How Can I Find a Qualified Eating Disorder Therapist?
How to Find an Eating Disorder Therapist Near You: A Comprehensive Guide
If you've landed here, you're likely searching for help—maybe for yourself, a loved one, or even a client. Finding an eating disorder therapist near you can feel overwhelming, especially when so many providers claim to "treat everything." But eating disorders are complex, multi-layered illnesses that require specialized care. Choosing the right therapist can be the difference between feeling stuck and finally moving toward healing.
This guide is designed to walk you through exactly what to look for, what to avoid, and how to make a confident, informed decision.
Why Specialized Care Matters
Eating disorders are not just about food.
They often involve a tangled web of behaviors, beliefs, emotions, trauma, attachment wounds, and physiological responses.
A generalist therapist can certainly offer support, but you need someone who understands the nuances of eating disorders, from the daily lived experience to the invisible systemic patterns that keep you stuck.
That means you're not just looking for a "nice" therapist. You're looking for a guide who understands:
The biology and psychology of restriction, bingeing, purging, and compulsive movement
The helplessness that individuals, families, and loved ones experience
That the eating disorder may feel like a best friend
How there may not be motivation to change
That it isn’t as simple as “just stopping” or “just eat”
The shame and secrecy that accompanies these disorders
How trauma and attachment shape body image and eating behaviors
That stopping symptoms is the tip of the iceberg.
How to hold hope when recovery feels impossible
The Steps to Find an Eating Disorder Therapist
Step 1: Start With the Right Search Terms:
“Find a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Near Me”
Step 1: Start With the Right Search Terms
Search engines and directories are often the first stop. Here are some key phrases to use:
"Find an eating disorder therapist near me"
“Certified Eating Disorder Specialist” or “CEDS”
"Eating disorder specialist in [your city]"
"Anorexia/bulimia/binge eating therapist near me"
"Body image therapy [location]"
Use Google, Psychology Today, TherapyDen, and the IAEDP directory.
To find eating disorder providers while using your specific insurance information, www.findedhelp.com is an excellent tool.
Step 2: Evaluate Specializations With a Critical Eye
Step 2: Evaluate Specializations With a Critical Eye
When you click on therapist profiles, notice how many specialties are listed. If you see 15 or more areas of expertise, be cautious.
Red Flags:
A therapist who lists everything from ADHD to OCD to Bipolar Disorder, to relationship issues to trauma to eating disorders may have experience in the areas, but not actually be specialized in all of them. Sometimes, this is used as a “catch all” marketing approach for therapists who are generalists, or work with all different types of concerns. While this might be helpful for someone struggling with self-esteem, depression, or anxiety, eating disorders require specialized intensive training that is very rarely included in graduate school.
Green Flags!
What You Want to See:
5–10 clearly focused specialties
Be sure that "Eating Disorders" is listed within their top three specialties (on Psychology Today, the top three are bolded)
Specific mention of disordered eating, body image, or co-occurring issues like trauma or anxiety
Step 3: Look for the Credentials that Matter
Not all training is created equal. Here’s what to look for:
✔ CEDS Certification
CEDS stands for Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, a credential awarded by the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). It requires over 2,500 hours of supervised eating disorder experience, the completion of 4 core courses, an extensive exam, and ongoing Continuing Education in the field, including attendance at symposiums and conferences. If a therapist holds this, it’s a very good sign.
✔ Years of Experience
Ideally, you’ll want to find someone who has more than a couple years of experience treating eating disorders. Ask how long they’ve worked in the field and whether it’s a primary focus of their practice.
✔ Experience at Multiple Levels of Care
Has this therapist worked in residential, PHP, or IOP settings before private practice? If so, they’ll be better equipped to:
Recognize when outpatient work isn't enough
Guide you, your family, or loved ones through anxiety surrounding the process
Identify any potential treatment patterns that may be keeping you stuck (i.e. over-reliance on treatment).
Coordinate with dietitians, psychiatrists, and treatment centers
Pick a treatment center that is best suited for your particular needs
Create step-up or step-down plans based on your needs
This knowledge helps them guide you through the full continuum of care.
Learn more about Dr. Kait here!
Step 4: Match Their Expertise to Your Unique Struggles
Eating disorders rarely exist in isolation. You may be navigating trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, grief, or addiction alongside food and body issues.
Look for a therapist who names your top two concerns in their profile and describes how they treat the intersection. For example:
"I specialize in trauma-informed eating disorder care"
"I help clients heal from both substance abuse and disordered eating through integrated treatment models"
You want someone who gets your version of an eating disorder, not just the textbook one.
