Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment for Children, Adolescents, Young Adults, and their Families in MN, WI, ND, & FL

At Ezer Psychotherapy, we understand that an eating disorder affects more than just physical health—it impacts the mind, the spirit, and the entire family unit. Our mission is to provide a comprehensive, compassionate path to healing that honors your family’s values while utilizing the highest clinical standards of care.

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Our Integrated Approach: Clinical Excellence Meets Spiritual Support

We believe that the most effective treatment is one that treats the whole person. Our clinical framework is built upon evidence-based modalities, ensuring that every client receives the gold-standard in psychological care.

For families who find strength in their faith, we offer a Christian-based approach integrated into our clinical work. This spiritual integration is entirely optional and is designed to supplement our core evidence-based treatments for families who wish to invite God into their recovery journey.

Signs of an Eating Disorder:

Eating disorders are complex medical and psychological conditions—not choices. They can affect individuals of any age, gender, body size, or background. Early recognition is one of the strongest predictors of successful recovery. If you notice these signs in yourself or someone you love, seeking support sooner rather than later can make all the difference.

    • Noticeable changes in weight (loss, gain, or rapid fluctuations)

    • Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or fainting

    • Fatigue or low energy

    • Gastrointestinal issues (bloating, constipation, stomach pain)

    • Feeling cold frequently or having poor circulation

    • Sleep disturbances

    • Hair thinning or loss; dry skin or brittle nails

    • Menstrual irregularities or loss of menstruation

    • Slowed heart rate, palpitations, or other medical concerns

    • Skipping meals or eating very small portions

    • Avoiding eating around others

    • Cutting out entire food groups without medical need

    • Excessive focus on “healthy,” “clean,” or “safe” foods

    • Eating in secret or hiding food

    • Rigid food rituals (cutting food into tiny pieces, extreme slowness, etc.)

    • Excessive or compulsive exercise, even when sick, injured, or exhausted

    • Repeated dieting or “detoxes”

    • Using the bathroom immediately after meals

    • Checking the body repeatedly in mirrors or avoiding mirrors completely

    • Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming “unhealthy”

    • Feeling guilt, shame, or anxiety around food

    • Believing you are “not sick enough” to seek help

    • Persistent negative thoughts about body shape or appearance

    • Irritability, mood swings, or withdrawal from relationships

    • Difficulty concentrating or feeling “foggy”

    • Strong need for control or perfectionism

    • Comparing your body or eating to others frequently

    • Feeling disconnected from hunger and fullness cues

  • Eating disorders in young people often look different. Parents and caregivers may notice:

    • Slowed growth or delayed puberty

    • Becoming unusually picky with foods previously enjoyed

    • Sudden fear of certain foods or textures

    • Increased irritability around mealtimes

    • Avoiding family meals

    • Declining performance in school or activities

    • Social withdrawal or increased secrecy

    • New interest in dieting, fitness, or calorie tracking

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Types of Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating Treated:

  • Anorexia Nervosa

    Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by restriction of food intake, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of body shape or size. Individuals may see themselves as “overweight” even when medically underweight.

    Common signs include:

    - Severe restriction of calories or food groups

    - Skipping meals or making excuses not to eat

    - Intense anxiety around weight gain

    - Obsessive calorie counting or rigid food rules

    - Excessive or compulsive exercise

    - Physical symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, hair thinning, or loss of menstrual cycle

    Anorexia is not about vanity or control — it is a serious mental health condition often rooted in perfectionism, anxiety, trauma, or a deep need for safety. Early intervention significantly improves outcomes.

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  • Bulimia Nervosa

    Bulimia Nervosa involves recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain.

    These behaviors may include:

    - Self-induced vomiting

    - Misuse of laxatives or diuretics

    - Fasting

    - Excessive exercise

    Individuals often feel out of control during binge episodes and experience intense shame afterward.

    Bulimia can lead to serious medical complications, including electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal issues, dental damage, and heart problems. With proper treatment, recovery is absolutely possible.

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  • Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

    Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is characterized by recurring episodes of eating large amounts of food accompanied by a feeling of loss of control — but without regular purging behaviors.

    Common experiences include:

    - Eating rapidly or until uncomfortably full

    - Eating when not physically hungry

    - Eating alone due to embarrassment

    - Intense guilt, shame, or self-criticism afterward

    Binge eating is often a coping strategy for managing stress, loneliness, trauma, or difficult emotions. Treatment focuses on building emotional regulation skills, stabilizing eating patterns, and reducing shame.

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  • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

    ARFID involves significant restriction of food intake, but unlike anorexia, it is not driven by body image concerns.

    ARFID may stem from:

    - Sensory sensitivities (texture, smell, color)

    - Fear of choking or vomiting

    - Low appetite or lack of interest in food

    - Past traumatic experiences with eating

    ARFID can lead to nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, or dependence on supplements. It is common in children but can persist into adolescence and adulthood. Treatment is supportive, gradual, and tailored to the individual's unique needs.

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  • Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED)

    OSFED includes eating disorders that cause significant distress and impairment but do not meet full diagnostic criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder.

    Examples may include:

    - Atypical Anorexia (significant restriction without being underweight)

    - Purging disorder

    - Night eating syndrome

    - Sub-threshold bulimia or binge eating patterns

    OSFED is just as serious as other eating disorders and deserves comprehensive treatment.

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  • Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)

    Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) occurs when athletes do not consume enough energy (calories) to support both their training demands and basic body functions.

    RED-S can affect:

    - Hormonal health

    - Bone density

    - Menstrual cycles

    - Mood and concentration

    - Performance and recovery

    It can occur unintentionally due to lack of nutrition knowledge — or alongside disordered eating patterns. Treatment focuses on restoring adequate nutrition, addressing performance pressures, and supporting both mental and physical recovery.

