Individual Treatment

Personalized care with a Registered Dietitian or a Clinical Psychologist.

Individual Treatment Options for Eating Disorders

Individual treatment is often an essential part of recovery from eating disorders due to the complex and deeply personal nature of these illnesses. Eating disorders are not simply about food or weight—they are rooted in a web of emotional, psychological, and physiological factors that vary significantly from person to person.

Individualized care provides a focused space where clients can safely explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with the support of a trained professional who tailors treatment to their unique story.

By engaging in one-on-one support, clients are able to develop a deeper understanding of their symptoms, gain insight into the origins of their disordered behaviors, and work toward meaningful, sustainable change. Individual treatment also supports a sense of agency and self-efficacy, allowing individuals to take ownership of their recovery process at a pace that feels manageable and effective.

It can be challenging to decide what treatment approach is best for you. Schedule a call with us so that we can assist you with a treatment that meets your needs

The Benefits of Nutrition Counseling for Eating Disorders

Nutrition counseling is a vital counterpart to psychotherapy in eating disorder recovery, as it directly addresses the disordered behaviors and beliefs related to food, movement, and body image. A registered dietitian with expertise in eating disorders works collaboratively with clients to explore their current behaviors, their relationship with food, and how they relate to their body. This work creates a supportive space where meaningful behavior change can take place through education, guided exploration, and specialized support. Clients are gently helped to uncover how their eating disorder may have been shaped by fear, guilt, rigid rules, or past experiences—and are offered tools to move toward a relationship with food that meets their needs and their goals.

Through nutrition counseling, clients work with a registered dietitian to:

Develop a flexible and nourishing approach to eating that supports both physical restoration and emotional wellbeing.
Examine and get curious about unhelpful beliefs around exercise, metabolism, and body changes.
Replace rigid or punitive habits with nourishing, sustainable practices that align with long-term health.
Foster a more peaceful and intuitive relationship with food, movement, and the body over time.
Better understand values around food, body and movement

The Benefits of Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders

Individual psychotherapy offers a critical opportunity to address the psychological underpinnings of an eating disorder. Many people living with eating disorders have experienced trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, or low self-worth, which may have contributed to the development of disordered eating as a means of coping or regaining control.

In therapy, clients are guided to explore the vulnerabilities—emotional, relational, and developmental—that gave rise to these behaviors.

Through evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and psychodynamic therapy, individuals are supported to:

Recognize and understand the origins of disordered thoughts and behaviors, often rooted in past experiences, trauma, or unmet emotional needs. Therapy offers a safe space to explore these underlying factors without judgment.
Build emotional resilience by learning to tolerate distress and regulate overwhelming emotions without resorting to disordered behaviors. This includes developing grounding techniques, mindful awareness, and a stronger sense of internal safety.
Shift from harmful coping strategies to adaptive, compassionate responses, supporting long-term healing rather than short-term control or avoidance.
Cultivate self-awareness and self-compassion, which are essential for challenging shame, rebuilding trust in one’s body and mind, and fostering a more integrated sense of self.

In reality, the most effective treatment plans often integrate both modalities. While psychotherapy helps you understand why disordered behaviors developed, nutrition counseling helps you learn how to shift those behaviors in a safe and supportive way. A collaborative team approach—where therapist and dietitian work in tandem—offers the most comprehensive path toward recovery.

Nutrition Counseling or Psychotherapy?

Which one do you need?

Deciding whether to start with psychotherapy, nutrition counseling, or both depends on your individual history, current challenges, and recovery goals.

If overwhelming emotions, trauma, or unresolved internal conflicts are contributing to your struggles with eating, psychotherapy can provide the foundation for deeper healing. However, engaging meaningfully in therapy often requires a certain level of physical and emotional stability—especially the capacity to reflect, process, and regulate emotions.

This is where nutrition counseling often becomes an essential first step. By targeting eating disorder behaviors directly, nutrition counseling supports individuals in becoming more nourished and medically stable. This stabilization is not only critical for physical health but also lays the groundwork for more effective therapeutic engagement. A well-nourished brain is better equipped for introspection, emotional processing, and the kind of cognitive flexibility required in psychotherapy.

If your most immediate challenges involve navigating meals, recognizing hunger and fullness cues, or dismantling food-related rules and rituals, working with a registered dietitian may be the best place to begin.

In reality, the most effective treatment plans often integrate both modalities. While psychotherapy helps you understand why disordered behaviors developed, nutrition counseling helps you learn how to shift those behaviors in a safe and supportive way. A collaborative team approach—where therapist and dietitian work in tandem—offers the most comprehensive path toward recovery.

Individual Support Beyond Eating Disorders

Individual treatment isn’t just for those diagnosed with an eating disorder—it can be an invaluable resource for anyone seeking support with their relationship to food, body image, or emotional wellbeing. Many people experience disordered eating patterns, chronic dieting, anxiety around food, or dissatisfaction with their bodies without meeting the criteria for an eating disorder.

Others may be navigating life transitions, stress, or trauma that impact their mental and physical health.

Whether through psychotherapy or nutrition counseling, individual treatment provides a personalized, non-judgmental space to explore these challenges, build self-awareness, and create sustainable habits that support overall wellness.

Individual Treatment