency of mood fluctuations.  Some other factors that can contribute to the intensity and frequency of mood fluctuations in folks with bipolar disorder include stress, major life events ..read more

Eating disorders often require specialized treatment.  ​We have created a brief guide that gives clinicians an overview about how to be eating disorder informed. Download the the FREE guide below! eating disorder informed guide File Size: 592 kb File Type: pdf Download File Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in MD, VA, DC, NY, FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggl ..read more

By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator One thing that can be challenging for people struggling with food and body image can be grocery shopping.  As grocery shopping is something that most of us can’t avoid, there are some ways to make it easier. 1. Going at non-peak times For people who may get anxious about being around a lot of other people, one thing that can help is going grocery shopping when you wouldn't expect a lot of other people to be going grocery shopping.  For example, weekday mornings may be an ideal time to go grocery shopping as most people would be at w ..read more

By Megan Samuels, MSW, LMSW, Outreach Coordinator Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT for short, is a treatment modality that has research to support its effectiveness for the treatment of suicidality, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, and self harm behaviors.  It has four sections, also known as modules, which are mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation.  All of these components are helpful to the process of recovering from an eating disorder.  One skill in the emotion regulation module of DBT is learning to cope ..read more