Treatment for Anorexia
in Orlando, Florida & Online
5
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TREATMENT FACILITIES
WORKED FOR
2500+
HOURS OF FORMAL
EATING DISORDER TRAINING
300+
CLIENTS & FAMILIES WORKED WITH
12+
YEARS OF EATING DISORDER EXPERIENCE
CEDS
CERTIFIED EATING DISORDER SPECIALIST THROUGH IAEDP
If I could send you one message:
I see you.
You excel academically.
You’re the star employee. President of the non-profit.
You’re the swimmer, softball player, the dancer.
You try so hard to pull it all together —
so why does it never feel like it’s enough?
You don’t know quite when it happened, but it just took over.
The mental math that never ends — calories, steps, macros, rules.
Trying on the fifth outfit and still hating your reflection.
The fake smile, the mask of perfection — the “I’m fine” when really, nothing feels fine.
On the outside, you have it all together.
On the inside, you feel lonely — like an outsider.
You constantly compare yourself to others.
You morph into what everyone else wants you to be.
You avoid conflicts or hurting someone’s feelings —
because you know what that feels like.
Letting go of control can feel terrifying —
even when you know it’s costing you so much.
But with one small step, things can begin to shift.
Life can become less about food and body checks, and more about connection, laughter, and presence — until one day you notice your spark is back.
Hope is right around the corner beautiful girl!
Dr. Kait.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist.
Certified Eating Disorder Specialist.
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that goes far beyond food or weight. It often develops as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions, trauma, identity struggles, or a desire for control in a world that feels unpredictable. While anorexia may begin with intentional restriction, it often evolves into a rigid, isolating set of rules that make life feel smaller, lonelier, and more dangerous over time.
Anorexia can affect people of any gender, body size, age, or background. You do not need to be underweight to be struggling, and you absolutely do not need to "get sicker" to deserve help.
Signs You Might Be Struggling with Anorexia
Obsessive thoughts about food, calories, or body image
Intense fear of gaining weight or being seen as "lazy"
Rituals around food (cutting things small, eating slowly, hiding food)
Feeling powerful or in control through restriction
Withdrawal from social events involving food
Denial of hunger, even when clearly undernourished
Frequent self-criticism, shame, or perfectionism
Binge eating and/or purging after meals (Anorexia, binge/purge subtype)
You may also experience fatigue, mood swings, hair loss, dizziness, or difficulty concentrating. These are not character flaws. They are signs that your body is struggling to survive.
What Causes Anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa develops through a complex interaction of:
Genetic vulnerability — Anorexia is 50 - 60% heritable and among the top heritable psychiatric disorders
Personality traits such as perfectionism, anxiety, compulsive behaviors, and harm-avoidance
Low Self-Esteem
Difficulty regulating emotions
Rigid thinking
Strong need for control
Participation in activities that emphasize body size/shape (gymnastics, swimming, ice skating, dancing, theater).
Family and relationship experiences and cultural influences, and life stressors.
How I Treat Anorexia
Building Motivation to Heal
Anorexia is “ego-syntonic,” meaning in-sync with our identity or values. Part of you may not want to deal with the conseequences of Anorexia, while another part just isn’t ready to let it go. This is where building motivation becomes essential to moving forward in the recovery process.
Foundations of Nourishment
Learning to nourish our bodies goes far beyond knowing what foods to eat. In recovery, we understand the costs behind starvation, how to honor our hunger/fullness cues, the benefits of all macro and micronutrients, diet myths, and how to fuel out bodies.
Understanding How You Got Here
Therapy involves uncovering your history — your story — to determine, why did Anorexia become the solution? We look to your genetics, temperament, childhood experiences, family and cultural dynamics, and life stressors to help understand what shaped the way you think, feel, and behave. These patterns help us uncover what drives your eating disorder.
Addressing Your Thoughts, Feelings, and Behavior
Among other daily triggers, most clients with anorexia face high levels of anxiety and guilt, a strong inner critic, the need for control, and drive to be perfect. Identifying your thought process, the feelings that follow, and how it impacts your behavior allows us to restructure unhelpful thinking and safely feel emotions that have been avoided.
