Eating Disorders therapists in Rockville, Maryland MD

Washington Psychological Wellness is a boutique-style mental health practice located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. At Washington Psychological Wellness, we provide treatment to people of all genders, ages, ethnicities, and body sizes with eating disorders. We are anti-diet and adhere to Health at Every Size (R) principles. Our clinicians have specialized expertise and training in evidence-based treatment for adolescents and adults with eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, ARFID, and Other Specified Eating Disorder (OSFED; formerly known as EDNOS or Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). We also treat Swallowing, Choking, and Vomiting Phobias. We are currently accepting new clients. Telehealth (online) therapy options are available. Call now to schedule your appointment!  

It has been my privilege to work with adults and teens suffering from binge eating, purging, anorexia, orthorexia, excessive exercise, OSFED, ARFID, and body image issues in settings such as partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient over the last 5 years.  

I work with a variety of eating disorders such as anorexia, a preoccupation healthy food, bulimia, and binge eating. I see eating disorders as a type of addiction designed to soothe and fill clients with a sense of control and competency. While those suffering from eating disorders are often high achieving individuals, generalizations are difficult to make in a culture that encourages thinness at any cost and "looks the other way" at self-destructive behaviors when they propel us to meet cultural norms. I do not focus on calories, food charts, weight, or homework. I work with clients who are medically stable to enable them to find more adapting ways of achieving self-acceptance, autonomy, control, and a sense of well-being. Of course, wellness regimens including medical check-ups, relaxation, mindfulness, nutrition, exercise, etc.. are useful and sometimes critical in helping those with self-destructive behavior.  

I have attended many seminars on Eating Disorders, and I have treated children, adolescents and adults for weight loss and eating disorders For many years I have directed a program called Lose Weight Now. I have also presented an hour-long radio program on Mindful Eating and presented a workshop on Mindful Eating. I offer regular free zoom seminars, which assist with weight loss. Please feel free to call for a consultation: 301-229-8000  

I include eating disorder behavior in the category of "self-harm" or "addictions" and treat them the same way as I treat any addictive behavior. I believe that addictive behaviors have underlying meanings and I can help clients understand and decode what those meanings are for any particular behavior. For example, food-restricting behavior (commonly referred to as Anorexia) always has to do with trying to gain a sense of control when other areas of the clients life are totally out of control. I'm constantly saying "it's not really about the food" because there are always deeper issues that need to be addressed and the behavior is just a symptom, it's not the real problem. I don't believe in any kind of calorie counting, food measuring, or focusing on weight for clients with eating disorder behavior. Instead I focus on what the behavior is TELLING us, and what needs are trying to be met by engaging in the behavior.