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By: Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C, Therapist and Founder of The Eating Disorder Center  I have known Megan professionally for years. She also has previously trained under me for years. Megan is one of the most caring and knowledgeable therapists that I know. She is also highly skilled when it comes to eating disorder therapy, as well as EMDR trauma therapy for teens and adults. She is compassionate and warm, yet will work to help you to meet your recovery goals. She also gives presentations on eating disorders 101 and the intersection between eating disorders and trauma for other therapists. Anyone would be lucky to receive eating disorder therapy from Megan. She works out of our office in Rockville, Maryland and also provides virtual eating disorder therapy, as well as EMDR trauma therapy throughout Maryland. Jennifer: "Hi Megan! Tell me a little bit about what got you interested in becoming an eating disorder and trauma therapist?" Megan: "Great question! I have observed a need for more trauma-informed and trauma focused therapy and care in eating disorder recovery spaces, which contributed to my passion of becoming a specialist in both eating disorders and trauma-related disorders. I love helping people to find freedom from eating disorders, as well as to find healing as a trauma survivor. " Jennifer: "Tell me a little bit about your past experience with providing eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy?" Megan: "I have spent the past few years at an outpatient trauma focused practice treating eating disorders and trauma related disorders. I have worked with teens and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, orthorexia, ARFID, OSFED, and compulsive exercise. I have also completed additional training in treating eating disorders. I help clients with eating disorders to address both the eating disorder thoughts and behaviors, as well as any underlying issues that may be contributing, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relational difficulties, etc. In addition, I have experience treating teens and adults with post traumatic stress disorder and dissociative disorders (including dissociative identity disorder). I am trained in EMDR therapy and have taken further EMDR therapy trainings to advance my skills in working with clients with complex trauma and dissociation." Jennifer: "What is the most rewarding part of your job?" Megan: "I love witnessing growth in my clients and being able to hold space for the good and the bad that comes with being a human in this world. My clients are some of the strongest and most resilient humans I know and I am honored to be a part of their healing journey. I love helping my clients to find freedom from eating disorders." Jennifer: "What is a myth about eating disorders that is important for you to challenge?" Megan: "One myth that I feel is important to challenge is that someone needs to be “sick enough” to receive eating disorder treatment. I stand with the belief that anyone who wants to better their relationship with food and/or body image is deserving of care. You do not have to have a diagnosed eating disorder in order to receive therapy. If you are struggling with a difficult relationship to food and your body you are 100 percent “sick enough” for eating disorder therapy." Jennifer: "What modalities do you use for eating disorder therapy? What about for trauma therapy?" Megan: "For eating disorders, I use relational therapy, DBT and ACT. I am also a HAES and intuitive eating informed therapist. I enjoy helping people to make peace with food, their bodies, and themselves. For trauma therapy, I use relational therapy, EMDR therapy, and ego state interventions. I also use creative modalities with clients when appropriate, such as sandtray therapy, collaging, and journaling." Jennifer: "What do you enjoy doing in your free time?" Megan: "In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my rescue dog, Luna and also being with family and friends. When I’m not working, I like reading, watching TV, practicing yoga, and spending time in nature." Jennifer: "What is your favorite meal to order at a restaurant?" Megan: "If I had to choose one meal it would probably be spaghetti with meat sauce. With pasta, I also love having garlic bread on the side." Schedule a free 15 min consultation to see if therapy with Megan is a good fit HERE! “Megan is a genuine and compassionate therapist that is dedicated to helping her clients in their therapeutic journey. Through working alongside Megan, I've witnessed her consistently go the extra mile, whether it's through obtaining further training with treating trauma, follow-up calls to coordinate care with other providers, or providing additional resources. Her commitment to helping individuals overcome eating disorders and trauma is exemplary. Megan's clients not only receive expert therapy but a trusted ally on their journey to recovery." -Lexi Windsor, LCPC, Therapist "I have been working with Megan Samuels for many years and it is easy to see her dedication to the field and to her clients. Megan is especially skilled at treating clients with eating disorders and trauma. She has outstanding clinical instincts and approaches clients with warmth, gentleness, and compassion. I highly recommend Megan to anyone looking for a therapist." -Kate Dansie, LCSW-C, Therapist "I have had the pleasure of working alongside Megan and have benefited from her kindness and expertise in the field of mental health care. She has a very comprehensive background as a therapist and is always expanding her learning and experience as a clinician. Her thoughtfulness, warmth, and dedication help her create safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental spaces for all those she works with.” -Libby Nuss, LMSW, Trauma Therapist Schedule a free 15 min consult for eating disorder therapy in MD, VA, DC, PA, NY, FL, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. 