ARFID and Holidays: Strategies for Managing Eating Challenges

ARFID and Holidays [Image description: Purple scrabble tiles spelling "ARFID and Holidays"]

The holidays are supposed to be joyous occasions where families gather and eat together. But these two particular elements combined—family and food—can be extremely challenging for adults with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). If you are an adult who has ARFID you may struggle with eating enough overall and or with variety. You may …

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Managing the College Transition…When You’ve Had an Eating Disorder

The College Transition [Image description: a young Black woman packs a suitcase for college] Represents a potential college student with a history of an eating disorder

The College Transition The day is finally approaching. You’ve gotten through college admissions tests, completed your applications, waited patiently for acceptances, and chosen your school. You’ve gone to prom. You are looking forward to finally being more independent and living away from home. You are learning about your roommate(s) and thinking about the classes you’ll …

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Private Equity and Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know

Private equity and eating disorders [Image description: an empty boardroom with windows] depicts a potential private equity firm investing in eating disorder centers

In case you haven’t been paying attention, the economics of eating disorder treatment centers have been evolving. And it is doing so in ways that may be harmful. Today, a very small number of large entities own and run most of the country’s residential treatment and day treatment centers. Private equity firms now back most …

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Eating Disorders Before and After Bariatric Surgery–What You Need to Know

Eating Disorders and Bariatric Surgery [Image description: purple scrabble tiles spelling "Eating Disorders and Bariatric Surgery"]

Health professionals often recommend bariatric surgery for patients with larger bodies. A large body size, referred to in the medical world as “obesity,”—a term we will not use unless citing medical data— is not the same as an eating disorder. Yet, there is an intersection. A considerable number of people considering bariatric surgery may have …

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Dr. Muhlheim’s Spring 2024 Training and Speaking Engagements

Speakers at FEAST special webinar [Image description: "Promoting Life in the Treatment of Severe and Enduring Eating Disorders" featuring speakers Lauren Muhlheim, Psy.D., Lucene Wisniewski, Ph.D., Judy Krasna, Angela Guarda, MD & Walter Kay, MD. "Wed, Feb 28. 2024" Register at www.FEAST.ED.org"]

Dr. Muhlheim is busy with several speaking and training engagements this spring. See where you can catch her below. On February 4, she’ll be a speaker at the 2024 Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders (FEAST) of Knowledge. Her topic is Stages of Recovery: Setting Parental Expectations. Registration is available through FEAST’s website. …

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Group Therapy for Eating Disorders

Eating Disorder Group Therapy in California and Online [Image description: purple scrabble tiles spelling "Eating Disorder Group Therapy"]

What is Group Therapy? Group therapy is when several patients are treated together in the same room—or as is often the case today, the same zoom meeting—as other patients with the same problem, usually with one or two leaders or therapists. Group Therapy can be helpful for people with eating disorders and their supportive loved …

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Paying for Eating Disorder Treatment

Paying for eating disorder therapy [Image description: a man's hands pulling money out of a wallet] Represents someone paying for therapy in California

How Can I Afford Eating Disorder Therapy? When seeking treatment for an eating disorder, two of the first questions that often arise are: “How much will treatment cost?” and “How will I pay for treatment?” The answers to these seemingly simple questions depend on a great many variables. Eating disorders are complex illnesses that present …

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Are You Ready for Eating Disorder Counseling?

Are you ready to begin eating disorder therapy [Image description: a man wearing a purple sweatshirt is looking at his calendar on a wall] Represents a person beginning eating disorder therapy in California

Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting help for a while but haven’t known where to look. Or perhaps someone has recently confronted you about your eating and you’re feeling pressured to get help now. Or maybe your problems have recently begun to feel worse. Even so, you’re still not sure it’s the right time. It’s …

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Why We Recommend Six Months of Demonstrated Readiness Before College

College Students in California [Image description: photo of 2 young woman and a young man walking on a college campus] Represents potential college students who have overcome eating disorders

College readiness for students with eating disorders is a topic that comes up frequently. Learn more about why we encourage a potential college student to demonstrate six months of recovery (versus a shorter time frame). Our Eating Disorder College Readiness Guide and Checklist In our oft-cited Eating Disorder College Readiness Guide and blog, we strongly …

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College Weight Gain: Don’t Fear The Freshman 15!

College Weight Gain in California [image description: 2 young women eating pizza joyfully with other snacks around] depicts potential college students in California who are not afraid of the Freshman 15

Let’s not fear college weight gain—let’s normalize it! College students throughout the US are heading off to their first year of college. Most are excited and also a little anxious. Among the common worries: Will I get along with my roommate? Will I make friends? Will I be able to keep up with the academics? …

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