Step 5: Understand the Layers of Healing
Recovery from an eating disorder is never one-size-fits-all. A skilled therapist will be able to identify where you are on your recovery journey and what needs to happen next. The process is not linear and often involves layers of work:
1. Stabilizing Symptoms & Safety
Focus: Challenging harmful behaviors and building consistent nourishment
Modality Examples: CBT-E, FBT (Family-Based Therapy), DBT Skills
2. Identifying and Restructuring Thoughts
Focus: Addressing perfectionism, shame, fat phobia, and negative self-talk
Modality Examples: CBT, CFT (Compassion-Focused Therapy), ACT
3. Emotional Understanding and Regulation
Focus: Learning to tolerate distress, name emotions, and reduce numbing strategies
Modality Examples: DBT, IFS (Internal Family Systems), EMDR
4. Uncovering Root Causes and Perpetuating Factors
Focus: Understanding how early life experiences shaped current coping
Modality Examples: Psychodynamic Therapy, IFS, EMDR
5. Repairing Attachment and Relational Patterns with Yourself and Others
Focus: Healing core wounds like abandonment, worthlessness, or people-pleasing
Modality Examples: Relational Therapy, IFS, Interpersonal/Interpersonal Process Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Schema Therapy, Expressive Art Therapies, Inner Child Work
Learn more about some of the therapeutic modalities used at Bloom here.
Step 6: Interview Your Therapist
Many therapists offer free 15- or 20-minute phone consultations. Use this time to ask:
How much of your caseload is eating disorder clients?
What is your experience with [insert your top 1–2 struggles]?
What types of therapy do you use?
Have you worked at higher levels of care?
How will you know if I need more support?
Are you comfortable working with body diversity, HAES, or trauma-informed care?
Book Your Complimentary 15-Min Consultation Here!
Also ask about payment and access:
Why Do Some Specialists Charge More?
Eating disorder specialists often undergo extensive additional training, supervision, and certification.
They may carry smaller caseloads to provide more individualized care.
Why Might They Not Take Insurance?
Insurance reimbursement rates are often low, especially for niche care.
Working out-of-pocket gives providers more freedom to tailor treatment.
Working with an Out of Pocket, Eating Disorder Specialist
Pros:
Specialized training = less time feeling “stuck” and more time making real progress with someone who knows exactly what to target.
While this doesn’t make recovery instant or easy, it often makes the process more focused, intentional, and effective.Being appropriately compensated minimizes the need for therapists to “hustle” and take on dozens of clients to make ends meet. It hands them time back. This can lead to smaller caseloads, more flexibility, and individualized attention to the fine details of your individual needs.
This is especially important in the field of eating disorders where there is higher risk. Appropriate care involves time outside of sessions to collaborate with treatment team members, speak with loved ones, and ensure everyone is on the same page with your care.No insurance limitations on number of sessions.
Greater privacy (no diagnosis shared with insurance)
Cons:
Paying out-of-pocket can place a financial strain and heighten stress.
You may not have out-of-network benefits (where you can use a superbill to receive partial reimbursement).
There ARE some exceptional, qualified therapists out there who accept insurance.
Be Cautious of Oversimplified Promises
Healing takes time. If a therapist promises you that you’ll be "cured" in 10 sessions, that’s a red flag.
It’s totally fine for a therapist to say, "We may work through some goals in 10–20 sessions" as long as they also acknowledge that:
Recovery is nonlinear
Deep-rooted triggers and relational wounds may take longer
It’s normal to work in phases over time
Therapists who work with modalities like CBT may focus on short-term gains (helpful!) but may fall short if you’re experiencing things like deep loneliness, abandonment wounds, or complex trauma.
Step 7: Decide if it’s a Good Fit
Take your time to interview a few therapists! You want to make sure that you feel comfortable and that their style and energy feels aligned with yours.
In Summary: What to Look For to Find an Eating Disorder Therapist
The Ideal Therapist Will:
List 5–10 core specialties (not 15+)
Have "Eating Disorders" in their top three specialties
Hold a CEDS or have explicit training in eating disorders
Have at least 2–5 years of ED experience
Understand your co-occurring concerns (trauma, anxiety, etc.)
Offer multiple levels of clinical depth (not just food behavior)
Be transparent, curious, and never make promises that feel too good to be true
Bonus: How to Use the IAEDP Directory
Visit iaedp.com and use their Find a Provider tool. You can search by location and look specifically for clinicians with the CEDS credential. This is one of the most reliable directories for finding vetted, experienced eating disorder professionals.
Final Thoughts
Finding an eating disorder therapist near you is more than ticking off boxes. It’s about finding someone who makes you feel safe, seen, and capable of change. The process may take time, and that’s okay. You’re allowed to ask questions, to advocate for yourself, and to wait until it feels right.
Accessible Care Across Florida—and Beyond
Bloom Psychological Services offers virtual therapy sessions for clients across Florida and many other states. Dr. Kait Rosiere is a PSYPACT-certified provider, which allows her to work with private-pay clients in the following locations:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Dr. Kait is in-network with Aetna in Florida, and also accepts FSA and HSA payments. For all other insurance providers, she offers superbills to help clients seek reimbursement through out-of-network benefits.
Take the First Step Towards Healing
Embarking on the path to recovery can be daunting, but you don't have to do it alone.
Dr. Kait is here to support you every step of the way.