At Ezer Psychotherapy, the name itself tells the story of what I hope to offer every client. The word Ezer (pronounced ay-zer) comes from Hebrew and means help or strong support. I chose it because therapy isn’t about doing the work for you—it’s about walking alongside you with steady support, insight, and tools so you can build the resilience you need to thrive. My practice focuses on adolescents, young adults, and families, helping them fully function in life, even in the face of challenges like anxiety, stress, medical concerns, trauma, and performance pressures. Ezer reflects both the strength and the care at the heart of my work. Read more in this blog post.

When a teen or young adult develops an eating disorder, families are often told conflicting things:

“Your child is legally an adult now.”
“They need independence.”
“Parents should step back.”

At the same time, the eating disorder may be rapidly taking over their life.

For many families, this creates confusion, fear, and helplessness—especially when a 17, 18, 19, or 20-year-old is medically or psychologically deteriorating but still trying to maintain school, work, athletics, or college life.

This is where FBT-TAY (Family-Based Treatment for Transitional Age Youth) can help.

When your child, teen, or young adult is struggling with an eating disorder, one of the first and most overwhelming questions parents ask is:

“What level of treatment does my child actually need?”

The world of eating disorder treatment can feel confusing and intimidating. Terms like inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient therapy are often used interchangeably online, but they represent very different levels of care.

The good news is that recovery is possible, and many children, adolescents, and young adults can successfully recover in outpatient treatment with the right support system, family involvement, and evidence-based therapy.

Watching your child struggle with an eating disorder can feel terrifying.
Many parents in Family-Based Treatment (FBT) reach a point where they wonder:

• “Are we failing?”

• “Should my child go to residential treatment?”

• “How do we survive this?”

• “What if meals at home feel impossible?”

If you are in the middle of refeeding, facing intense emotions, managing meal resistance, or feeling exhausted by the daily battle against anorexia nervosa, ARFID, bulimia nervosa, or another eating disorder, you are not alone.

If your child is in eating disorder treatment and suddenly experiencing intense anger, aggression, or emotional outbursts, you are not alone.

Many parents search:

• “Why is my child so angry in eating disorder recovery?”

• “Is aggression normal during Family-Based Treatment?”

• “How do I handle eating disorder meltdowns?”

The answer: this is incredibly common—and it makes sense.

In Family-Based Treatment (FBT), children are asked to do something that feels terrifying to their brain:
Eat regularly, gain weight (if needed), and give up eating disorder behaviors.

From your child’s perspective, this can feel like a loss of control, safety, and identity—which often shows up as anger.

When a child suddenly develops shaking, tremors, tics, weakness, abnormal walking, muscle spasms, or involuntary movements, families are often frightened and confused. Many parents worry about neurological diseases, seizures, or degenerative disorders. After extensive medical testing, they may hear a diagnosis they have never encountered before: Functional Movement Disorder (FMD).

Functional Movement Disorder is a type of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in which the nervous system is not functioning properly even though brain scans and medical tests may appear normal. The symptoms are real, distressing, and can significantly impact a child’s daily life.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges people experience today — yet many people live with severe anxiety for years without realizing how much it is affecting their daily lives.

You may look successful on the outside while internally feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, constantly worried, emotionally drained, or unable to relax. Many people with anxiety become experts at “functioning” while silently struggling.

Can You Fake Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)?

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), you may have heard difficult questions like:

• “Is this all in their head?”

• “Are they doing this on purpose?”

• “Can someone fake FND symptoms?”

• “Are these seizures real?”

• “Could they stop if they wanted to?”

These questions are common—but they are often rooted in misunderstanding.

A practical, compassionate guide for parents and caregivers

If you’re worried your teen may be struggling with an eating disorder, you’re not alone—and you’re not powerless. While professional support is essential, what happens at home can make a profound difference in your child’s recovery.

This guide will walk you through what actually helps, what to avoid, and how to support your teen in a way that fosters trust, safety, and healing.

