What Kinds of Therapists Treat Eating Disorders? A Guide for Finding the Right Support in Philadelphia and the Main Line Area
If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, it can feel incredibly overwhelming to know where to begin when it comes to finding help. There are so many different types of therapists and treatment options out there- and the online space can be so loud when it comes to opinions about which type of care work best. How do you know which kind of provider is the right fit? What kind of therapy actually works for eating disorders? And where can you find informed care that will *actually* be helpful in the Philadelphia or Main Line area?
At Wildflower Therapy (a group therapy practice with an office located in center city Philadelphia, and virtual therapy options as well) we specialize in helping people who are struggling with disordered eating. We are true specialists in the field-and many of us are recovered from eating disorders ourselves! We know how confusing and isolating it can feel to navigate the process of trying to find help. That’s why we wanted to create this guide-to help you better understand the types of therapists who treat eating disorders, the kinds of therapy approaches that are available, and how to choose the support that’s right for you, your child, or your loved one.
Whether you’re dealing with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, or disordered eating patterns that don’t neatly fit into a DSM box, you deserve care that is thoughtful, highly tailored, rooted in evidence-based practices, and celebratory of who you are as an individual. And if you’re searching for eating disorder therapy in Philadelphia or the Main Line, we hope this post helps you feel a little less alone and a little more empowered to take that next step towards reaching out. Whether it is reaching out to us, or another provider, we celebrate your bravery and pursuit of a life that feels less confined by the small, grey rooms of disordered eating.
What Is an Eating Disorder Therapist?
An eating disorder therapist is a licensed mental health professional with specialized training and experience in working with individuals who struggle with eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image issues. Ideally, a therapist treating eating disorders should specialize in this area, because eating disorders are known to be highly complex, and can include accompanying medical issues. It is importance for therapists to have a deep understanding of the complex emotional, psychological, and physical components of eating disorders. It is also crucial for therapists to have foundational knowledge in evidenced-based treatments for eating disorders- and be ready and able to individualize these approaches based on the needs of each person.
While many types of therapists might see clients with a wide range of concerns, eating disorder therapists specifically focus on conditions like:
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED)
Chronic dieting, body image distress, and disordered eating behaviors
In addition to treating eating disorders, a competent therapist should also be well-versed in addressing related concerns like anxiety, depression, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)- because all of these are highly comorbid with disordered eating.
At Wildflower Therapy, we believe it is also very helpful for eating disorder therapists to have experience working at higher levels of care (Residential, inpatient, partial hospitalization, and/or intensive outpatient.) This is because eating disorder therapists often need to help clients step up or down from other levels of care. It is helpful, therefore, to have intimate knowledge of the higher level of care and managed care systems, as we potentially help clients navigate both.
Types of Therapists Who Treat Eating Disorders
Ok so now you know what an eating disorder therapist *generally* is. So next let’s look at the different kinds of therapists you might encounter when searching for eating disorder treatment in Philadelphia and the Main Line area- because we have heard a lot of confusion voiced from folks who want to know what the actual difference is between job titles and credentials.
1. Psychologists (PhD or PsyD)
Psychologists are doctoral-level therapists trained in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, including eating disorders. They may provide individual, group, or family therapy and are often skilled in various evidence-based approaches. Psychologists have a special emphasis on understanding/administering research as part of their training, and are also trained in the area of psychological assessment tools. They also typically have an additional 2-4 years of graduate-level course training vs masters level clinicians. At Wildflower Therapy, several of our clinicians hold doctoral degrees in clinical psychology and have dedicated their careers and research to the field of eating disorder recovery.
2. Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
Licensed Professional Counselors have master’s-level training in counseling and therapy. They undergo a rigorous training process that includes earning a master's degree in counseling, completing supervised clinical experience, and passing a state licensure exam. They are experienced in providing talk therapy for a range of concerns, including eating disorders. Many LPCs pursue specialized continuing education or certification programs in eating disorder treatment. At Wildflower Therapy, several of our clinicians hold LPC degrees.
3. Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
LCSWs are master’s-level mental health providers trained in psychotherapy and case management. Similar to LPC’s, they undergo a rigorous training process that includes earning a master's degree in social work, completing supervised clinical experience, and passing a licensure exam. They often approach therapy from a strengths-based, person-centered perspective, and social-justice-oriented les, and are skilled at helping clients navigate complex emotions, relationships, and life stressors. At Wildflower Therapy, several of our clinicians hold LPC degrees.
4. Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
LMFTs are trained to work with individuals, couples, and families. Since eating disorders often affect and are affected by family dynamics, this type of therapist can be helpful when involving loved ones in the treatment process. Family-Based Treatment (FBT), a highly effective approach for adolescents with eating disorders, is sometimes led by LMFTs or other therapists trained in family therapy models. (At Wildflower, we have several clinicians who are highly trained in the FBT model.)
Common Therapy Approaches for Eating Disorder Treatment
Sometimes it can be confusing to understand what kind of therapy someone offers- or even to tell what kind of therapy you are receiving as you are going through it! Eating disorder treatment can be tricky because there is often not a robust, proven, one-size fits all approach that leads to recovery. The best therapists (in our humble opinion!) combine parts from evidenced-based approaches (that provide you with skills for change) with person-centered, parts-work, and connection-based approaches (that foster a deep, supportive connection between you and your therapist- essentially making the therapy space a safe place to work through the harder things.) Here are some of the most widely used therapies that you might encounter when searching for eating disorder therapy in Philadelphia or the Main Line:
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a well-researched and widely utilized treatment for eating disorders. It helps clients identify and challenge distorted thoughts about food, weight, and body image while gradually changing harmful behaviors. CBT for eating disorders often includes nutritional rehabilitation, exposure exercises, and relapse prevention strategies.
2. Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E)
An adaptation of traditional CBT, CBT-E is specifically designed for treating all types of eating disorders. It’s a structured, individualized treatment that addresses the thoughts and behaviors maintaining the eating disorder and helps clients develop healthier coping strategies.
3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, DBT has proven effective for individuals with eating disorders, especially when there’s a history of emotional dysregulation or self-harm. DBT emphasizes mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.
4. Family-Based Treatment (FBT)
FBT, sometimes called the Maudsley Method, is the leading evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa and has growing support for other eating disorders including ARFID. It involves parents taking an active role in helping their child eat and restore weight while addressing underlying emotional concerns as a family unit.
5. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT helps clients develop psychological flexibility and accept difficult thoughts and emotions without acting on them. It encourages values-based living and can be a helpful approach for those stuck in rigid eating or exercise patterns.
6. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders but has shown great promise for individuals with eating disorders, particularly those with obsessive-compulsive traits or strong food fears. It involves gradually confronting avoided foods or situations in a controlled, supportive setting.
At Wildflower, we use pieces of CBT, DBT, ACT, and ERP when appropriate. We also offer FBT for kids and adolescents when appropriate. We combine the parts from these approaches (the ones that seem to fit most with someone’s unique clinical picture) into a supportive, genuine foundation of connection with a clinician who *truly* cares- and is always willing to meet each person where they are in terms of readiness to change. Our clinicians are neurodivergent-affirming, LGBTQ-celebratory (and many queer-identified themselves), and deeply understanding of how hard the process of recovery can be in this culture (as many of us have personally experienced the recovery roller coaster ourselves.)
The Wildflower Crew!
How to Choose an Eating Disorder Therapist
Finding the right therapist can feel intimidating, especially when you’re already navigating the emotional toll of an eating disorder. Here are a few tips to help you choose a provider:
Look for specialization. Not all therapists are trained in eating disorder treatment. Make sure the provider you’re considering has specific experience and continuing education in this area.
Ask about their treatment approach. Do they use evidence-based practices like CBT-E, DBT, or FBT? Are they flexible in these approaches if you need or request a tailored technique? Are they understanding and upfront about the limitations of manualized care, and able to offer therapy that also incorporates an understanding of childhood, environment, politics, etc.? Are they deeply affirming of your identity? Are they collaborative and open to working with a treatment team (like a dietitian, physician, or psychiatrist)? Are they understanding of reservations or fears around changing? Will they tailor the pace to your comfort level?
Consider the vibe. Eating disorder recovery is deeply personal, and you’ll need a therapist you feel safe and supported with. Ask for a consultation call with the actual therapist that you will be meeting with. You deserve to get a sense of their style, personality, and to be able to assess whether or not you might be comfortable actually meeting with them.
Think about logistics. Are they located in Philadelphia or a Main Line town convenient to you? Do they have a general connection and familiarity with the area that you are located in (ie will they be able to connect you with dietitians and doctors as need be?) Do they offer virtual therapy if needed? Are their scheduling options workable for your situation?
At Wildflower Therapy, we believe recovery-on your terms and in a way that feels safe for you-is possible for everyone, and finding the right therapeutic fit is a crucial part of that journey. Our practice offers individual therapy and group therapy, and we’d be honored to be part of your healing process.
Eating Disorder Therapy in Philadelphia and the Main Line: Why Specialized Care Matters
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions with physical, emotional, and social consequences. They require nuanced, individualized care from providers who truly understand the intricacies of these illnesses.
If you reside in Philadelphia or the surrounding Main Line towns like Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Wayne, and Haverford, Wildflower Therapy can help you with eating disorder recovery. We are a team that specializes in this work and is familial with your area and the supports you may also need to partner with.
We know that reaching out for help is one of the hardest — and bravest — steps you can take. Whether you’re seeking therapy for yourself, your child, or a loved one, we’d love to support you in finding hope and healing.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been searching for eating disorder therapy in Philadelphia or exploring options for eating disorder treatment in the Main Line area, please know that you’re not alone. There are caring, experienced, and deeply invested therapists ready to help you navigate recovery and reconnect with your life in meaningful ways.
At Wildflower Therapy, we offer a warm supportive, and specialized space where you can begin that journey. Our clinicians are passionate about helping clients untangle the complicated relationship with food and body image and move toward a life rooted in self-compassion and authenticity.
If you’re curious about working together or just want to ask some questions, reach out to us — we’d love to hear from you!
How to Reach Out!
Life is a unique and sometimes messy journey for each of us; we all have our own individual battles to fight. Our therapists know there is no one-size-fits-all approach to any of life’s challenges and because of that, we offer many unique perspectives and approaches to help meet you where you are with our Philadelphia, PA Therapy services.
We offer services for eating disorder therapy, services for anxiety, and depression, and have practitioners who specialize in perinatal mental health , maternal mental health, therapy for college students and athletes. As well as LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy. We have something to offer just about anyone in our Philadelphia, PA office. Reaching out is often the most difficult step you can take to improve your mental health. Simply fill out the referral form on the contact page, and someone will reach out to you by phone and email within 24 hours. We look forward to partnering with you on this journey!