Eating disorders are mental health conditions that challenge your relationship with food, eating, and body image. There are a variety of different eating behaviors under the eating disorder umbrella and often can present together with one another. Some examples of eating behaviors that could be qualified as an eating disorder can range from overeating (binging), restrictive eating, and purging after eating. Disordered eating can also appear as an excessive focus on healthy eating or exercise.
Outpatient therapy at Mental Health Northwest for disordered eating uses evidence-based methods like CBT and DBT to address thoughts related to eating and effectively improve overall well-being.
What Is An Eating Disorder?
An eating disorder is a severe condition that can become life-threatening. Eating disorder treatment includes addressing the thoughts and behaviors around eating, as well as deep-rooted fears or trauma that have driven the person to develop the harmful relationship with food.
Eating disorders impact mental well-being, nourishment, physical health, self-esteem, and overall wellness.
Meet Sophie Blauer – Your Eating Disorder Therapist
I am Sophie, let's start your journey in empowering you to reach your mental wellness goals and live a healthy life again. Some background on me - I received my Bachelor's in BioHealth Sciences from Oregon State University, followed by my Master’s in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University. My passion for helping others overcome mental health challenges is provided through teaching coping skills, addressing the adjustment of unstable thoughts and behaviors, and processing past traumas.
I have taken a Specialized Training in Eating Disorders and Trauma to help my patients address unhealthy thought patterns and eating behaviors. Typically, disordered eating is accompanied by symptoms of anxiety, depression, or substance use. Treating all the presenting concerns together, helps us work through many of the underlying factors contributing to the disordered eating. I take an integrative approach with evidence-based modalities and use strategies that work specifically for you. ​​Our mental health can impact all aspects of life, and I am here to help you regain control over your own life. I look forward to working with you to help you heal and live a healthy, balanced life.
Comprehensive Counseling for All Eating Disorders
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Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
The eating disorder is defined by an intense fear of gaining weight. AN typically begins with extremely restricted eating and low amounts of food intake. AN can lead to serious health complications over time if not promptly addressed.
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Bulimia nervosa (BN)
​This reflects a cyclical pattern of frequent overeating (binge-eating) followed by induced vomiting (purging). Other behaviors may include laxative use and excessive exercise. The inability to stop often leads to shame and isolation. Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa may also occur together.
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Binge eating disorder
BED, binge eating disorder, exhibits through episodes of uncontrolled eating without purging, often followed by deep guilt, emotional distress, and secrecy.
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Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder does not necessarily involve body image concerns (obsession with looking thin) but is more about sensory sensitivities, anxiety, or fears such as choking. Food avoidance or limitation takes control severely.
Here are the main types of eating disorders:
Counselling at Mental Health Northwest is never limited to food alone. Being an efficient eating disorder therapist in Lake Oswego, I address deeper concerns such as past trauma, perfectionistic tendencies, low self-worth, or persistent anxiety that often fuel eating disorder treatment in Oregon​. The outcome is not just short-term relief but long-term growth, creating healthier coping skills and restoring stability in everyday life.
Signs and Symptoms of an Eating Disorder
Knowing when to seek support can be difficult and takes courage to reach out to a professional, but therapy can help reduce and resolve the following presenting symptoms:
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Persistent preoccupation with weight and body shape
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Constant calorie tracking or strict food rules
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Skipping meals or avoiding food altogether
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Withdrawing from social events that involve eating
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Compulsive or excessive exercise routines
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Secretive eating behaviors, such as hiding food or eating in isolation
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Feelings of guilt, shame, or distress after meals
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Sudden or noticeable changes in weight (both gain and loss)
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Extreme fatigue and lack of energy
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Frequent dizziness or light-headedness
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Disrupted or poor-quality sleep
How Eating Disorders Are Treated
The most common and effective therapy for eating disorders are forms of cognitive behavioral therapy. At Mental Health Northwest, counselling addresses eating disorder conditions with empathy, understanding, and depth. As a therapist for eating disorders​, underlying factors such as past trauma, perfectionism, anxiety, fragile self-esteem, obsessions with body image, and more will be explored. This integrative approach helps nurture lasting recovery, enabling individuals to rebuild healthier coping strategies and a more balanced way of living.
Specialized Help for Adults with Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating
During my sessions, I focus on restoring trust in one’s body, easing the pressure of unrealistic standards while slowly introducing and shaping healthier routines. Teens and adults can benefit from counselling that considers both the current challenges and the long-term journey of recovery. With steady guidance, even long-entrenched habits can be released, paving the way toward a more fulfilling and balanced life.
Why Choose Mental Health Northwest for Eating Disorder Treatment
The next time you search for the best mental health therapist near me. Here’s why patients come back.
Steady, unhurried pace
Each client is allowed to move at a pace that feels natural and safe. There is no pressure to meet rigid timelines.
​Genuine progress, address the core issues
The progress is guided gently by me, and I encourage honesty and compassion. These qualities create an environment where individuals feel understood, supported, and free to be open about their challenges.
Confidential and safe
​Confidentiality and creating a safe environment are important standards practiced at Mental Health Northwest.
A therapist that is more than a guide
Choosing Mental Health Northwest is not simply about entering a structured program. It is about gaining a partner who walks alongside you through the recovery journey. The support offered here feels less like a clinical intervention and more like having a trusted ally who genuinely believes in your ability to heal.
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Above all, clients find themselves in the care of someone who truly grasps the complicated layers of eating disorders. This depth of understanding is paired with recognition of the inner strength people often don’t realize they possess. It is this blend involving knowledge of the disorder and faith in the individual’s resilience that makes the healing process both hopeful and lasting.
Personalized Eating Disorder Support in Oregon
Reclaim Balance in Your Life through therapy; get Personalized Support for Eating Disorders at Mental Health Northwest. Call: (503) 208-5713.
Find Support Today!