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By: Megan Samuels, MSW, LCSW-C, Trauma and Eating Disorder Therapist  The Eating Disorder Center provides therapy for orthorexia in Rockville, Maryland serving Bethesda, Potomac, Gaithersburg, and Olney - and virtually throughout Maryland. We also offer eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and throughout the state of Virginia, as well as in Washington, D.C., Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and California. What is Orthorexia? Orthorexia is an eating disorder marked by an obsessive focus on consuming only “clean” or “healthy” foods. While the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) does not yet officially recognize orthorexia as a distinct eating disorder, its prevalence has been rising in recent years. This is partly due to the increasing popularity of various diets that emphasize "clean eating" and so called "healthy" food choices. The lack of formal diagnostic criteria can make it challenging for individuals to receive an official diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Similar to anorexia nervosa, orthorexia involves the restriction of certain food groups, inflexibility in food choices, potential weight loss, possible health risks, and disturbances in body image. However, orthorexia tends to be more focused on an obsession around the "quality" of the food and ingredients-as well as a fixation on "health" related to food. Important Note: Although orthorexia is not yet officially listed in the DSM-5, it is still a serious and potentially harmful disorder. Many people dealing with orthorexia experience significant emotional, physical, and psychological consequences. If you suspect that you may have orthorexia, seeking professional help is essential for your well-being. Signs of Orthorexia:
What Does "Eating Clean" Mean? "Eating clean" is a term often used in diet culture, but its meaning is subjective and varies widely. Generally, it refers to eating whole, unprocessed foods, such as organic fruits and vegetables or whole grains. It may also include eating foods like whole grain pasta or bread. The belief behind "clean eating" is that non-organic or processed foods are "dirty" or "unhealthy," but this assumption is very misleading and not based on scientific evidence. The reality is that no foods are "clean" or "dirty" or "healthy" vs. "unhealthy." ALL foods (barring genuine medical conditions) can fit into a healthy diet. Do You Struggle with Orthorexia? If you identify with any of the behaviors or signs listed above, you may be experiencing orthorexia. The next step is to consult with an eating disorder therapist for an evaluation and treatment. Early intervention can make a significant difference in your recovery. There is often a crossover between orthorexia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as both can involve obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors aimed at 'reducing anxiety.' For those struggling with both orthorexia and OCD, our team has expertise in treating both disorders and the overlap between them. Treatment for Orthorexia: As with other eating disorders, treatment for orthorexia often involves therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Medical monitoring and interventions may also be necessary. At The Eating Disorder Center, our therapists are trained in these therapeutic approaches to provide effective support for those recovering from orthorexia. Sessions with clinicians on our team may entail food exposures, body image exposures, cognitive restructuring exercises, and general talk therapy to help you to un-tangle any fixed beliefs that you may be holding about diet culture or wellness culture. We specialize in therapy for orthorexia and are here to support you or your loved one in reclaiming a fulfilling life. Therapy can make a difference! Living with untreated orthorexia can be draining and severely limiting, often involving immense stress around food quality and food preparation. This can make social interactions and other aspects of life challenging and isolating. If you're struggling with orthorexia, take the first step and reach out to us to connect with a clinician experienced in treating this disorder. You don’t have to face this alone! Contact us by filling out our website form or calling us at 301-246-6856. In addition to orthorexia treatment, we offer therapy for eating disorders in Rockville, Maryland, and virtually across the state. We work with children, teens, and adults dealing with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. We also provide therapy for therapy for OSFED, therapy for ARFID, and treatment for compulsive exercise. Orthorexia can co-occur with other mental health conditions. Our team includes experts who specialize in treating eating disorders alongside trauma, eating disorders with OCD, and mood disorders. Schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation to explore how eating disorder therapy or recovery coaching can help you to find freedom. 🌟 Available in MD, VA, DC, PA, NY, FL, and CA for eating disorder therapy 🌍 Offering recovery coaching worldwide The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, and California. We provide eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy in Rockville, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland and Virginia. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com
*Disclaimer: The information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for your independent medical decision-making nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. The information may change without notice. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information.
