 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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By Javoni Cobb, Eating Disorder Recovery Coach at The Eating Disorder Center  I’ve been thinking about how we navigate our families during the holidays while in eating disorder recovery. This time of year is difficult for so many facing their own struggles. The holidays seem to amplify those challenges for many struggling in their relationship to food and their body. From the triggers of seeing the overwhelming amount of food on the table to hearing everyone talk about how many calories are in the meal, the holidays have come to feel like an uphill battle. It can be overwhelming to think about all the factors affecting recovery during the holidays. Your attempt at body neutrality may have been met with your peers discussing weight loss plans for the new year. You’ve become anxious about how to show up in spaces you know are triggering. You want to make memories with your family but are nervous about how you'll approach difficult situations. If these are feelings and thoughts you share, I want to offer a mentality and a way of thinking that can change how you approach your body and deal with the triggers surrounding it. What Do YOU Want This Holiday? I know this sounds weird, but your body belongs to you. I know we don’t say this often, but we sometimes function as if our bodies are for the consumption of others. We enter and then live in this performative space in our bodies instead of determining what we want for our own bodies. It’s okay to redirect comments about your body and pivot conversations about bodies that seem to be on the verge of spiral. We can be leaders in this way. We don’t have to succumb to our triggers. We can learn how to address the situations and the people that trigger us. Imagine that for the next holiday you woke up worried about whether your aunt would mention the new diet she’s on or if anyone would notice the changes in your body. These thoughts have turned into full blown anxiety. You look in your closet to search for the outfit that will hide the negative body image, fear, and disordered eating. Before you pick out your clothes, grab your journal and sit on the bed and ask yourself why this holiday is important to you? What do you want to remember about this holiday? How do you want to show up for yourself today? Slowing down and asking these questions allows you to consider the meaning behind why you participate. It can also help you to set an intention for yourself that’s consistent with your recovery goals. You may decide to put on the outfit that makes you feel comfortable — or that outfit that gives you the courage to advocate for yourself. You might put a reminder on your phone that you have the power to choose food that tastes good and nourishes you, even if your eating disorder has other ideas. Honor Your Limits Before you attend any holiday celebrations, have a conversation with yourself about what is too much for you. Too much can be conversations about food, weight, body appearance, dieting, or anything that feels triggering to you. Also, think about things that you won’t participate in during this holiday season, such as conversations about other people’s bodies. With this awareness, you can make a plan for how to cope with triggering situations that might come up. For example, you can redirect the conversation if others bring up weight, or step away for a bit if you need to. By reflecting on your values and limits ahead of time, you can honor your recovery needs while still connecting with family and friends in a meaningful way. This intentional approach can make the holiday feel more manageable, allowing you to focus on creating the experiences and memories that truly matter. Here’s to a bright and fulfilling year ahead! Full Recovery From an Eating Disorder is Possible!
Schedule your 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 |
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
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