• Has someone recommended eating disorder treatment to you?
• Do you have a fear of gaining weight or becoming fat?
• Do you have a hard time eating 3 meals per day?
• Or do you feel like you are eating too much (binging) and cannot control how much you eat?
• Has someone told you that you might have anorexia nervosa, bulimia, or another eating disorder?
• Do you eat large amounts of food too quickly?
• Do you eat until you’re uncomfortable or when you’re not hungry?
• Have you eaten alone out of embarrassment or felt guilty after eating?
• Have you experienced significant weight gain/loss?
• Do others often comment on your weight or how much you eat or don’t eat?
• Do you engage in behaviors to try to influence your weight or body shape?
• Do you find yourself obsessing over food labels, nutritional facts, or clean eating?
• Do you avoid certain types of food based on fears of choking, vomiting, food texture, or other sensations?
• Do you dislike or hate your body?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we have an eating disorder therapist in Louisville who can help you.

An eating disorder consists of problematic eating behaviors. These habits can affect how much an individual eats, their health, weight, and/or overall functioning. Eating disorders can negatively alter how individuals view their weight or body shape. Individuals with eating disorders often engage in unhelpful/harmful behaviors to alter their weight or body shape. They may also be trying to avoid uncomfortable feelings before/after eating. Eating disorders can be life-threatening. They can lead to multiple health issues and while some can improve with eating disorder treatment, others may not.  Our eating disorder treatment therapists can help with these issues:

Anorexia Nervosa is a type of eating disorder that involves having a low body weight. It also includes the fear of gaining weight or behaviors that prevent weight gain. Individuals with anorexia nervosa have a faulty view of their weight/shape and their self-esteem depends on their appearance. They may not show concern about their low weight or poor health. Our eating disorder therapist can help with anorexia nervosa treatment.

Orthorexia is not a formal diagnosis. However, it’s a well-known term often used to describe individuals who become obsessed with “clean eating.” Individuals with orthorexia often lose a lot of weight or have a low BMI due to eating only clean foods. Feel free to learn more about orthorexia from the National Eating Disorder Association’s website.

Bulimia Nervosa involves binging and feeling a lack of control over what is eaten or how much. In order to avoid gaining weight, an individual with bulimia nervosa will respond with unhealthy behaviors. These can include self-induced vomiting, laxatives or weight loss pills, overexercising, and/or fasting. Individuals with bulimia nervosa place a lot of importance on their weight or body shape, which affects their self-esteem. Many of these individuals will need to meet with a bulimia nervosa therapist.

Binge Eating Disorder involves binging and feeling a lack of control over what is eaten and how much. Often, individuals with binge eating disorder may eat quickly or when they’re not hungry. Also, individuals with this diagnosis may eat until they feel sick. They can avoid eating around others due to embarrassment or feeling bad about themselves after eating. A trained binge eating disorder therapist is the first line of treatment for many individuals.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder can include a lack of interest in food or avoiding certain foods. Avoidance may be due to sensations (e.g., texture) or fears of choking or vomiting. As a result, individuals with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder may be underweight or lose a lot of weight. They often have health problems and difficulties with overall functioning.

Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED) can include some symptoms from several eating disorders. However, the symptoms don’t meet the criteria for one specific diagnosis. Individuals may simply struggle with body image leading to unhelpful thoughts or behaviors.

• Atypical Anorexia Nervosa is similar to Anorexia Nervosa and can have as many health problems. However, it does not involve a low body weight. Individuals with this diagnosis may have just recently begun to restrict their eating or began at a higher weight. This would lead to significant weight loss without being underweight.

There are several evidence-based treatments for eating disorders that we can provide. Your therapy will be tailored to your diagnosis and symptoms.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E) has been shown to change unhelpful thoughts into healthier thinking patterns. CBT-E therapists also work on improving eating behaviors and reducing avoidance and other harmful habits. We have a licensed psychologist who is trained in CBT-E as an evidence-based eating disorder treatment.

Family Based Therapy (FBT) is for adolescents with anorexia or bulimia nervosa. The main focus of FBT is to first aid guardians in refeeding their adolescent in order to achieve weight gain. After the adolescent’s weight is restored, they will slowly be given control over what they can eat and how much. FBT helps to target other harmful behaviors with the help of the family.  FBT may be a recommendation as part of eating disorder treatment.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses on replacing harmful habits by learning helpful skills. Individuals will learn how to focus on the here and now and become aware of their thoughts and feelings with mindfulness. They will also learn how to replace harmful behaviors with quick and easy distress tolerance skills. Furthermore, individuals will practice how to regulate their emotions effectively. Lastly, DBT therapists will help individuals learn how to interact with others more effectively.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy helps individuals face feared situations (e.g., eating certain foods, seeing their weight, wearing certain clothes, etc.) repetitively for a period of time. This helps the mind and body realize that the situation is not as scary as originally believed. Over time, ERP therapists can help individuals no longer experience high anxiety from eating or body image and instead, find freedom.

What to Expect During Your First Eating Disorder Treatment Appointment

During the first appointment, an eating disorder therapist will assess each individual to see what level of care (see below) they will be referred to. This decision is based on symptoms and pending lab work. The suggested lab work will be provided. The medical tests will need to be completed by a medical provider before or after the first appointment. There is a possibility that an individual may be referred to a higher level of care based on symptoms and lab results. Individuals may also be referred to a local registered dietitian for nutrition counseling.

Levels of care for eating disorder treatment:

Outpatient– For individuals who are medically stable and motivated for treatment We have a psychologist who has specialized training in eating disorder treatments in Louisville, KY.  Grace Psychological Services is able to provide outpatient services only.

Intensive Outpatient– For individuals who are medically stable and mostly motivated for treatment. However, they will need some accountability to follow certain treatment recommendations.

Partial Hospitalization- For individuals who are medically stable but struggling to cope at home. This level of care provides support throughout the day. It can provide help with following meal plans and reducing harmful habits.

Residential- For individuals who are medically stable overall but have some negative health effects from their habits. This level of care provides 24/7 supervision to monitor possible self-harming behaviors. Ongoing accountability can help individuals follow their treatment recommendations.

Inpatient- For individuals who are not medically stable and need to be medically monitored. This level of care allows close supervision of individuals who are suicidal or unwilling to engage in any treatment.

Our eating disorder therapist can meet in person in Louisville, KY, or via telehealth in 36 other states 

At Grace Psychological Services, we can provide eating disorder treatment using evidence-based treatment. We will create a treatment plan specifically for your presenting concerns. Let us help you find freedom from your eating disorder.

Dr. Whitley Paden has experience and extensive training in providing eating disorder treatment to adolescents and adults. She can help clients who have anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and any of the other eating disorders mentioned above.  For face-to-face appointments, please reach out to our location in Louisville, KY. We are also available to help those in the 36 other states (the PSYPACT states) using a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. To schedule an appointment, please click here.