Eating Disorders in Adults

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Archived Q&A and reviews ▼

Parent Q&A

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  • Recommendations for Adult Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

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    Mar 1, 2022

    I have a long history with binge eating disorder and despite having made tremendous inroads in my recovery several years ago, I have had a serious and worrisome relapse in the last 18 months during COVID between pregnancy, transitioning to parenthood, and navigating my husband's struggle with depression.  I have tried for the last year with my therapist and a 12 step program to get on a better path but continue to spiral.  I am looking for a more intensive approach (maybe an intensive outpatient program?) that will work for a mom of a toddler with a full-time job.  Anyone have advice or experience with binge eating disorder treatment? Anyone have experience with IOP programs for eating disorders locally?  I have found some options in SF and the South Bay but was hoping for a program in the East Bay if at all possible.  Also, many program focus on anorexia and bulimia.  I am hoping to find someone who can support Binge eating disorder specifically.  I welcome any suggestions. Thanks!

    Mar 1, 2022

    Hi- I have absolutely no advice and I’m very sorry I can’t help, but I did just want to say I admire you for asking for help. I hope you are able to find someone and get what you need. Good luck :)

    Mar 9, 2022

    Hi there. Unfortunately I don't have direct personal experience that I could share with you, but I have a close friend who joined Overeaters Anonymous to help her manage her binge eating disorder, and I think it's been really helpful for her. I checked their website and it looks like they offer several in-person meetings in the East Bay. You may also want to check out an app called Eat Right Now, which is was developed by Dr. Judson Brewer, who is a neuroscientist and addiction psychiatrist. I hope you're able to find meaningful support!

    Mar 16, 2022

  • Helping a 22 year old niece with anorexia

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    Jul 29, 2019

    In less than a week, I will be seeing my niece whom I only see once a year at max, given that she lives in France with the rest of her family.

    She has been anorexic--at least has had all the behavior and physical appearances of it--for many years but her condition is now severe. Her mother, father, and grand parents are unable to help her: they make remarks, try to talk about it, recommend that she sees specialists about it but she seems in total denial. I doubt very much I can change anything to the situation but I have a couple of small advantages over the rest of the family in that:

    1. I live far from her and therefore can be seen as an outsider to the situation

    2. I am much calmer than the rest of my overly stressed family

    I am wondering if anyone has any advice as to what I can do/say, if anything.

    My instinct would be to have a frank conversation with her, one on one, and try to help her face the reality of the situation and help her accept that she needs professional help, right now. But I also know what seems obvious to our eyes isn't what anorexic individuals see about themselves, and I don't want to waste the trust she might have in me by following a path known to fail from the start.

    Is there a better approach? From the last pictures I saw, the situation seems dire enough that just acting as if there was nothing would not feel right.

    Jul 29, 2019

    Hello,

    Regarding eating disorders, such as anorexia, you can try reaching out to Janice Bremis.   She is the founder of the Eating Disorders Resource Center in Los Gatos.

    I contacted Janice when I had a concern about BDD and found her to be calm and compassionate. Her contact information can be found at http://edrcsv.org/

    Otherwise she can be reached at (408) 356-1212. Best wishes to you and your niece.

    Aug 5, 2019

    Please look at nationaleatingdisorders.org. There is a hotline and a Q&A forum. My daughter has suffered with anorexia since she was 13 and is now 34. She is no longer anorexic and is healthy but still somewhat eating disordered. Please check out the website and best of luch

    Aug 5, 2019

    Sorry about your niece.

    I have no idea about anorexia, but I know that when we were having difficulties with our 20 year old son, my sister, who lives away from us, came to visit, talk to him about seeing a therapist, that she had already found and was able to convinced him to go see this person for 3 sessions. She told him this would make us, the parents to feel better. The therapist was great and my son understood that it was to his benefit to keep seeing this person. I understand anorexia is very very difficult, more if your niece is denial, but maybe if you say is something good she would  for her parents, she will be willing to see a specialist.. 

    Wishing you the best.

    Aug 6, 2019

    Firstly she needs a medical evaluation to see if she is stable from a cardiac standpoint. Many severe health issues related to starvation. Sounds like she may really need a good stay in an inpatient program. Stanford or UCSF.Check out they're eating disorder cites.  Family Based Therapy is the standard of care for anorexics. It's an approach where family members or relatives re-feed usually teens but also young adults. It's a very intense program  but only clinically based program with high success rates. My daughter has an eating disorder which she is currently recovering from with the help of a Family Based Therapist named Suzannah Neufeld, MFT in Oakland. Her practice i think is full but you can contact her and she maybe able to refer you to someone else. Suzannah [at] suzannahneufeld.com. By the way, the hallmark of anorexia is not thinking you have a problem thus making it very difficult to treat until the patient is able to get over this major hump. Look on line at around the table.com  or FEAST website for lots of good advise and support.  Alta Bates Berkeley also has inpatient program. 

