Eating Disorder Therapy for Children, Teens & Young Adults in Minneapolis/ St.Paul, Minnesota
Compassionate, Specialized Support for Healing Your Relationship with Food and Your Body
When a child or young person is struggling with an eating disorder, it affects everything—health, emotions, relationships, and the entire family. What may start as “picky eating,” dieting, or body image concerns can quickly become overwhelming, confusing, and frightening.
You may feel like you’re walking on eggshells.
Meals may turn into battles.
Your child may seem distant, anxious, or not like themselves anymore.
You are not alone—and effective help is available.
At Ezer Psychotherapy, we provide specialized, evidence-based therapy for eating disorders and disordered eating for children, adolescents, and young adults. Recovery is possible. With the right support, you or your loved one can build a healthier relationship with food, your body, and yourself/themself.
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
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.
Specialized Eating Disorder Therapy for Every Stage of Development
At Ezer Psychotherapy, we provide expert treatment for children, adolescents, and young adults struggling with eating disorders, including:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We understand that eating disorders look different at every age. Our approach is tailored to meet your child or loved one exactly where they are—developmentally, emotionally, and medically.
Eating disorders are not about food—they are about pain, control, fear, and identity.
You, your child, or loved one may be:
Constantly thinking about food, weight, or body image
Avoiding meals or eating in secret
Feeling intense guilt, shame, or anxiety around eating
Struggling with perfectionism, anxiety, or low self-worth
Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities they once loved
For families, this often brings:
Fear for your child’s health and safety
Confusion about how to help
Conflict around meals
Exhaustion and helplessness
Healing is possible—and it doesn’t have to look like this forever.
What Eating Disorders Really Feel Like
We use proven, research-supported therapies to help clients recover while supporting families every step of the way:
Evidence-Based Eating Disorder Treatment That Works:
Treatment focuses on:
Restoring regular, adequate nutrition
Reducing eating disorder behaviors
Addressing any underlying anxiety, perfectionism, and emotional struggles
Rebuilding identity, confidence, and trust in the body
Family-Centered Care: You Are Part of the Healing
Parents and caregivers are not the problem—they are a critical part of the solution.
At Ezer Psychotherapy, we actively involve families in treatment, helping you:
Feel confident supporting your child through meals
Understand the eating disorder and how it operates
Reduce conflict and increase connection
Navigate recovery with clarity and support
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Why Choose Ezer Psychotherapy for Eating Disorder Treatment:
-
Treatment tailored for children, adolescents, and young adults with eating disorders
Experience treating anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and disordered eating patterns
Focus on both behavioral recovery and underlying emotional healing
-
Uses proven approaches like CBT, FBT (Family-Based Therapy), and DBT-informed care
Therapy that addresses food behaviors, body image, anxiety, and perfectionism
Balanced approach: structured + individualized + compassionate
-
Parents are guided on how to support recovery at home
Clear strategies to reduce mealtime stress and power struggles
Ongoing collaboration so families feel confident and supported—not alone
-
No one-size-fits-all approach
Treatment is tailored to your:
Age and developmental stage
Type and severity of eating disorder
Emotional and family needs
Flexible pacing to support sustainable, long-term recovery
-
Accessible eating disorder therapy in:
Minnesota (MN)
Wisconsin (WI)
North Dakota (ND)
Florida (FL)
Secure, convenient telehealth sessions from home
-
Goes beyond food to address:
Anxiety
Identity and self-worth
Emotional regulation
Life transitions
Helps clients build a healthy relationship with food, body, and self
-
At Ezer Psychotherapy, we work alongside:
Dietitians
Medical providers
Higher levels of care when needed
This ensures consistent, aligned treatment
-
Early intervention for those “just starting to worry” about eating
Ongoing support for those already in recovery
Relapse prevention and long-term maintenance planning
-
Clients feel heard, understood, and respected
Therapy that reduces shame and builds trust
Focus on progress—not perfection
-
Ezer Psychotherapy offers the option to thoughtfully integrate Christian faith into the therapy process for clients who desire it. This may include incorporating prayer, Scripture, and faith-based perspectives alongside evidence-based clinical approaches. Care is always individualized, respecting each client’s beliefs, values, and preferences, with no expectation or requirement to include faith in treatment.
Learn more about optional faith-based (Christian) therapy integration
Start Eating Disorder Recovery Today
Beginning therapy can feel overwhelming. My goal is to provide a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where you feel empowered throughout your therapeutic journey. If you’re noticing signs of an eating disorder, early support can make a life-changing difference. You don’t have to wait until things get worse. You don’t have to manage this alone.
Reach out today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward healing.
Struggling to understand eating disorders or how to help someone you love? Visit our blog for expert advice, real-world strategies, and support for every stage of recovery.
Literature, Podcasts, & Professional Organizations for Additional Information & Support:
What People Are Saying