At first glance, eating “healthy” might seem like a positive goal. But when food rules become rigid, anxiety-driven, or all-consuming, it can signal something deeper.

Two eating-related conditions often confused are anorexia and orthorexia. While they may overlap, they are not the same—and understanding the difference is essential for early intervention and effective treatment.

When “Doing Fine” Isn’t Actually Fine

From the outside, many children, teens, and young adults with eating disorders look like they’re holding it together. They’re still attending school. Grades might even appear strong, at least for a while.

But underneath the surface, something else is happening.

Eating disorders don’t just affect physical health; they quietly erode focus, memory, motivation, and emotional stability. Over time, this can derail academic goals, delay graduation, and disrupt long-term dreams.

This is the hidden cost: academic potential slowly slipping away.

The holidays are often portrayed as a time of joy, connection, and celebration. But for individuals struggling with an eating disorder—and for the people who love them—this time of year can feel overwhelming, stressful, and emotionally charged.

From large meals and food-centered traditions to changes in routine and increased social expectations, the holidays can intensify anxiety, guilt, and disordered eating behaviors. If you’re supporting a child, adolescent, or young adult during this time, your role matters more than you might realize.

Here’s how to show up in a way that is supportive, compassionate, and truly helpful.

Understanding Eating Disorders: Types, Warning Signs, and What to Expect in Outpatient Treatment

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect a person’s relationship with food, body image, and self-worth. They are not a choice, a phase, or simply about dieting. They are complex illnesses influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors — and they are treatable.

If you or someone you love is struggling, understanding the different types of eating disorders and knowing when to seek help is an important first step.

Seeking help for an eating disorder can feel intimidating. Many people wonder what therapy will actually look like, how long it will take, and whether recovery is truly possible. If you are considering outpatient eating disorder therapy for yourself or a loved one, understanding the process can help reduce uncertainty and make the first step toward treatment feel more manageable.

In this guide, we will walk through what outpatient eating disorder therapy involves, what sessions look like, how progress is monitored, and what recovery typically looks like over time.

Functional Neurologic Disorder (FND) is a condition that affects how the brain sends and receives signals throughout the body. Although the symptoms can appear similar to neurological diseases, they occur without structural damage to the brain or nervous system. Instead, the problem lies in how the brain functions and communicates with the body….

Why does your child seem successful—but constantly stressed, overwhelmed, or on edge?
They get good grades. They’re responsible. They look like they’re “doing great.”
But underneath, they may be struggling with high-functioning anxiety.

This often-overlooked form of anxiety can affect children, teens, and young adults—especially those who appear driven, perfectionistic, and high-achieving.

In this article, we’ll explore the most common co-occurring diagnoses seen in individuals with eating disorders and explain how our evidence-based treatment integrates care for both the eating disorder and any additional mental health needs.

Faith-Based Counseling for Eating Disorders, Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, FND, & Chronic Illness

Looking for therapy that integrates your faith and mental health?
At Ezer Psychotherapy, we offer Christian-based therapy in Minneapolis for children, teens, and young adults who want their healing to align with their beliefs.

Whether you're navigating an eating disorder, anxiety, depression, ADHD, functional neurological disorder (FND), or the stress of chronic illness—you don’t have to choose between evidence-based care and your faith.

Eating disorders can make mealtimes stressful and anxiety-provoking for both the individual struggling and their loved ones. Providing meal support is a crucial part of recovery, helping rebuild healthy eating patterns, reduce anxiety, and promote long-term healing.

When a teen refuses to eat, it can quickly become one of the most stressful experiences for parents. Mealtimes may turn into daily battles, and families often feel confused about what is happening.

Many parents wonder:

• Is this just picky eating?

• Is my child developing an eating disorder?

• What should I do when my teen refuses to eat?

Persistent food refusal in teenagers can sometimes be linked to an eating disorder such as Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) or Anorexia Nervosa. While both involve restrictive eating, they are very different conditions with different causes and treatment approaches.

Understanding the difference is an important first step in helping your teen get the support they need.