    Aug 10, 2019

    My daughter is anorexia, and we have been doing family based treatment for close to a year.  I’m so sorry your niece is suffering and you are right to be concerned and brave tostep up to try to help her. Your niece needs to be medically evaluated ASAP. There are many serious health conditions associated with anorexia, the most serious being low heart rate which can devolve to heart failure. People with anorexia are often in denial about their condition and need to be “forced” into treatment. Let your niece know how much you love and care about her, and offer to go with her to seek help. This is a scary mental illness, which takes over the mind and refuses to let go. She will likely downplay it, but she needs a lot of support to get better.

    Resources- FEAST, national eating disorders websites. You can ask the moderator for my info to contact me directly.

    Good luck to you, and best to your family.

    Aug 12, 2019

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Questions

Mom with eating disorder - raising a healthy daughter?

Dec 2012

Does anyone know of any resources for moms who have eating disorders? Not moms of kids with eating disorders, but moms who have them themselves. I'm struggling with trying to raise my daughter to have a healthy relationship with food, while my own is so screwed up. Thanks - Struggling Mom

This is a great resource by Karen Schachter: DishingWithYourDaughter.com She has a newsletter about healthy relationship with food. she is a mom who recovered from an eating disorder and is on a mission to break the cycle and help other women and their daughters change their relationship to food. She also does 1:1 consulting. My mother is 72 and has an eating disorder, still. I congratulate you for seeking help. Don't give up. It is a strain on our relationship to this day. it's worth it to keep trying

Therapist for adult eating disorders?

Nov 2009

Do you have a recommendation for a therapist in the east bay who specializes in eating disorders with adults? looking for someone who would take United Health Insurance. Thank you.

Dr. Jill Rodgers-Quaye is a highly qualified therapist with expertise in treating eating disorders- she is well known in the bay area as one of the top therapists in this speciality and she is very pragmatic as well as easy to talk with. Check out her website at drjillrodgersquaye.com for more info. Satisfied customer

Therapist needed for compulsive overeating and bulimia

August 2008

I'm looking for a therapist in Berkeley who focuses primarily on food issues; compulsive overeating and bulimia in particular. Any insurance is fine, just somebody who is easy to talk to and not judgmental. Thanks

Try Fern Nemenay she has an office in Berkeley 510-654-9448. She has a lot of experience with food issues. anon

Alison McCabe, MFT is very experienced with food issues and eating disorders. She is in Berkeley or Oakland. (510)273-9969

I know that Lisa Lancaster, who is a fabulous therapist, sees a lot of patients with eating disorders. 510-841-2525. a.

Eating Disorder Therapy in Lamorinda, Walnut Creek

June 2006

Hi there, My entire life, I've been battling with my weight. I went on several diets, and found that the tricky thing for me is the uncontrollable desire to eat chocolate (lots of chocolate - at least 2.5 lbs a day).

Yes, I've been to therapy before without much success. I was a teenager then and I am hoping that at 37 I am open enough to tackle a significant change.

AFTER the birth of my first and only 2 year son, I gained over 60 lbs. I had post partum depression and I am still taking anti- depressants. I just cannot lose it. I am able to control food intake and exercise but I cannot control the binging. It got to a point that I cannot even look at myself in the mirror anymore. I need help immediately.

So...any leads on therapists, psychologists or psychiatrist specialized in eating disorder 'beyond' the Caldecott tunnel would be deeply appreciated. Thanks!

Why not give Overeaters Anonymous a try? It's free and I personally have seen people experience miraculous results after years of all kinds of extremely serious bingeing, purging, starving and compulsive eating of all types. You can find information about OA and a list of meetings in your area here: http://www.dvig.org/ or here: www.oa.org Anon

I don't have a specific recommendation for a therapist, but I can recommend a woman who specializes in regulating sugar cravings and depression, among other things, through the use of amino acids, herbs, and other supplements. She will tell you that your cravings are likely related to something your body actually needs and is trying to get via the chocolate. Her name is Julia Ross and she is in Marin and has written two books, The Diet Cure and The Mood Cure. I worked with her several years ago and the amino acids really helped. I beleive GABA is the one that reduces sugar cravings. I hope this is helpful. I am glad you are seeking help. anon

Help with compulsive overeating

May 2005

I am looking for a therapist who can help me with compulsive overeating/food addiction and my general inability to take care of myself physically. I would prefer to see someone with an MSW or a PhD, but would be open to providers with other education if they are really good. Thank you for your help! anon

I highly recommend Victoria Green, MFT. Her focus is eating disorders and food/body issues. She is also a nutritionist. Her office is located in San Francisco in Laurel Village but she will occasionally take a session over the phone if you are unable to get there. Her number is 415.974.9322. I believe her fee is $95/hour. She has also recovered from an eating disorder so she can relate on a very deep level. I encourage you to call. anon

Treatment for chronic adult bulimia

March 2005

Can anyone give me a current recommenedation for a therapist or psychiatrist (or other) for the treatment of chronic adult bulimia? Anyone know of any new medical treatments? Any ''alternative'' treatments? Thanks.

