Clinical Psychologists for Eating Disorders
It is estimated that at least 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from an eating disorder. Characterized by a severe disturbance in eating behavior and an unhealthy preoccupation with body weight, eating disorders are part of a complex mental health condition that can have serious health consequences if left untreated.
For most people, food holds a psychological and emotional connection that provides feelings of pleasure and gratification. However, for some, food is part of a more complicated relationship that can involve dangerous behaviors, negative body image, depression, and addiction. Because eating disorders are less about food and more about psychological health, it’s important to seek treatment from a clinical psychologist specializing in eating disorders. They can help you identify the underlying cause(s) while also considering the influence of other mental health conditions.
At Blair Wellness Group of Beverly Hills, we provide individualized and comprehensive treatment for a variety of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, it’s important to seek help from a clinical psychologist experienced with eating disorders as soon as possible to get eating disorder treatment in Los Angeles. With the dedicated help of Dr. Blair, patients can break free from this, and other serious mental health conditions and pursue a path toward a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Risk Factors For Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are complex. Research shows that most people who develop an eating disorder often have one or more risk factors. However, those factors in and of themselves do not necessarily mean that if a person has them, that they will develop an eating disorder.
Risk factors affect people differently, meaning that two people with the same risk factors may still have very different experiences and symptoms. That’s why it’s imperative to treat each person as a unique case and tailor treatment to match his or her specific needs. The following is a list of some of the most common risk factors for eating disorders.
- Genetic Predisposition: One or more members of the family have had an eating disorder or mental health condition
- Personality: Competitive in nature, perfectionist, desire to please people
- Social Pressure: Person has been teased or bullied about their weight
- History of a mental health problem such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, and depression
- Negative body image: Preoccupation with weight and dieting
- Triggering event such as illness, death of a loved one, or relationship break-up
- History of sexual abuse or other trauma
- Participation in sports or other activities that encourage people to be thin
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Common Types of Eating Disorders
The term “eating disorder” encompasses a wide range of mental illnesses with the shared characteristic of some sort of harmful food-centered behavior. The following is an overview of some of the most common types.
Anorexia Nervosa
This is considered to be one of the most serious eating disorders. It usually involves self-starvation through severe food restriction that is sometimes coupled with excessive exercising and purging. Someone suffering from anorexia will usually have an intense fear of gaining weight and will often appear to be alarmingly underweight. Despite their appearance, most patients will refuse to acknowledge that they have a problem or that they are unhealthy in any way.
Bulimia Nervosa
This condition is characterized by repeated binging on large amounts of food followed by behaviors to counteract the overindulgence. Most commonly, people who suffer from bulimia will force themselves to throw up, engage in excessive exercise, or abuse laxatives. This can result in several health complications including gastrointestinal problems, chronic dehydration, esophageal tears, and difficulty swallowing, as well as many other more severe symptoms.
Binge Eating Disorder
As the name suggests, binge eating disorder is characterized by binging, or consuming large quantities of food within a short period of time. Shortly thereafter, the person may feel guilty or ashamed but does not engage in the purging behavior associated with bulimia. The consequences of binge eating range from reduced quality of life to more serious health issues such as obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Other Eating Disorders
Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder encompass the majority of eating disorder cases, however, there are several other types that are recognized by the mental health community, including:
- Compulsive Overeating: Eating large amounts of food all day long
- Diabulimia: Trying to induce weight loss through misuse of prescription insulin
- Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: Extreme selectivity in food that results in unhealthy weight loss
- Pica: Craving and eating items that are not considered food such as dirt, soap, or paper
- Rumination Disorder: Regurgitation of food that has previously been chewed and swallowed followed by re-chewing, re-swallowing, or spitting out of the food
Treatment For Eating Disorders
Because of their complexity and association with deep-rooted psychological conditions, eating disorders require treatment from a health professional who can effectively identify and address the cause so that recovery can be achieved. Dr. Cassidy Blair of Blair Wellness Clinic is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in eating disorders. We provide guidance and support combined with a customized approach to treatment of all Eating Disorders. With Dr. Blair’s supervision, care, and through the use of evidence-based treatment modalities such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Family Systems, and Psychoanalysis, we help patients change the distorted thoughts and emotions that are fueling their maladaptive, harmful, self-injurious, and dysfunctional behaviors.
Many people who suffer from Eating Disorders often feel embarrassed or ashamed and therefore hesitate to seek treatment. That’s why, at Blair Wellness Clinic, we offer concierge-style care so our patients can get the recovery, healing, and the support necessary, with the convenience of direct pay and without having to worry about dealing with insurance companies or any record of mental health treatment with third-party payors. Additionally, all of our concierge patients receive priority scheduling that includes direct access to Dr. Blair, seven days a week, including evening, weekends, and lunchtime appointments.
In-Person, Telephone, and Teletherapy Treatment For Eating Disorders
For the safety and convenience of our patients, Blair Wellness Clinic is offering in-person, teletherapy sessions and telephone meetings during COVID-19 pandemics. This allows all our patients to seek treatment whenever they need it, from the comfort and privacy of their home or office, and at our exclusive space.
Do you or someone you know need help overcoming an eating disorder? Contact Blair Wellness Group of Beverly Hills at 310.999.4996.
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We offer evening and weekend appointments for our concierge patients and all patients upon request. Call us today at 310-999-4996 to discuss how Blair Wellness Group can help you overcome
depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and other disorders.