Recovery from an Adolescent Eating Disorder is possible, and you can do it all at home.
Family-Based Treatment for families of children and teens, ages 8-18 in Ohio
You may be feeling exhausted, burnt-out, lost and don’t know where to go.
You want your child back, you want normalcy and peace. You want your child to live life to the fullest which includes vacations, restaurants, dances and dates. You want your child to be healthy and thriving physically. You want peace in your home and joy around family gatherings.
You can have a healthy, happy home again.
Family meals, outings, vacations, holidays - can all be happy memories that don’t involve the eating disorder. Your child will not thank you now and that’s okay. They will be alive to thank you later, because you intervened to help them.
I work with parents and caregivers who have a child or teen who may be dealing with an eating disorder, body image, and an all-around difficult relationship with food and exercise. I serve families who are willing to put in the work to get their child back, even if it won’t be easy.
How I Can Help
Hi, I’m Heather. A clinical counselor and therapist specializing in working with adolescents with eating disorders.
The core of my practice is a love for children and teens-their wit, humor, and optimism. I know how difficult it is to be a teenager in today's society- the standards are higher than ever and the pressure is unrelenting. There is no break or respite - social media is there 24/7. If we don’t acknowledge and do something about it, we are doing a disservice to our youth.
I want to bridge the communication gap between teens and their parents and support you in supporting your child. Community is more important than ever in shaping the next generation - I am here to bring the most up-to-date, evidence-based knowledge and treatment of mental health to your home.
In our sessions together, I will provide knowledge and support, rooted in the most evidence-based eating disorder treatment for adolescents as well as years of experience in the field, to help you on your journey to recovery.
I work to get the best outcomes for you and your child, even if your child doesn’t like me or enjoy therapy. Their life and their health are more important.
Eating disorders are complicated mental health disorders and they can not be treated successfully without a strong support team around.
Are you unsure if therapy is the right way to help your child? Have you tried talk therapy before that hasn't helped? Do you blame yourself or think ‘I should be able to help my child on my own’?
Let’s talk. These are common questions from parents and I’m here to help answer them.
My Approach
I offer Family Therapy and Eating Disorder Assessments
Family therapy consists of parents and child together in an hour-long virtual session once a week, for as long as it takes to eradicate the eating disorder. Siblings and other family members are welcome to join. Eating Disorder Assessments are 90-minute appointments where I gather a history of eating patterns and body image concerns to determine if Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, Binge-Eating Disorder, or Other Specified Eating Disorder are present. From there, we can determine the course of treatment, whether that is with me, or another provider.
You don’t have to keep battling the roller coaster of emotions that come with eating disorders alone.
I can help you get your child back and break free of the chains of the eating disorder.
Help your child right now!
Common questions you may have
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Yes. Eating Disorders can be seen in children of All Ages.
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Below are some common signs of eating disorders- if your child has these, this does not mean they have an eating disorder. It does mean, you should get them evaluated. This list is by no means exhaustive and is not intended to diagnose an eating disorder.
● Only eating foods they deem “healthy” or “clean”
● Avoiding all sweets (ice cream, cupcakes, candy)
● Avoiding carbs (bread, pizza, pasta)
● Not eating foods they used to love and enjoy
● Exercising more than they did before or exercising excessively
● Feeling the need to exercise even when tired or exhausted
● Being upset when exercise is not allowed or withheld
● Not wanting to eat in front of others
● Insisting they are ‘not hungry’ for dinner or that they ‘ate a big snack’ when you weren’t home
● Wearing baggy or loose-fitting clothes
● Changes in appearance (weight loss-but not always!, pale, discolored skin, dark circles under eyes, hair loss)
● Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
● Constantly feeling cold; wearing sweatshirts in hot weather
● Going to the bathroom after meals
● Using laxatives excessively
● Drinking more caffeine than normal
● Drinking more water than normal
● Chewing gum excessively
● Counting food items
● Reading nutrition labels
● Counting or tracking calories, usually on phone apps
● Having a low Heart Rate
● Falling off their growth curve
● Lack of weight gain
● Irritability
● Not wanting to interact with family or friends how they used to
● Spending more time alone in their room
● Bringing food home in their lunch box
● Finding food or wrappers in the bedroom
If your child is experiencing one or more of these signs, schedule a consultation call so we can discuss how to help them. There are many, many more signs of eating disorders that we can discuss in our work together.
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For educational mental health content, connect with me @EatingDisorderTherapyOhio
