Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Irvine, CA.

Laura Adams, PsyD MFT is a Psychoanalyst in Orange County, with offices in both Mission Viejo and Newport Beach, CA. Dr. Adams uses psychoanalytic psychotherapy to help patients discover and process the roots of the suffering that exists below the surface. Without a way to address this pain, the unbearable experience continues to be re-lived in a life of ongoing symptoms, agonizing eating behaviors, and troubling relationships. Dr. Adams provides an opportunity for an analytic experience that can go beyond more superficial treatment approaches.

I help people with eating disorders overcome their concerns with feeding and eating by assisting them in developing and maturing their minds intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically. I appreciate the unique complexities involved in developing and interrupting eating disorder tendencies and recognize how early experiences impact the mind and the body. Rich insight and sustained change over time can be found by working in a psychodynamic fashion.

I help clients overcome addictive relationships with food. Like all addictions, the behavior is the tip of the iceberg, used to cope with underlying thoughts and emotions. Through collaborative conversations, clients gain insight into underlying concerns, gaining coping skills to more effectively navigate these issues. I draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), helping clients achieve a sense of freedom and control over their lives, leading to long-term change.

Eating disorders are most often experienced by those who have survived some type of trauma in their lives. As a trauma therapist, I treat many clients who have disordered eating habits. This can include an unhealthy relationship with food, an unhealthy or negative body image, and even those who binge eat for stress. We all struggle with our weight or self-image at some point in our lives, but therapy is the best place to find a path forward. You don't have to suffer long term with these body image issues. Instead I will help you find your own unique path toward your body confidence. If you are embarrassed about your body in any way, bring that information to therapy and we will get started!

My approach to eating disorder therapy emphasizes a holistic understanding of the individual in the context of relationships, phase of life, and physical health. By integrating various therapeutic techniques tailored to the unique needs of each client, I aim to uncover the underlying emotional factors contributing to the eating dysregulation. Clients benefit from this personalized approach as it not only addresses the symptoms but also fosters resilience, self-awareness, and healing in a supportive environment. My approach encourages a sustainable recovery by empowering you to develop healthier relationships with food and yourself, promoting overall well-being.

Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions. They can be very serious conditions affecting physical, psychological and social function. Types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorder, pica and rumination disorder.

Eating disorders benefit from the same or similar approach used for all addictive behaviours. One of the main therapeutic approaches I use is Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. The relationship to food can be quite complex involving societal or cultural pressures, self-image, past traumas, addictive non-nutritious junk food, media images, social media pressures, bullying. Shame and guilt need to be addressed along with peer pressures. The most common eating disorders are: Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, Pica, Rumination Disorder, Avoidance/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Orthorexia, Purging Disorder etc. The benefits of therapy are enhanced self-image, health and well-being.

An eating disorder can take a full, exciting and creative life and cripple it with shame and confusion. So many with eating disorders struggle alone with the pressure to figure out what is happening and what they can do to change and heal. Therapy can provide a transformational place where healing is possible. You can learn to directly challenge the critical inner voice of your eating disorder and begin accepting yourself, imperfections and all. Call me today for a free phone consultation and take that first step toward freedom.