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By: Megan Samuels, MSW, LCSW-C, Eating Disorder & Trauma Therapist Outreach Coordinator for The Eating Disorder Center  If you are struggling with constantly thinking about food and your body, you are not alone. Eating disorders can take many forms and often do not look the way people expect. You might feel trapped in food rules, constant guilt after eating, fear of weight changes, urges to binge or purge, obsessive thoughts about exercise, or a sense that food has become the main way you cope with stress, trauma, or emotions. You may look “fine” on the outside while feeling exhausted, ashamed, or overwhelmed on the inside. Many people tell us they worry they are “not sick enough” or that their struggle does not count. All eating disorders are serious, and all deserve care, compassion, and support. This year, National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is Monday, February 23 – Sunday, March 1, 2026. On behalf of the team at The Eating Disorder Center, which provides therapy, coaching, and evaluations for individuals struggling with eating disorders, we wanted to take this opportunity to raise awareness about eating disorders, highlight symptoms to look out for, and share information about treatment options. We are proud to support individuals struggling with eating disorders, and we truly love the work that we do. Statistics about Eating Disorders:
Symptoms & Warning Signs: Eating disorder symptoms can vary based on diagnosis, but here are some common warning signs include:
If someone is exhibiting one or more of these symptoms, an evaluation with an eating disorder specialist may be warranted. Early intervention and treatment are critical to long-term recovery and improved outcomes. Treatment Options: Eating disorders are prevalent, serious mental health and medical conditions that require specialized care. At The Eating Disorder Center, we provide eating disorder therapy, recovery coaching, and comprehensive evaluations to support individuals at all stages of recovery. We take a holistic, compassionate, and personalized approach, recognizing that eating disorders often co-occur with other mental health concerns, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and trauma. To support parents and families, we also offer family therapy and parent coaching for loved ones impacted by eating disorders. Additional resources for eating disorder care include Project Heal and NEDA. Personal Anecdote: Eating Disorder therapist and founder of The Eating Disorder Center, Jennifer Rollin, MSW, LCSW-C, would like to share a personal anecdote about eating disorders and recovery: If you’re living with an eating disorder, you might look okay on the outside while everything inside feels consumed by food, numbers, rules, and constant self-monitoring. You may feel proud of your control and exhausted by it at the same time. Part of you might want freedom, while another part is terrified of what letting go would mean. You might even wonder if life without an eating disorder is possible, or if it’s something other people get, but not you. For a while, my eating disorder felt like both a lifeline and a trap. On the outside, I looked “high functioning.” I was driven, accomplished, and often praised for my "discipline." On the inside, my world was quietly shrinking. Food consumed my thoughts, my body felt like a problem to manage, and my sense of worth became deeply tied to how I was doing with eating and exercise. At the time, I did not realize that my eating disorder was trying to protect me. It helped numb difficult emotions, created a sense of certainty, and offered a false feeling of safety when life felt overwhelming. Recovery was not quick, neat, or linear. It asked me to do the very things I was most afraid of. Eating consistently. Letting my body change. Sitting with anxiety instead of trying to escape it. Asking for help when every part of me wanted to appear strong and capable. There were moments I questioned whether real recovery was possible and times when the eating disorder voice felt louder than my own. But slowly, with support and persistence, something shifted. Food stopped being the center of my world. My body became a place I lived in rather than fought against. I learned that emotions could rise and fall without needing to be fixed or avoided. Today, I have freedom from an eating disorder. I am a mom to two, happily married, and living a life I never thought was possible when I was in the depths of it. Food no longer dictates my days. My body is no longer something I spend my time trying to manage. There is space in my life now for connection, creativity, rest, and joy. Recovery did not just change my relationship with food. It gave me access to a full and meaningful life. During Eating Disorder Awareness Week, I want people to hear this. Even if you cannot imagine letting go of an eating disorder. Even if you have tried before and felt discouraged. Even if part of you is terrified of who you would be without it. A different life is possible, and it is worth moving toward. Reach Out! The Eating Disorder Center provides eating disorder therapy to children, teens, and adults in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Florida, Pennsylvania, and California. In addition, we provide virtual recovery coaching to folks worldwide. If you are not sure if you have an eating disorder, or which level of care is right for you, we also provide level of care evaluations and diagnostic evaluations. If you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, don’t wait — reach out to learn how we can support you. 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, FL, and CA for eating disorder therapy 🌍 Offering recovery coaching worldwide  Megan Samuels, MSW, LCSW-C (she/her), is an eating disorder and trauma therapist at The Eating Disorder Center. She offers therapy for teens and adults, focusing on the intersection of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, & ARFID, and trauma (including complex trauma and dissociative disorders). Megan uses a blend of relational therapy, EMDR therapy, ego state interventions, DBT, and ACT with clients. She is passionate about providing compassionate and supportive care for folks struggling with an eating disorder and/or complex trauma. 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 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.
