Eating Disorder Therapy for Athletes in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Florida
Are you tired of feeling lost and disconnected from your body?
Do you fear losing fitness or strength if you try to heal your body?
Your mind is taken over by thoughts of food and how to properly fuel yourself.
The voice takes over that tells you how everything you eat will impact how fast you run. The voice that once made you feel in control, now leads you to this immense fear your body changing.
You have tried to listen to the voice, but only feel weak and unsettled, isolated, and alone. Team meals feel confusing and hard as you debate over how certain foods will make you feel.
These thoughts dominate your every day life from school, to work, to practice, to the non-existing social events that you can't muster up the energy to attend.
You could benefit from therapy if you…
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Whether you are on a team, in high school, college, elite, or enjoy being active, you are an athlete. We welcome all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities!
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You do not need to have an eating disorder to benefit from therapy. We are here to support your unique journey.
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If you are struggling with your relationship with your body, this is the place for you. You no longer need to live with constant anxious over how you look or feel in your own skin.
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So often we feel an extreme amount of pressure to perform at a certain level. Whether this is societal pressure or internal, you deserve to love what you do. We are here to help you walk through the process of falling back in love or letting go.
Are you struggling to engage with your teammates on race day?
Do you dread game days to the point of questioning why you are even playing?
You are ready for change.
At Serendipity Counseling Services, we understand athletes face unique challenges regarding their mental health and physical well-being. Our approach combines individual therapy with a deep understanding of sports culture, ensuring athletes receive the support they need to thrive both in and out of their sport.
What is eating disorder therapy for athletes?
Whether you are struggling from an eating disorder, feel stress and anxiety around food or your body, or feel out of control around food, therapy can help. Eating disorder therapy helps you break free from the constant food noise. I work with folks to finally feel freedom and stop thinking about food all the time. My work is done through a Health at Every Size (HAES), Intuitive Eating, and Anti-Diet framework, where I help you find the place where your body allows you to be the healthiest version of yourself, no matter your body size, shape, disability, or gender.
Health consists over many different factors, including emotional and physical. When working with athletes, I focus on rebuilding your relationship with your whole self. This includes your relationship to movement and your body. Together, we will work through the discomfort of rest and the pleasure of movement. Finding peace with your body and food is just as important as finding peace with how you move.
But Starting Eating Disorder Therapy is Scary...
Fear of Change
You know how comfortable we get with our routines, even if they're not the healthiest? Well, imagine having to break away from those routines entirely. It's like stepping into the unknown, and that uncertainty can be really scary, especially when it feels like those routines are the only things keeping me grounded.
Loss of Control
Controlling your intake feels like a way to feel strong. Yet at this point the thing that has made you feel strong, is leaving you feeling out of control. That only makes you want more control and more power and giving up the thing that has made you feel strong, feels way to scary if all you want is that control back.
Body Changes
You have put so much time into trying to make your body smaller. The thought of it changing is absolutely terrifying. You fear that therapy might lead to changes in your body, whether it's gaining weight or losing control over how you look. The uncertainty feels crippling.
Not Sick Enough
Sometimes, you look around and see stories of people who seem to be struggling much more intensely than you. It makes you wonder if you are just overreacting or if your struggles aren't valid enough for therapy. It's this constant comparison game, questioning if you are deserving of help or if you should just tough it out on your own. It's like feeling stuck between feeling like you need help but also feeling like you don't deserve it.
Stigma and Shame
You know how we sometimes worry about what others think of us? Well, imagine that, but multiplied by a hundred. There's this fear of being judged or looked down upon because of something that feels like it's beyond your control. It's like carrying around this heavy weight of shame everywhere you go.
Changes in Performance
You love being active and have put years into getting in shape. You fear that focusing on recovery, could lead to a decrease in speed or strength. Your athletic ability has defined so much of who you are. Taking time off is not something you are comfortable with for so many reasons.
Addressing Your Fears About Therapy
Will you weigh me?
As a virtual therapist, I do not weigh my clients. I do however, often communicate with medical providers who do, but I will always help advocate for blind weights, if weights are needed. Otherwise, I will help you advocate to not get weighed!
Will you make me stop my sport?
My goal as an eating disorder therapist for athletes is to help you improve your relationship with your sport. If you want to keep training, I want you to keep training. If there are high risks for your health, however, I will need to take that into consideration.
Will I need to see a dietitian?
Depending on your unique situation, will depend on what I recommend. It is often helpful to have a registered dietitian, along with a therapist to help with recovery. I will always do my best to find someone that I feel would be a good fit for you.
Will I gain weight?
This is a fear of so many individuals. I cannot promise you that you will gain or lose weight. I can tell you that whatever changes occur, I will be by your side supporting you through the discomfort.
Eating disorder therapy as an athlete can help you…
reduce guilt and shame
find peace with your body
increase concentration
eliminate black and white thinking
confidence
reduce loneliness and isolation
improve relationships
increase your ability to manage emotions on and off the field
eliminate preoccupation with food
increase coordination
improve sleep
enjoy rest days
feel more in control around food
decrease compulsive exercise, binging, or purging
enjoy engaging with others or attending social events
cope with injuries or set-backs
Why Choose Serendipity for Eating Disorder Therapy as an Athlete?
Expertise: Founder, Kate Ringwood, LPC, specializes in working with eating disorders, while combining clinical knowledge with an understanding of sports psychology.
Individualized Treatment: Every athlete is unique, which is why we work with you to find goals based on your own values, to address individual needs.
Holistic Approach: We focus on healing the mind and body in unison, promoting overall wellness and peak performance.
Confidentiality: We prioritize privacy and confidentiality, creating a safe space for athletes to explore their challenges and seek support through HIPPA-compliant software.
Collaborative Care: We work closely with coaches, trainers, dietitians, and medical professionals to ensure a comprehensive approach to treatment.
Working with an eating disorder specialist will look like…
First, I want you to feel safe as we work on building a trusting relationship. That is my number one goal in the therapy room.
As we develop trust, we will talk about how you got to this point in your journey. There may not be one root cause that led you here.
We will work together to create attainable goals to work on, in and outside of session.
You will feel compassion and learn to trust yourself.
You will learn how self-compassion and vulnerability can lead to change.
Gaining skills on how to listen to your body and set boundaries with others.
You will see how sitting through hard emotions can lead to less anxiety and overwhelm.
Why is it important that I talk about my sport during eating disorder recovery?
Therapy for athletes can help you..
feel grounded on game day in order to perform to your highest capability.
gain more physical and emotional energy.
improve concentration and coordination
get back the enjoyment and love that brought you to the field.
allow you the energy to engage with your teammates and feel less isolated and alone.
learn to fuel your body best for your activity level.
gain acceptance of all your body can do for you in your sport, instead of what it looks like.
work the the discomfort of being injured or side-lined.
improve your relationship with your coach and teammates.
decide if you even want to continue your sport!
At Serendipity Counseling, we are committed to supporting athletes on their journey to recovery and peak performance. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, we're here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our specialized therapy services for athletes.
How do I get started?
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Schedule a free consultation.
Click here to schedule a 15 minute time slot with me to chat and see if we are. a good fit! Ask me any questions you may have about therapy.
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Schedule our first session!
The first session is a time for us to get to know each other. This is a casual conversation about what brought you to therapy and what your goals are for our time together.
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Follow up.
Starting therapy is sometimes the hardest part. However, a lot can come up in the beginning that makes it scary to come back. We will start with meeting weekly in order to better build our relationship and work towards your goals, then can move to biweekly if we agree it is best.
Still not sure if you need support?
Check out this quick and easy assessment to see how your relationship with food, body, and movement is.