OUTPATIENT THERAPY
We offer empirically-based outpatient therapy for all eating disorders including, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, other-specified feeding and eating disorders, avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder, and selective eating.
The Louisville Center for Eating Disorders provides outpatient treatment of all eating disorders. We decide on an appropriate evidence-based treatment based on what will work best for you.
We work with you to develop a comprehensive outpatient treatment plan that will lead toward recovery. Below are a selection of just a few of the evidence-based treatments that we can provide.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other related disorders
CBT for eating disorders is the most effective treatment for eating disorders. In CBT we help you learn how your thoughts, behaviors, and feelings are all related. We then help you change your thoughts and behaviors, which helps you feel better! The first step in CBT is to start tracking how you feel and behave.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other related disorders
DBT is an evidence-based treatment that helps you learn to cope with your emotions and relationships. DBT is extremely effective for borderline personality disorder and suicidal individuals and has been modified to treat eating disorders. In DBT you will learn four different types of skills: how to regulate emotions, how to deal with distress, how to remain present, and how to effectively deal with interpersonal relationships. DBT is designed to help you live a life worth living!
Family based therapy (FBT) for adolescents with anorexia nervosa
FBT is the ONLY evidence-based treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. If your adolescent is suffering from an eating disorder, this is the treatment they need to help them recover! In FBT we work with the entire family to help your adolescent manage their eating disorder.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for all eating disorders
ACT is all about accepting your current life and moving towards your values. In ACT we help you practice acceptance, while identifying and setting goals toward your values.
Family based therapy (FBT) for selective eating disorder and avoidant restrictive eating disorder
FBT for selective eating disorder and avoidant restrictive eating disorder is a new treatment in development by our colleagues at Stanford University. In FBT we help the whole family work toward expanding the types of food that can be eaten.
Targeted exposure therapies for fears around food, weight gain, and body image
Dr. Levinson is a nationally-renowned expert in exposure therapy. More and more research shows that to successfully treat an eating disorder, we must use exposure therapy. Our team will work with you, in a safe way, to develop real-word practices (exposures) that will help you face situations and foods that you would normally avoid or feel extremely anxious in.
Perfectionism therapy
Perfectionism is one of the primary maintaining factors of eating disorders. Recent research from our team and our colleagues shows that specifically addressing perfectionism in therapy can decrease eating disorder symptoms, as well as associated anxiety and depression. In this therapy we will help you identify how perfectionism maintains your eating disorder and how to change perfectionistic behaviors and thoughts.
Therapies that target an eating disorder, as well as co-occurring anxiety and depression
We know that eating disorders do not occur on their own. Over 80% of individuals with eating disorders have co-occurring anxiety, OCD, and/or depression. Our team is trained in evidence based treatments for anxiety, OCD, and depression and will work with you to address these symptoms as well as the eating disorders. Our partner clinics are the Behavioral Wellness Clinic and Louisville OCD clinic which specialize in treatment of these co-occurring disorders.
With the diverse range of evidence-based treatments we offer, we can find a treatment that will work for you!