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Why Choose a Christian-Based Perspective?

For many, recovery is a battle of identity. Our Christian-integrated therapy offers a space to explore healing through the lens of:

  • Inherent Worth: Anchoring identity in being "fearfully and wonderfully made" rather than in body image or performance.

  • Grace-Based Healing: Moving away from the shame and secrecy of an eating disorder and toward a life of freedom and self-compassion.

  • Purpose & Hope: Finding the spiritual resilience necessary to persevere through the challenges of the recovery process.

Note: Our spiritual integration is a resource, not a requirement. We are committed to providing exceptional care to all families, regardless of their religious or spiritual background.

Treatment Modalities Used

  • Family Based Therapy (FBT) for Eating Disorders

    Family-Based Treatment (FBT), also known as the Maudsley Approach

    How it is used:
    Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is a structured, evidence-based approach in which parents or caregivers take an active role in helping their child recover from an eating disorder. Early in treatment, the primary focus is on restoring nutrition and interrupting eating-disorder behaviors. Parents are coached on how to provide firm, compassionate support around meals while the therapist guides the family through challenges and problem-solving. As health improves, responsibility for eating is gradually returned to the child in a developmentally appropriate way.

    Who it is for:
    FBT is most often used for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, ARFID, or other restrictive eating disorders who live at home and have caregivers willing to participate.

    What families can expect:
    Families can expect to be actively involved in sessions, especially early on. Parents are not blamed for the eating disorder—instead, they are empowered as essential partners in recovery. Treatment is practical, goal-oriented, and focused on helping the child return to healthy growth, development, and age-appropriate independence.

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  • Adolescent-Focused Therapy (AFT)

    How it is used:
    AFT is an individual therapy that helps adolescents explore the emotional, relational, and developmental factors connected to their eating disorder. Treatment focuses on building emotional awareness, coping skills, and a stronger sense of identity separate from the eating disorder. Weight restoration and medical stability are supported alongside psychological growth.

    Who it is for:
    AFT is used for adolescents and young adults particularly when individual emotional processing and identity development are key treatment needs.

    What families can expect:
    While therapy is primarily individual, families are often included for support and coordination of care. Families can expect a focus on emotional development, autonomy, and helping the adolescent move toward healthier coping strategies.

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  • Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT)

    How it is used:
    RO-DBT addresses patterns of overcontrol such as rigidity, perfectionism, emotional inhibition, and social withdrawal. Treatment helps clients increase openness, flexibility, emotional expression, and connection with others. Skills focus on social signaling, emotional expression, and loosening rigid rules that can fuel eating disorders.

    Who it is for:
    RO-DBT is especially helpful for individuals with restrictive eating disorders, chronic perfectionism, or long-standing traits of overcontrol.

    What families can expect:
    Families may be involved as appropriate to support relational change. Clients can expect a strong focus on relationships, emotional openness, and quality of life—not just symptom reduction.

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  • Christian-Centered Counseling

    (For clients who desire) At Ezer Psychotherapy, we offer the option to thoughtfully integrate Christian faith into treatment alongside evidence-based approaches. For clients who desire it, this may include incorporating prayer, Scripture, and faith-based perspectives into sessions, while still using proven therapies like CBT and FBT. Our approach is always client-led—honoring your beliefs, values, and goals—while providing high-quality, clinically effective care that supports whole-person healing: mind, body, and spirit.

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  • Family-Based Treatment for Transitional Age Youth (FBT-TAY)

    How it is used:
    FBT-TAY adapts the principles of FBT for older adolescents and young adults, emphasizing collaboration and shared decision-making. While nutrition restoration and behavior change remain central, the young adult is treated as an active participant in treatment. Parents or chosen supports provide accountability and structure, while the therapist helps the family navigate independence, boundaries, and real-world challenges such as college, work, or living arrangements.

    Who it is for:
    FBT-TAY is designed for ages 16–25, especially those who want support but are not developmentally suited for a fully parent-directed model.

    What families can expect:
    Families can expect a balance of support and autonomy. Young adults are encouraged to build independence with eating while still relying on their support system. Treatment respects the young adult’s voice while recognizing that recovery is strengthened through connection rather than isolation.

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  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR)

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR) is an evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, and adults with ARFID—an eating disorder marked by restrictive or avoidant eating that is not driven by weight or body-image concerns.

    CBT-AR uses a structured, gradual approach to help individuals expand food variety, improve nutrition, and reduce anxiety or distress around eating. Treatment includes education about ARFID, skill-building, and gentle, supported food exposures tailored to sensory sensitivities, fear of adverse consequences, or low interest in eating.

    Parents and caregivers are actively involved for younger clients, while adolescents and adults are supported in building confidence and independence with eating.

    CBT-AR helps clients move toward more flexible, nourishing, and confident eating—at a pace that feels manageable and sustainable.

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  • Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT- E)

    How it is used:
    CBT-E is a structured, skills-based therapy that focuses on identifying and changing the patterns of thoughts and behaviors that maintain an eating disorder. Treatment targets regular eating, reduction of eating-disorder behaviors, and addressing beliefs related to control, perfectionism, food, and body image. Sessions are collaborative and goal-focused, with tools that clients practice between sessions.

    Who it is for:
    CBT-E is commonly used for adolescents and adults with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or other specified eating disorders, particularly those who are medically stable and able to engage in individual therapy.

    What families can expect:
    Families may be involved for adolescents, though CBT-E is more individually focused than FBT. Clients can expect a clear treatment structure, active skill practice, and a focus on long-term relapse prevention.

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