5 Things You Should Know About Eating Disorders: Advice From An Eating Disorder Therapist in Salt Lake City, Utah
“I had no idea something was wrong,” or “She just hid it so well I didn’t even realize she was struggling,” or “She didn’t look like she had an eating disorder” are common statements that I hear from parents or loved ones of those that I work with in Salt Lake City, Utah. Parents have been adamant that their child can’t possibly have an eating disorder because they eat! Every day, even!
There are many preconceived and inaccurate beliefs about those with eating disorders, and there are some things that I wanna clear up for you. You deserve to know the truth and some of the people you have in your lives that are suffering and that we are completely oblivious to, and how eating disorder therpy in Salt Lake City, Utah can help.
1. Those with eating disorders or disordered eating are masters at keeping their disorders a secret.
The clients that I have worked with have kept their patterns of restriction, binging, purging, and overexercising a secret from everyone in their lives. You might think you know and are confident that this is not your loved one. Everyone knows someone in their life with an eating disorder; they just don’t know who it is. I don’t say that to scare you, but I’m confident that if you knew, you would do anything to help your loved one. If your child or loved one has an eating disorder, it does not in any way reflect on who you are as a parent, and you are not to blame.
2. Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes.
Looking at someone is a very poor screening tool to know if they have an eating disorder. Eating disorders are deadly of any size. I will say that again, JUST to make sure. Eating disorders are deadly of any size. A person can be malnourished AT ANY SIZE. Someone can be medically compromised and in serious danger at any size. Well-meaning medical professionals may exacerbate eating disorders in patients who fall in the “overweight” (we will talk about this unhelpful terminology another day) by recommending weight loss as an option to “improve health.” According to Dr. Elizabeth Joy of the University of Utah School of Medicine, healthcare professionals should screen EVERYONE for an eating disorder first. It does not matter how much you weigh or how small or large your body is; you deserve help in recovering from your eating disorder.
3. Eating disorders are difficult for outsiders to understand.
I have had patients who described their eating disorder as an abusive boyfriend making them feel like garbage but are stuck and don’t know how to escape. Other patients I have worked with have expressed they feel that their eating disorder is something that provides them safety and security and does not see it as harmful. Restricting food intake will decrease anxiety in those with eating disorders. Nearly all the patients I have worked with have some form of anxiety that they use their eating disorder to cope with.
4. Eating disorders are about more than food and body size.
It is only at the surface that eating disorders are about food, body size, and physical appearance. “I’m fat” or “I’m ugly” are just the tip of the iceberg. In therapy, we explore what else there is to it. While nutritional rehabilitation is 100 percent necessary in eating disorder recovery, “JUST EAT!” will not serve your loved one. Empathy, compassion, warmth, and validation are a place to start. Therapy is also critical in your loved one’s recovery to truly understand more about their eating disorder and how they heal.
5. Eating disorders affect both men and women of all ages and races.
It is a myth that eating disorders only affect “white teenage girls.” This could not be further from the truth. Every race and ethnicity is impacted by eating disorders, and we must be aware of them. Women and men can be impacted by eating disorders at any age. I have worked with those in their early -teens to those in their sixties who are trying to find a way to freedom. Another population that goes unnoticed is men. There is a higher statistic of men who are impacted by eating disorders than what is reported. I remember at a treatment center I worked at, a psychiatrist told me, “Boys don’t get eating disorders.” I was horrified and shocked at the time when I was concerned about a young teen boy I was working with. That psychiatrist was skilled in many areas, but he just didn’t know how real eating disorders are in males just as well as females.
If you weren’t aware of these things, please know you aren’t alone. Please have compassion for yourself if you are noticing some signs in someone you love. Please, please, also know that despite the large statistic of people impacted by eating disorders, full recovery is possible. People get better and can overcome their eating disorders. One essential part of recovery is having a strong support system that I know you can provide for your loved one.
Eating Disorder Therapy in Salt Lake City, Utah can help
Everyone with an eating disorder has one thing in common: the need for support from a qualified mental health professional. For women in Salt Lake City, Utah, eating disorders are just as physically, mentally, and emotionally serious, regardless of body size. Getting help as early as possible through specialized eating disorder therapy can make a real difference in recovery. Often, treatment involves not only working with an eating disorder therapist, but also collaborating with an eating disorder dietitian. There is no shame in reaching out for help, and you don’t have to navigate this alone.
How will eating disorder treatment in Salt Lake City, Utah help me?
The goal of eating disorder treatment in Salt Lake City, Utah is to help you heal and fully recover in a safe, supportive space. In my work with women who are struggling with eating disorder behaviors, I lead with compassion, because I know how harsh and critical their inner world often is. Through eating disorder therapy, my hope is that you begin to develop that same compassion for yourself and learn to relate to your body, your emotions, and your needs with more gentleness.
Your experience in eating disorder therapy will be unique to you, and the approach we take together will depend on your history, your symptoms, and what you need most to feel safe and supported.
The first focus of eating disorder treatment is stabilizing your physical health. This may include working with an eating disorder dietitian and physician to support regular eating and challenge rigid food rules. The second focus is your emotional and mental health: learning healthier ways to cope with anxiety, process difficult feelings, and soften the negative beliefs you carry about yourself. Over time, eating disorder therapy can help you feel more at peace with your body, with food, and with yourself.
Start Eating Disorder Therapy in Salt Lake City, Utah
You don’t have to stay stuck in your eating disorder forever. Healing and a more peaceful relationship with food and your body are possible. At Maple Canyon Therapy, I provide specialized eating disorder therapy for women in Salt Lake City and across Utah through secure online sessions.
To begin eating disorder therapy, follow these steps:
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation
A brief, low-pressure call to talk about what’s been going on and see if we’re a good fit.Meet with an eating disorder therapist
We’ll meet online and talk through your symptoms, history, and what support you need.Begin eating disorder treatment
Together, we’ll work on both the physical and emotional pieces of recovery so you can start feeling safer with food, your body, and your emotions.
Online eating disorder therapy in Salt Lake City, Utah
If you are struggling with an eating disorder, you know how important it is to work with a therapist specializing in what you are struggling with. Eating disorder therapy requires training and help from a qualified professional with extensive treatment in eating disorder recovery, AND that’s not always accessible and convenient in your town. This is why I offer Online Therapy in Utah so you can access a therapist who can help.
Online therapy means wherever you are. I can help you safely and conveniently. I provide eating disorder therapy through online therapy for women in Salt Lake City, but all across Utah, including: St. George, Cedar City, Logan, Salt Lake City, Heber, and more.
Other Mental Health Services Provided by Maple Canyon Therapy
Eating disorder therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Utah County Counseling Clinic. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include body image therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, anxiety therapy, and EMDR therapy in Utah.
About the Author
Ashlee Hunt, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and the owner of Maple Canyon Therapy, an online therapy practice serving women across Utah. She specializes in eating disorder therapy, including binge eating disorder treatment and body image concerns, and has advanced training and experience working with eating disorders at multiple levels of care.
Ashlee holds two bachelor’s degrees from Southern Utah University in Psychology and Family Life and Human Development, and earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Utah State University. She has worked in outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential, and inpatient eating disorder treatment settings, giving her a strong clinical foundation in both the medical and emotional aspects of recovery.
Ashlee is especially passionate about helping women who feel stuck in cycles of food guilt, body shame, perfectionism, and emotional overwhelm. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed, evidence-based care and focuses on helping clients build a safer, more compassionate relationship with themselves, their bodies, and their emotions.