Looking for nutrition support for women and families? Find personalized care at our sister practice, Radica Family Nutrition →
Eating Disorder Recovery for Teens
A steady, compassionate path forward for your teen and your family.
Eating disorder recovery can feel very overwhelming at first, and you don't have to figure it out alone. Aterra Nutrition® offers specialized, virtual nutrition counseling for teens and adults in eating disorder recovery across DC, Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, and New Jersey.
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, and finding the right support is extremely important. At Aterra Nutrition®, our registered dietitians take a non-diet, weight-inclusive approach to eating disorder recovery. We work with teens across all diagnoses, including (not limited to) anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and OSFED, orthorexia, and other disordered eating behaviors.
Our goal is to help your teen build a realistic, sustainable relationship with food and your body by putting space between the person and the eating disorder. If you and your teen are ready to take the next step, we are here to meet you where you are.
What Is Eating Disorder Recovery Nutrition Counseling?
Eating disorder recovery nutrition counseling is specialized support from a registered dietitian who helps individuals and families rebuild a sustainable and improved relationship with food. At Aterra Nutrition®, our dietitians work alongside you to provide personalized, non-diet nutrition guidance rooted in self-compassion and body trust. Sessions are shaped around your teen's needs and life.
Recovery looks different for everyone. Some clients come to us early in their recovery process. Others come after receiving higher level of care and need ongoing outpatient nutrition support. Wherever your teen lands, our registered dietitians provide consistent, compassionate guidance to help you and your loved one move forward.
We specialize in working with teens across all eating disorder diagnoses. We coordinate with therapists, physicians, parent, caregivers, and other members of the care team to make sure their nutrition support fits within their broader recovery plan.
Who Does Aterra Nutrition® Work With?
Our eating disorder nutrition counseling is designed for teens across all diagnoses. We work with individuals and families navigating:
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Anorexia nervosa
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Bulimia nervosa
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Binge eating disorder
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Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
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Other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED)
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Orthorexia
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Body image healing
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Disordered eating and a difficult relationship with food
We also work with parents, families, and caregivers who want help navigating mealtimes and family nutrition dynamics during a loved one’s recovery. At Aterra Nutrition®, we believe that a wraparound approach to both individual and family nutrition helps the patient's long term recovery.
What Does a Nutrition Counseling Session Look Like?
A nutrition counseling session at Aterra Nutrition is a collaborative, personalized conversation with your registered dietitian. Sessions are held virtually through our secure client portal, Healthie, making it easy to access care from home. Here is what you can expect:
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A thorough health and medical history, including review of recent lab work, medications, and supplements
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A comprehensive nutrition assessment, including a review of your daily routine and eating patterns
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Weight-inclusive nutrition therapy without focusing on perfection
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Support with Intuitive Eating and gentle nutrition as it applies to eating disorder recovery
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Realistic, sustainable nutrition goals tailored to your life
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Adjustment of goals based on personal wins and challenges
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Food and feelings journaling through Healthie (if desired or needed)
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Coordination of care with your therapist, physician, family, and full treatment team
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Concierge nutrition care between sessions for questions and ongoing support
What is a Non-Diet, Weight-Inclusive Approach, and Why is it Essential in Eating Disorder Recovery?
A non-diet, weight-inclusive approach means your dietitian focuses on behavior change with realistic, sustainable goals to improve your health and nutrition. It means we do not use body size or weight to determine health, worth, or confidence.
This is especially important in nutrition care for eating disorder recovery, because oftentimes eating disorder behaviors stem from an overwhelming desire to change the body at any cost. This results in ongoing engagement in the behaviors, leading to malnutrition and severe and prolonged physical and mental health problems.
At Aterra Nutrition®, we meet you where you are and build your treatment plan from there. Our dietitians are trained in Intuitive Eating, provide gentle weight-inclusive nutrition care, an are trauma-informed. We work to help you disengage in eating disorder behaviors, overcome rigid food rules, reduce anxiety around eating, and build genuine trust in your body over time.
How do You Work with Teens and Their Families?
Aterra Nutrition® specializes in eating disorder recovery for teens and works closely with families throughout the process. We understand that parents and caregivers are a critical part of a teen's recovery. We offer guidance on how to support your teen at mealtimes, how to communicate without adding pressure, and how to navigate the challenges that come up at home.
Family involvement looks different for each client. Some families regularly join nutrition sessions with their teen. Other families receive separate nutrition support with another dietitian on our team. All scenarios will receive guidance between appointments through our concierge nutrition care service. We work with you to find the approach that fits your family's needs.
Our dietitians will work with the patient’s therapist, physician, psychiatrist, and parents/caregivers and coordinate care regularly to ensure everyone is aligned on goals and approach.
Ready to Take
The Next Step?
Aterra Nutrition® offers specialized eating disorder recovery nutrition counseling for teens and adults in DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Michigan.
You do not have to navigate recovery alone. Reach out today to connect with a registered dietitian who understands where you are and knows how to help.
Our virtual nutrition counseling is available for those in DC, MD, VA, MI, and NJ.