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, Pennsylvania, and California. We provide eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy in Rockville, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland. 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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By: Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C, Therapist & Founder of The Eating Disorder Center  Grief can be a tough emotional response to process for anyone. However, for some people struggling with eating disorders, expressing emotions without turning towards eating disorder behaviors can be challenging. Additionally, when you are grieving, feeling overwhelmed, or anxious, this can impact appetite which can make recovery harder. There may be a desire for those with eating disorders to ‘numb out’ from the pain that you are experiencing by turning towards (i.e. binging) or away from food (i.e. restricting). However, of course it’s important to note that eating disorders are mental illnesses, NOT choices. Additionally, it’s crucial to share here that all forms of grief are valid and deserve to be processed and expressed. As an eating disorder therapist and founder of The Eating Disorder Center, based in Rockville, Maryland but serving clients in MD, DC, VA, PA, FL, NY & CA, the following are some thoughts around coping with emotional experiences (including grief) while in eating disorder recovery. Even if Your Appetite Is Gone Due to Grief, You Still Need to Eat While I know it’s SO hard, even if your appetite is gone due to feelings of grief, overwhelm and/or anxiety, it’s so important to try to eat anyway. Of course it’s different for everyone and talk to your treatment team, however, often things that are often easier to eat with no appetite include soup, smoothies, milkshakes, ice cream, brownies, etc. So try to brainstorm with your treatment team or loved ones about what options might be easier for you to eat right now. It’s so important to let yourself go through the grieving process AND it can be hard to do so with a malnourished brain. Also you deserve to be kind and compassionate to yourself. Grief and Self-Compassion Apologizing to others for crying or beating yourself up for experiencing feelings of grief is not helpful and will likely only serve to make you feel even worse. Instead, try to practice some self-compassion and talk kindly to yourself like how you would talk to a small child or your best friend. You can also practice softening and allowing yourself to physically and emotionally experience the feelings of grief without trying to run from them. Grief can be difficult to experience and you deserve to be kind to yourself. Emotional Avoidance and Eating Disorders Emotional avoidance refers to efforts people make to evade uncomfortable feelings like fear, anger, or sadness. These actions often serve as an attempt to avoid processing emotions or situations that feel overwhelming. For many individuals with eating disorders, turning to disordered eating behaviors can feel like a way to self-soothe or cope. For example, someone with anorexia might cope with feelings of anxiety, grief, or sadness by restricting food intake, creating a (false) sense of ‘control’ or to try to “numb out.’ Those with bulimia might binge and purge to achieve temporary comfort, “control,” or relief, while for others struggling with binge eating, food may feel like an escape or a source of calm during distressing or painful moments. While these behaviors might seem to offer temporary relief, they typically lead to prolonged feelings of depression, isolation, and unhappiness. Learning to Let Yourself Feel In eating disorder treatment, a central focus is equipping clients with the skills to reconnect with their feelings and manage emotions in a way that aligns with their personal values. Instead of suppressing emotions, we teach clients to recognize and process them. I often tell clients that pushing emotions down is like trying to keep a beach ball underwater—it requires constant effort and will inevitably resurface. Our society sometimes discourages open emotional expression, which can leave people feeling like they have few tools to cope. It’s essential to help clients understand that their eating disorder behaviors have served as resilient survival strategies, helping them endure difficult experiences. However, these same strategies may now be preventing them from moving forward. With support and treatment, people with eating disorders can rebuild their relationships with food, their bodies, and their sense of self. They can learn how to experience emotions openly, without feeling the need to push them away. Part of a fulfilling life includes being able to embrace all emotions, both pleasant and unpleasant. One of the most rewarding parts of this work is witnessing clients as they rediscover their passions, their interests, and their joy. Full recovery and a life centered around one’s true values is possible. While letting yourself experience grief may feel uncomfortable and hard, it’s important to remember that no matter what we do we cannot bypass the grieving process in the long-run. Additionally, discomfort and things being hard is often the case when it comes to growth. If you can expand and grow your ability to cope emotionally, it will only serve to benefit you in the long-run. Schedule a free 15 minute consult for eating disorder therapy in MD, VA, DC, NY, FL, PA, or recovery coaching worldwide. Click here. 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, Pennsylvania, and California. We provide eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy in Rockville, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland. 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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