Eating Disorder Therapist Near Me: Baltimore Therapy Group
Accepting New Patients
Compassionate and Expert Eating Disorder Treatment in Baltimore
Baltimore Therapy Group provides informed and understanding care for those seeking treatment for:
Anorexia nervosa and other restrictive eating practices
Bulimia nervosa
Restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Binge-eating disorder and compulsive overeating
Compulsive exercise
Excessive exercise
Compulsive dieting and weighing
Body dysmorphia/body image concerns
Our therapists create a safe and supportive environment that encourages clients to take the first step toward recovery, building trust and safety throughout the therapeutic process.
Individuals with eating disorders may restrict their food intake, engage in bingeing or excessive exercise, or become preoccupied with their weight loss. Without treatment, an eating disorder may become potentially life-threatening. Whether you’re struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, or another type of eating disorder, recovery is possible with treatment. We use evidence-based treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), to ensure the most effective care for eating disorders. Our comprehensive care team includes registered dietitians who work alongside licensed therapists to support your recovery. We offer a range of treatment options, including outpatient, intensive outpatient, and virtual programs to meet your needs. Depression and stress are common issues that often accompany eating disorders, and our therapy addresses these co-occurring conditions to improve overall well-being. Virtual therapy is available for clients who prefer remote sessions, providing flexible access to care. If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, we encourage you to seek help and take the first step toward recovery.
What are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are a group of mental health disorders characterized by an unhealthy relationship or obsession with physical appearance, body image, and food intake. Individuals with eating disorders may experience significant disturbances in eating patterns, such as restrictive food intake, the avoidance of large amounts of food, fasting, excessive exercise, binge-eating, or any combination of these behaviors.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is used by mental health experts to diagnose mental health conditions. While the DSM-5 doesn’t cover every type of eating disorder, it outlines the most common types, disorder symptoms, and their diagnostic criteria. Diagnosis and treatment recommendations are based on the latest research in the field.
Often, individuals with eating disorders will have symptoms of another mental health condition, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance abuse, or a personality disorder, that requires treatment. Whenever possible, it’s important to identify and address all mental health issues to ensure a long-lasting recovery.
Types of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are intricate mental health conditions—complex puzzles that can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. Picture this: your relationship with food becomes a battlefield where logic doesn't always win. The most common types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Each of these disorders presents unique challenges—like different storms requiring different shelters—and demands a tailored approach to eating disorder treatment.
Anorexia nervosa is marked by a distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight—imagine looking in a funhouse mirror that never shows reality. This leads to restrictive eating patterns and significant weight loss, creating a vicious cycle where control feels like survival. Individuals with anorexia often struggle with obsessive thoughts about food, body, and weight—thoughts that can feel as persistent as a song stuck on repeat—severely impacting their health and quality of life in ways that ripple through every aspect of daily existence.
Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating—consuming large amounts of food in a short period, like a dam bursting—followed by purging behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives. This disorder is often driven by a desperate desire to control weight (the kind of control that feels like trying to hold water in your hands) and can result in serious physical and emotional consequences that echo far beyond the initial behavior.
Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating unusually large quantities of food—picture losing the brakes on a steep hill—often accompanied by feelings of loss of control and profound distress. Unlike bulimia, binge eating disorder doesn't involve regular purging, but it can lead to weight gain and other health issues that compound the emotional toll and create their own cycle of shame and struggle.
Restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) stands apart from other eating disorders in that it typically isn't driven by concerns about body image or weight—think of it as fear wearing a different mask. Instead, individuals with ARFID may avoid certain foods due to their taste, texture, or fear of negative consequences (like a smoke alarm that's too sensitive), leading to inadequate nutrition and health problems that can be just as serious as any other eating disorder.
Because each eating disorder affects individuals differently—like fingerprints, no two cases are identical—working with a certified eating disorder specialist is essential for effective disorder treatment. A personalized treatment plan can address the specific symptoms and underlying issues, helping individuals navigate the path toward recovery and improved health. It's not just about food—it's about reclaiming your relationship with nourishment, your body, and ultimately, yourself.
How are Eating Disorders Treated?
Successful treatment plans typically involve a treatment team, including a dietitian, clinician, and mental health provider. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, treatment varies depending on the type and severity of the eating disorder, as well as the individual’s mental health and nutritional needs.
The treatment team can provide counseling tailored to each individual's needs, using research-based interventions to support well-being and coping strategies.
Outpatient treatment is considered an effective treatment approach for those who are stable and able to function in daily life. To help individuals successfully cope with their eating disorder, meal plans, nutritional counseling, and therapy are essential.
When individuals are psychologically or medically unstable and in poor physical health, hospitalization, partial hospitalization, and/or residential treatment are recommended depending on the levels of care needed. Like outpatient treatment, residential treatment at a hospital or disorder treatment center generally involves therapy, wellness classes, and nutritional counseling.
The most effective treatment approaches are comprehensive and target the different components of the disorder, as well as the mental and physical functioning of the client. Since psychotherapy is integral to any successful treatment plan, it’s essential to find a therapist specializing in eating disorder treatment.
Body Image and Self-Esteem
Body image and self-esteem sit at the heart of many eating disorders—and if you're struggling with disordered eating, you probably know this all too well. Individuals dealing with these challenges often experience persistent body image concerns, crushing self-worth issues, and obsessive thinking about their appearance and weight. This negative self-perception can fuel unhealthy eating behaviors and make recovery feel like an uphill battle—no matter how much support surrounds you.
Body dysmorphia—a condition where you develop a distorted view of your own body—shows up frequently among those wrestling with eating disorders. This can trigger a constant preoccupation with perceived flaws, even when others genuinely don't see them (and trust us, they often don't). Such obsessive thinking can contribute to the development of disorders like bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, as you attempt to cope with distress through food-related behaviors that feel like the only option available.
Eating disorder therapy is specifically designed to help you challenge these negative beliefs and develop a healthier, more realistic view of your body—and yourself. By addressing body image concerns head-on and building genuine self-esteem, therapists support you in creating a more positive relationship with food, your body, and who you really are. This process is essential for lasting eating disorder recovery and can help prevent the onset of other eating disorders down the road.
Through compassionate disorder therapy, you learn to replace shame and self-criticism with self-acceptance and confidence—paving the way for a more balanced and fulfilling life. Over the past few decades, we've seen how this approach can transform not just eating patterns, but your entire relationship with yourself.
Meet Our Eating Disorder Specialist
Andrea Castelhano, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist in Baltimore
Dr. Andrea Castelhano joined the Baltimore Therapy Group after serving as a program coordinator and outpatient psychologist with the Eating Recovery Center of Maryland (formerly, the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt). Prior to this, Dr. Castelhano worked in the Eating Disorders Clinic at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC and with the University of Tulsa where she designed a psychoeducational group for female student athletes focused on body image and disordered eating and exercise behavior. Valuing the cultural backgrounds of the clients she serves, Dr. Castelhano has a particular interest in the assessment and treatment of women, gender diverse, and sexual minority (lesbian, gay and bisexual) clients with eating disorders.
Eating Disorder Recovery in Baltimore
At the Baltimore Therapy Group, we provide compassionate care to help you on the road to recovery using empirically supported treatments for disordered eating and exercise. Effective treatment approaches for disordered eating include:
Mindfulness Based Approaches
Interpersonal Process Therapy
Successful recovery means that you regain control of your life and find your way back to a healthier relationship with food, exercise, and new coping skills that work for you.