Research has found that athletes often feel misunderstood in eating-related treatment. Athletes experience the same psycho-social risk factors as non-athletes (societal pressures, family history, perfectionism, etc.). In addition to these risk factors, athletes have training and energy demands that can lead to the development of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), which may increase their risk. Athletes can also experience risk factors that are unique to their sport environment, such as negative self-appraisal of athletic achievement, sport body image, team culture, etc.

Our goal is to empower you to reach full recovery from your eating disorder and return to your sport stronger, both mentally and physically. Our team understands the unique variables of sport that can contribute to the development or maintenance of an eating disorder. We also appreciate the integral role that sport can play in an athlete’s recovery.

Individual Treatment

Our individual treatment involves meeting with one of our therapists for a 60-minute therapy session one or more times per week. We incorporate mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy into these sessions to address the whole athlete and facilitate full recovery. You will learn skills to adjust how you think and feel about eating, weight and body image in both performance and non-performance domains.

Treatment will also focus on increasing psychological flexibility, clarifying values, and exploring athletic identity to improve your overall quality of life. Depending on an athlete’s needs, treatment may include a pause in physical training, or continued participation in physical training. An ongoing part of individual treatment will also include discussion regarding return to sport and/or how continued participation may impact an athlete’s recovery.