What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect a person’s relationship with food, exercise, body image, weight, self-concept, and self-worth. They are complex illnesses that involve both emotional and physical health risks. In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and genders, although the onset tends to occur in adolescence or early adulthood.
A variety of factors can influence the development of eating disorder behaviors including genetics, environmental influences, trauma, perfectionism, OCD, depression, or anxiety. Without proper treatment, these conditions can lead to severe health complications, making early intervention critical.
Types of Eating Disorders
There are several types of eating disorders, each with its own set of symptoms and challenges:
- Anorexia Nervosa: Characterized by extreme food restriction, intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted body image.
- Bulimia Nervosa: Involves episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use.
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Marked by frequent episodes of consuming large amounts of food in a short period, often accompanied by feelings of shame and a loss of control.
- Orthorexia: Though not an official diagnosis, this refers to an obsessive focus on “healthy” eating, which can become harmful and restrictive.
- Body Dysmorphia: Characterized by a persistent preoccupation with perceived physical flaws that leads to distress and impaired daily functioning.
- Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED): Many individuals struggle with disordered eating patterns that don’t fit neatly into a diagnosis but still cause significant distress.
No matter the type of eating disorder, seeking eating disorder treatment in St. Louis can help individuals regain control and build a healthier relationship with food and their bodies.
Signs & Symptoms of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders affect physical, emotional, and behavioral health. Common symptoms include:
- Extreme dieting or food avoidance
- Preoccupation with weight, calories, or food intake
- Frequent weight fluctuations
- Excessive exercise or compensatory behaviors
- Feeling out of control around food
- Social withdrawal and avoidance of meals
- Guilt or shame after eating
- Anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem related to body image
- Body dysmorphia
If you recognize these signs in yourself or a loved one, seeking an eating disorder therapist in St. Louis can be an essential step toward healing.
Sometimes, people exhibit disordered eating or a disrupted relationship with exercise, but they do not formally fit the criteria for an eating disorder. That does not mean they are not in distress. Likewise, symptoms may progress, and early intervention can be crucial in moving towards a sustainable recovery.
Benefits of Eating Disorder Therapy
Eating disorders are often deeply rooted in emotional struggles such as trauma, low self-esteem, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, OCD, and family dynamics. While they may begin as a way to cope, over time, the disorder starts to take control. Seeking help can feel overwhelming—you may fear losing a part of your identity or the safety net it has provided. The physical changes associated with recovery can also be intimidating.
Therapy provides a supportive space to work through these fears and uncover the underlying causes of disordered eating. Together, we will explore sustainable ways to meet your emotional and psychological needs, helping you rebuild self-worth beyond food, weight, or appearance.
How eating disorder therapy in St. Louis can help you:
Many individuals benefit from a comprehensive treatment approach that includes therapy, medical care, and nutritional support. As a licensed eating disorder therapist in St. Louis, I can collaborate with your doctor, psychiatrist, or dietitian to ensure well-rounded, holistic care.
Meet Your St. Louis Eating Disorder Therapist
Karen Geren is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience helping individuals recover from eating disorders, trauma, and related mental health conditions. She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Purdue University and a Master’s in Social Work from Washington University. Karen provides compassionate and specialized eating disorder therapy in St. Louis, helping clients navigate their recovery with personalized care.
My Approach to Eating Disorder Treatment
As a licensed therapist specializing in eating disorder treatment in St. Louis, I use evidence-based approaches tailored to your needs. Some therapeutic modalities that can support your recovery include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps change negative thought patterns and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Teaches emotional regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance.
- Emotion Focused and Attachment-based models: A humanistic approach that focuses on emotions and attachment relationships as sources for healing and recovery.
- Exposure Therapy: Gradual and supported exposure to feared foods or body image challenges in a supportive environment.
- Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT): Develops self-compassion and reduces shame around food and body image.
Every individual’s healing journey is unique. My goal is to provide a safe and compassionate space where you can process emotions, build resilience, and reclaim a sense of self beyond food, weight, and appearance.
A Supportive Space for All
I welcome individuals of all backgrounds, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, to receive inclusive and affirming mental health services and support. Eating disorders do not discriminate, and my practice is committed to providing compassionate care to those in need.
Start Your Eating Disorder Recovery Journey
If you’re searching for eating disorder treatment near me, I am here to support your healing process. Whether you struggle with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or disordered eating patterns, therapy can help you regain a sense of balance and peace.
You don’t have to go through this alone. Contact me today to start your journey toward recovery. Together, we can work toward a healthier and more fulfilling life.