Healing Your Relationship with Your Body
& Finding Your Authentic Self
When anxiety and perfectionism need an outlet, viewing our bodies as a problem to be fixed becomes an easy answer. Learning to reconnect to our bodies and embrace their true purpose — to allow us to fully experience life — is key to recovery. When we lack an understanding of who we really are, our identities center around what we can achieve or how we look. Finding your authentic self — who you were always meant to be — is essential to the healing process.
Evidence-Based Treatment
My work is primarily informed by Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E), the leading evidence-based treatment for eating disorders. Depending on your needs, I also integrate strategies from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Focal Psychodynamic Therapy.
What are the Medical Complications of Anorexia?
Medical complications of anorexia nervosa can affect every major organ system in the body. These complications result from prolonged malnutrition, extreme weight loss, and compensatory behaviors like purging or excessive exercise. Here's a breakdown by system:
Neurological
Brain volume loss (gray and white matter shrinkage)
Poor concentration, memory, and slowed cognition
Seizures (in severe electrolyte imbalances)
Sleep disturbances
Emotional blunting or heightened anxiety/depression
Cardiovascular
Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms, especially from electrolyte imbalances)
Mitral valve prolapse
Heart failure (especially during refeeding if not carefully managed)
Pulmonary
Respiratory muscle weakness
Shortness of breath with minimal exertion
Fluid in the lungs (in extreme cases)
Gastrointestinal
Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying)
Bloating, early satiety, constipation
Liver dysfunction
Esophageal tears (from vomiting)
Pancreatitis
Endocrine & Hormonal
Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycle)
Low estrogen or testosterone
Osteopenia/osteoporosis (due to low hormones and poor calcium intake)
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Thyroid suppression (low T3, T4)
Musculoskeletal
Muscle wasting and weakness
Bone loss → stress fractures, increased risk of osteoporosis
Joint pain or cold intolerance due to loss of insulating fat
Hematologic
Anemia (usually normocytic or macrocytic)
Leukopenia (low white blood cells)
Thrombocytopenia (low platelets)
Poor wound healing
Electrolyte & Renal
Hypokalemia (low potassium) → life-threatening arrhythmias
Hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia
Dehydration and low sodium
Kidney damage from chronic dehydration or laxative/diuretic abuse
Dermatologic
Lanugo (fine hair growth on arms/face)
Hair loss, dry skin
Brittle nails
Yellowing of skin (from hypercarotenemia)
Calluses or scars on knuckles (Russell's sign from purging)
Psychological & Cognitive (Overlap with Medical)
Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
Perfectionism
Social withdrawal
Body dysmorphia
Difficulty making decisions
High-Risk Scenarios
Sudden death (often from cardiac arrhythmia)
Refeeding syndrome (life-threatening shifts in fluids/electrolytes when nutrition is reintroduced too rapidly)
Helpful Blog Posts for Anorexia
Frequently Asked Questions About Anorexia
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Yes. People with atypical anorexia experience the same restrictive behaviors, fear of weight gain, and psychological distress but may remain in a normal or higher weight range. The illness is determined by behaviors and psychological symptoms, not weight alone.
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Yes, genetics play a significant role. Research suggests that anorexia is one of the most heritable psychiatric disorders, with genetics estimated to account for roughly 50-60% of an individual's risk. Environmental experiences and life events also contribute.
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The brain cannot fully heal while it is undernourished. Adequate nutrition helps improve concentration, emotional regulation, anxiety, mood, flexibility in thinking, and the ability to engage in therapy.
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No. While body image concerns are often present, anorexia frequently serves deeper psychological functions such as reducing anxiety, creating a sense of control, coping with overwhelming emotions, or managing perfectionistic standards.
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Many people with anorexia have limited awareness of the seriousness of their illness because starvation affects insight and judgment. A lack of recognition does not mean the illness is mild. Compassionate, early intervention is important.
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Treatment should be sought as soon as restrictive eating, significant weight loss, fear of weight gain, obsessive thoughts about food or weight, or physical symptoms begin interfering with daily life. Early intervention is associated with better outcomes.
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Purging is a behavior that is common across many eating disorders: Anorexia (binge/purge type), Bulimia, or OSFED (Purging disorder). A trained clinician can provide you with an assessment to differentiate.
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Recovery looks different for everyone. Some people make significant progress within months, while others continue working toward recovery over several years. Lasting recovery involves more than restoring weight. It also includes healing thoughts, emotions, relationships, and quality of life.
Healing begins with one small step of courage. Begin your recovery from anorexia today.