References: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. (2025). Eating Disorder Statistics. https://anad.org/get-informed/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-statistics University of Washington Integrated Care Training Program. (2023). Eating disorder prevalence factsheet. Eating Disorder Hope. (2025). Why early intervention in eating disorder treatment is important. Retrieved from https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/early-intervention-eating-disorders-important By: Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C, Therapist & Founder of The Eating Disorder Center  In honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we wanted to share several resources from The Eating Disorder Center, based in Rockville, Maryland and serving MD, VA, DC, PA, FL, & CA for eating disorder therapy that may be helpful for clinicians who do not specialize in eating disorders but regularly work with clients who may be struggling around food, exercise, or body image. Many therapists encounter eating disorder symptoms even if eating disorders are not their primary focus. Clients may present with anxiety, trauma, depression, OCD, or life transitions, while disordered eating behaviors remain hidden or minimized. Because eating disorders can be medically and psychologically complex, knowing what to look for and when to refer can make a meaningful difference in client outcomes. Below are several free and low-barrier educational resources designed to support clinicians in feeling more informed, confident, and supported when eating disorder concerns arise in their work. Free Training for Therapists: Eating Disorders 101 This on-demand introductory training is designed for therapists who want a clear, practical overview of eating disorders without needing to become specialists. The training covers common warning signs, myths and misconceptions, foundational treatment principles, and guidance on when referral to specialized care may be appropriate. This training can be especially helpful for clinicians working in general outpatient settings who want to better assess risk, ask the right questions, and avoid unintentionally reinforcing eating disorder behaviors. Free Training for Clinicians: Eating Disorders and Trauma Because trauma and eating disorders so often co-occur, this free training focuses specifically on the intersection between the two. It explores how trauma histories may influence eating disorder development and maintenance, as well as important trauma-informed clinical considerations. Clinicians who primarily identify as trauma therapists often find this training helpful in understanding when eating behaviors may be functioning as survival strategies and when additional eating disorder-specific assessment or care may be needed. Clinical Approaches to Treating Body Image Issues Body image distress shows up in many therapy rooms, even when a formal eating disorder diagnosis is not present. This clinician-focused training offers practical frameworks and interventions for addressing body image concerns in a thoughtful and non-diet-culture-reinforcing way. This training can be useful for therapists working with adolescents, adults, postpartum clients, athletes, or clients in high-pressure environments where appearance concerns are common. Clinical Approaches to Treating Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder Bulimia and binge eating disorder are frequently misunderstood and underdiagnosed. This advanced training provides an overview of evidence-based assessment and treatment strategies for these disorders, including how they may present differently than restrictive eating disorders. Even clinicians who do not plan to treat these disorders directly often find this training helpful in recognizing red flags and understanding when higher levels of care or specialized treatment may be indicated. Eating Disorder Screening Tool for Therapists We also offer a brief eating disorder screening tool designed for therapists. This tool can help clinicians identify potential eating disorder symptoms and determine whether further assessment or referral may be helpful. It can be used as a starting point when concerns arise but clarity feels elusive. 
Consultations for Professionals For clinicians who feel unsure about next steps, we offer professional consultations. These consultations are designed for therapists who are questioning whether a client may need eating disorder-related assessment or specialized care, or who want support thinking through referrals and treatment planning. Free 15-Minute Consults for Clients We offer free 15-minute consults for children, teens, and adults in MD, VA, DC, PA, FL, and CA who are considering eating disorder therapy. Therapists seeking eating disorder therapy for themselves are also welcome. These brief calls are meant to lower barriers to care and help individuals determine appropriate next steps. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is an opportunity to increase understanding, reduce stigma, and strengthen collaboration across the mental health community. We hope these resources feel supportive, practical, and easy to share. Please feel free to pass these along to colleagues, supervisees, or clients who may benefit. 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, FL, and CA for eating disorder therapy 🌍 Offering recovery coaching worldwide  Jennifer Rollin, MSW, LCSW-C (she/her), is an award-winning eating disorder therapist and the founder of The Eating Disorder Center, a specialized therapy practice for eating disorders and body image concerns. Jennifer uses ACT, CBT, and DBT to help clients find freedom from eating disorders and body image struggles. Jennifer is recognized as a leading eating disorder expert and was named one of the top professionals in the field by a premier treatment center. She is the recipient of the Best of Bethesda Award for Best Individual Therapist (2025) and the Best of Rockville Award (2020–2024). She helps clients to live full, meaningful lives, beyond food and body image concerns. 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 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 2026
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