You might contact Kirsten Beuthin to get information and/or treatment for eating disorders. She helped me and my family deal with our daughter's bulimia. She is in Oakland and SF. 510-652-0990 or 415-401-7180.

Dr. Tara Rech is a wonderful therapist with an office on Collage Ave. She helped me with bulimia some years back. Goodluck! anon

Julia Ross in Marin County is a therapist-turned-nutritionist who treats eating disorders with nutrition, vitamins, etc. She has a book out, ''The Diet Cure''. If you go to her office, I recommend you see Julia for your appointments, not one of her assistants. jenny

Dr.Francis Dreher, in Kensington at Colusa Circle is a hypnotherapist who works with eating disorders (and other issues) and has had many successes. He's at 528 3738.

I do not have a recommendation for a therapist, but a friend of mine started a website on eating disorders that you should take a look at, called paysonroad.com. Best of luck to you. been there

I have several friends and a relative who have recovered from bulimia and/or anorexia through Overeaters Anonymous, a free 12- step program. They have a website at www.oa.org, which has a link to a list of local meetings. I guess you could call OA an ''alternative'' treatment for bulimia. Anon

I also wanted to let you know about another 12-step program for folks with eating disorders --http://www.foodaddicts.org/ -- this program is amazing and really strong here in the Bay Area. The focus is on being completely abstinent from overeating, undereating, throwing up, and other unhealthy behavior around food. I went to a psychiatrist, a therapist specializing in eating disorders, and Overeaters Anonymous before finally finding FA three years ago. The change in my life has been amazing -- I'm at a healthy weight, I'm happy, and food is finally ''in its proper place'' -- not something I obsess about, worry about, or even really think about :) If you're interested, check out a meeting (look on the website for days/times) -- there are a lot in SF and the East Bay. You'll find people of all ages, races, and experiences (folks who've lost 100+ pounds, folks who've stopped starving themselves or throwing up, folks who didn't have a weight problem but have overcome an unhealthy obsession with food and weight ...) and a ton of support. Good luck to you! Finally free

Low-cost therapy for binge eating disorder

March 2004

I have binge eating disorder and am seeking a good therapist who specializes in treating eating disorders. I would also like to find a therapy or support group for people with eating disorders. I am sure there are many good therapists and groups that address this issue, but the problem is that my eating disorder was triggered by financial stress, so I am seeking low fee and or sliding scale options. I'd prefer something in the East Bay (El Cerrito, Albany, Oakland, Berkeley) or nearby (San Rafael), but would consider driving farther if necessary. I'd appreciate any advice or referrals. Thanks!

contact stanford university hospital. they have an inpatient eating disorder unit that deals with both anorexia and bulimia. they may have recommendations on therapists and groups on the east bay. please, please, please pursue a group, individual therapy and medical evaluation on a regular basis. all are essential for your recovery and day to day health monitoring. anon

Overeaters Anonymous is a wonderful support group for people who have issues with food - undereating, overeating, purging, etc. Members include people from all ages, races and backgrounds and both sexes. Plus, you can't beat the cost - free! Go to the east bay website at www.oaeastbay.org Lisa

Mother suffering from bulimia

July 2001

Can anyone recommend a therapist (or other treatment option) for a mother suffering from bulimia? I have looked at the UCParents website and have not seen any information on this topic. Any information would be welcome. Thank you.

Preston Parsons, LCSW. She is located in Rockridge. Good luck. Sara

I would highly recommend Peggy O'Neil (843-8959), located here in Berkeley. Peggy is the director for the Eating Disorders Treatment Program at JFK University in Orinda (the program trains therapists & health care providers in the diagnosis & specialized treatment interventions of all eating disorders). She has dedicated a large portion of her professional career to working with those w/ eating disorders & is highly knowledgeable/experienced. She also has a good working relationship w/ several MDs & nutritionists in the area which is also very important for safe, thorough care of someone w/ an eating disorder. I have trained under her in the program at JFK as well as collaborated w/ her on a few cases. I have found her to be very approachable & well liked by her patients, students & colleagues alike. Romy

I would recommend Pamela Zelnik, MFT, a therapist who has worked with eating disorders (including bulimia), post-traumatic stress (response to child post dog-bite), and integrates a cognitive-behavioral approach into her work. She has been treating individuals, couples, and families for over 13 years. She is astute at teasing out issues, is warm and very easy to talk to. She is also the mother of a 3-yr-old, so she has first-hand (and not just clinical) experience with many of the therapeutic issues facing parents. She has an office in Berkeley and can be reached at 527-0274. Good luck. Janet

Can't recommend a therapist for bulimia, but Overeaters Anonymous has meetings for bulimics. Also people with bulimia are addressed and welcome at all of the meetings. The therapy at OA lies in the support from other members with the same problems. Years ago I was involved with OA as a compulsive overeater and got unbelievable benefit from the meetings and made a lot of close friends as well as conquered my compulsion. OA is in the phone book and there are meetings all over the Bay Area.