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 We’re so excited to announce that Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C, Therapist & Founder of The Eating Disorder Center, was named the winner of The Best of Bethesda Award: Best Individual Therapist for 2025! She was selected for this award out of therapists across Montgomery County, Maryland and Upper Northwest D.C. Jennifer Rollin is an eating disorder therapist serving Bethesda, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Megan Samuels, LCSW-C, an eating disorder and trauma therapist on The Eating Disorder Center’s team, interviewed Jennifer after she was announced as the winner of The Best of Bethesda Award: Best Individual Therapist. An Interview With Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C: Megan: “Can you share your initial reaction to winning the "Best of Bethesda" award for individual therapists?” Jennifer: “I was so honored to be chosen as the winner of The Best of Bethesda award under Individual Therapists! I truly appreciate the support from everyone who cast their vote for me. This was such a meaningful moment in my career as an eating disorder therapist.” Megan: “What inspired you to specialize in eating disorder therapy?” Jennifer: “I previously struggled with an eating disorder. I remember how exhausted, trapped, and miserable I felt at the time. Most of my thoughts were consumed with the topic of food, exercise, and my body. I hated feeling this way, but I was also scared about the idea of recovery. I eventually recovered from my eating disorder. I had known for a while that I wanted to be a therapist and help others, but during my clinical practicum in graduate school, I noticed that I gravitated toward helping clients with eating disorders. While everyone’s recovery journey is unique, I wanted to help others find the same freedom that I did. This drove me to pursue additional training and for the past 10 years, I have specialized in working with teens and adults with eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, body image issues, OSFED, and compulsive exercise. I also work with clients who have eating disorders and co-occurring OCD, or co-occurring mood disorders.” Megan: “How has your journey shaped the mission and services of The Eating Disorder Center?” Jennifer: “At my practice, I interview and hire the kind of therapists that I wish I had seen when I was struggling with my own eating disorder. They are warm and compassionate, yet firm when it comes to helping clients to meet recovery goals. All of the therapists on the team are Health at Every Size (HAES)-informed and trauma-informed. I truly work with some of the most skilled and compassionate therapists on my team!” Megan: “Can you walk us through the services The Eating Disorder Center offers and how they stand out?” Jennifer: “We are a leading outpatient therapy and coaching center dedicated to helping children, teens, and adults overcome eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, compulsive exercise, and body image concerns.” Our services include eating disorder therapy in Rockville, Maryland, and Arlington, Virginia, along with virtual therapy across Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and California. Additionally, we provide EMDR therapy for eating disorders and trauma in Rockville, Maryland, and virtually throughout Maryland and Virginia. We also offer therapy for clients with eating disorders and co-occurring OCD. For clients worldwide, we offer eating disorder recovery coaching.” Megan: “How does your team approach eating disorder therapy differently than others?” Jennifer: “Many of our clinicians have either personally recovered from or supported a loved one through their eating disorder recovery journey. Additionally, most of our administrative team has a background of being recovered. We incorporate Health at Every Size (HAES) principles and a social justice framework, which we believe are integral to effective treatment. Our expertise is often recognized by the media, including multiple features on CNN and appearances in various print and television outlets, where we discuss eating disorders and body image. We are not “smile and nod” therapists. We are action-oriented, love setting recovery goals with clients, and utilize creative interventions alongside some of the top treatments. We are committed to being LGBTQIA+ affirming, welcoming individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Our practice also embraces and affirms neurodiversity. We have experience working with public figures.” Megan: “What do you see as the biggest challenges facing individuals with eating disorders and how does your center address those needs?” Jennifer: “Diet culture and anti-fat bias in our society are both challenges that our society faces, which impact individuals with eating disorders. Our clinicians use a HAES-informed approach with clients, which we believe is key to effective treatment. Additionally, the idea of “not feeling sick enough” is something that many individuals with eating disorders struggle with. This can prevent some folks from seeking help. So, I do a lot in terms of raising awareness and education on TV, through print and online media, and with public speaking—around this idea that “eating disorders don’t have a look.” I also work to challenge other common myths and misconceptions around eating disorders in the media. It’s important to note that eating disorders do not discriminate. They impact people of all races, genders, abilities, body sizes, and ethnicities.” Megan: “Looking back, what are you most proud of in building The Eating Disorder Center?” Jennifer: “I am so proud of our amazing team and client’s lives who have been transformed through the work that we do helping them to recover from eating disorders. This work is so incredibly meaningful to me and my team.” Megan: “What advice would you give to someone struggling with an eating disorder who is nervous about seeking help?” Jennifer: “It’s understandable to be scared. AND you can feel afraid but take action anyway toward your true values. Living with an eating disorder is exhausting and miserable. You deserve to try doing things differently and to take the first step towards recovery. I would really encourage you to seek help, as you deserve to not have to continue to feel so trapped in this.” Schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation to explore how eating disorder therapy or recovery coaching can help you to find freedom. 🌟 Available in MD, VA, DC, PA, NY, FL, and CA for eating disorder therapy 🌍 Offering recovery coaching worldwide The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping children, teens, and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in New York (NYC), Florida, Pennsylvania, and California. We provide eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy in Rockville, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland and Virginia. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com
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The Eating Disorder CenterWe are a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center in Rockville, Maryland.
We also provide eating disorder recovery coaching to people worldwide via Zoom. Click here to book your free 15 minute phone consultation! Phone: 301-246-6856 Email: [email protected] Archives
March 2025
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