Eating disorders are patterns of eating and body-related distress that can feel difficult to control and often serve a deeper purpose—such as creating safety, control, or relief from overwhelming emotions. Intensive therapy can help you address the root drivers and rebuild a healthier relationship with food and your body.
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What are Eating Disorders?
Understanding Eating Disorders
Eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and other forms of disordered eating, are serious mental health conditions involving eating behaviors and distress related to food, weight, or body image. For many people, eating behaviors become a coping strategy—used to manage anxiety, shame, trauma, grief, or a need for control. Recovery often requires both emotional healing and a coordinated plan that supports medical and nutritional stability.
Symptoms of Eating Disorders & Impact on Life
Eating disorders can affect emotions, thinking, relationships, and the body. Over time, they may increase isolation, disrupt daily functioning, and make life feel increasingly organized around food, body image, and control.
- Restriction, Bingeing, or Cycles: Drastically limiting intake, overeating episodes, or swinging between extremes.
- Compensatory Behaviors: Purging, over-exercising, fasting, or other attempts to “undo” eating.
- Body Image Distress: Persistent dissatisfaction, fear of weight gain, or feeling disconnected from the body.
- Food Rules and Rituals: Rigid routines, secretive eating, avoidance of meals, or intense anxiety around food situations.
Related Conditions
How PCS Treats Eating Disorders
At PCS Intensive, treatment goes beyond food behavior. Instead of focusing only on willpower or symptom control, our clinicians work to uncover what the eating disorder is protecting you from and what continues to maintain it—while supporting skills, stabilization, and deeper emotional healing. PCS is not a medical stabilization or inpatient facility, so clients must be medically stable to participate.
Therapies commonly used include:
- IFS Therapy: Helps understand the protective parts that use food, restriction, or control for safety and coping.
- EMDR Therapy: Helps process underlying trauma, body-based distress, or painful memories linked to self-worth and body image.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Builds awareness, reduces reactivity, and supports more intentional responses to urges and body-related distress.
Each client receives an individualized intensive treatment plan built around their goals.
Expected Outcomes
Recovery looks like greater flexibility and stability. Many clients experience reduced fear and reactivity around food over time, improved emotional regulation, and stronger coping tools that support daily functioning and a healthier relationship with their body.
Meet Your Care Team
Our specialized clinicians are experts in treating eating disorders and are here to support your journey to wellness.
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Alethia Wood
MS, MA, LAC, ASAT
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Douglas Withrow
MDiv, LMFT, MSC, S-PSB, CSAT
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Kira (Lavac) Arthur
MS, LAC
FAQs
Do I need to be medically stable to start intensive therapy?
Yes. PCS is not a medical stabilization or inpatient program. Clients must be medically stable, and we can collaborate with external medical and nutritional providers when needed.
Is an eating disorder only about food and weight?
Often, no. Many eating disorders are rooted in emotion regulation, self-worth, anxiety, trauma, or control. Therapy focuses on the underlying drivers, not just the eating behaviors.
Do you work with dietitians or medical providers?
Yes, when appropriate. While PCS focuses on the psychological roots and recovery skills, coordination with medical and nutritional support can be an important part of comprehensive care.
Become the best version of yourself.
Our Intensive Program connects you with the right people and environment for lasting growth.