Eating Disorder Therapy for Therapists

  By: Jennifer Rollin, LCSW-C, Therapist & Founder of The Eating Disorder Center

Therapists are trained to sit with discomfort, hold space for pain, and help others make sense of their inner worlds. What is far less talked about is that therapists themselves can struggle deeply with eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image concerns.

At The Eating Disorder Center, we provide eating disorder therapy for therapists, dietitians, physicians, and other helping professionals across Rockville, Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, and throughout Maryland, as well as Northern Virginia communities including McLean, Arlington, Alexandria, and Vienna. We also provide eating disorder treatment in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Florida, and California.

Many of the clinicians we work with come in carrying a heavy burden of shame, fearing that their struggles somehow invalidate their professional identity. They do not.


Struggling Does Not Mean You Are a Bad Therapist

There is a persistent, often unspoken belief in the mental health field that therapists should be emotionally “resolved,” self-aware at all times, and immune from struggling with their own mental health. This expectation is unrealistic and, for many clinicians, harmful.

Being a good therapist is not defined by never struggling. It is defined by awareness, humility, and a willingness to seek support and treatment when needed. There is no shame in seeking support if you are struggling with your own mental health.


Why Therapists Delay Getting Eating Disorder Support

Therapists often hesitate to seek care for eating disorders for reasons that go beyond those of the general population. Common concerns include fear of being judged by colleagues, anxiety about confidentiality, and worry that a diagnosis could reflect poorly on their professional reputation.

Others fear that seeking help means admitting failure, or that their insight “should” be enough to manage the problem on their own.

At The Eating Disorder Center, we approach therapist-clients with deep respect for their professional role while also recognizing that insight alone does not resolve an eating disorder. 


Our Nonjudgmental Approach to Eating Disorder Therapy

We understand that therapists often arrive with a high level of self-criticism. Our work is grounded in nonjudgment, collaboration, and evidence-based care. There is no shaming, no judgment, and no expectation that you explain or justify your struggle.
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Therapy focuses on:

• Reducing eating disorder behaviors.
• Addressing the underlying aspects of the eating disorder.
• Working towards body neutrality. 
• Providing clinical tools, setting goals and homework (when appropriate). 
• Helping clients to practice self-compassion.

We recognize that being both a therapist and a client can feel vulnerable. Our goal is to create a space where you can step out of the provider role and be fully human. 


Confidential, Specialized Care for Clinicians

Many therapists worry about running into clients or colleagues in treatment settings. We take confidentiality seriously and work intentionally to protect privacy. Our clinicians are experienced in working with helping professionals and understand the unique dynamics of disclosure, and professional identity.

We also offer telehealth therapy across multiple states, including Maryland and Virginia, which can provide additional discretion and flexibility for busy clinicians.


You Deserve to Get Help

At The Eating Disorder Center, we believe therapists deserve care that is as nuanced, respectful, and nonjudgmental as the care they provide. You can be deeply knowledgeable and still be struggling.
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Reaching out is not a professional failure. It is an act of self-compassion. You deserve the same support, compassion, and care that you give to your own clients.

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

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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. ​

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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