Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by severe restriction of food intake, intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted perception of body size and shape. Despite common misconceptions, anorexia can affect people of all body sizes, genders, and backgrounds. From a HAES and body-affirming perspective, treatment focuses on challenging restrictive beliefs about food and body, restoring trust in hunger and fullness cues, and addressing the underlying emotional and psychological factors contributing to the disorder. Therapy often includes somatic approaches to reconnect with the body, Internal Family Systems (IFS) to explore parts of the self that fear nourishment, and EMDR to process trauma that may have contributed to restrictive behaviors. Healing is not about weight restoration alone—it’s about reclaiming autonomy over one’s body and nourishing it with care and compassion.

Atypical anorexia involves all the same restrictive eating patterns, psychological distress, and medical risks as anorexia nervosa, but the individual does not meet the "underweight" criteria often used in traditional medical diagnoses. This distinction is rooted in weight stigma, as many individuals in higher-weight bodies experience significant harm from restriction while being overlooked by medical professionals. A weight-inclusive treatment approach focuses on validating the lived experience of those with atypical anorexia, restoring physical and emotional health without reinforcing weight bias, and dismantling internalized fatphobia. Therapy supports clients in challenging diet culture, reconnecting with hunger cues, and addressing body image distress through a trauma-informed lens.

ARFID is an eating disorder characterized by extreme food avoidance or restriction that is not necessarily driven by body image concerns. Individuals with ARFID may experience sensory sensitivities, fear of choking or vomiting, or a lack of interest in eating altogether, leading to significant nutritional deficiencies and distress. HAES-aligned treatment for ARFID focuses on reducing anxiety around food, expanding safe and nourishing food options, and addressing underlying sensory, medical, or trauma-related concerns. Therapy may include exposure-based techniques, mindfulness practices to reduce fear responses, and somatic work to ease the nervous system’s reaction to food-related triggers.

Disordered eating exists on a spectrum and often includes patterns of restriction, deprivation, binge eating, or emotional eating that do not fit into a formal diagnosis. Many individuals engage in chronic dieting, weight cycling, or fear-based eating behaviors, often reinforced by diet culture. A HAES-aligned approach to healing disordered eating involves normalizing all foods, reducing guilt around eating, and fostering a sustainable, nourishing relationship with food and body. Therapy may integrate intuitive eating principles, somatic work to reduce food-related anxiety, and IFS to address internalized shame and food rules.

Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use. These cycles are often fueled by guilt, shame, and a fear of weight gain, making it difficult for individuals to break free from the disorder. A HAES and body-trusting approach to treatment helps clients reframe their relationship with food and body, develop alternative coping mechanisms for emotional distress, and regulate the nervous system’s response to binge-purge cycles. Therapy often includes CBT to challenge rigid food rules, EMDR to process trauma linked to body image or restriction, and somatic therapy to support intuitive eating and self-compassion.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by recurring episodes of consuming large amounts of food, often in response to emotional distress, without compensatory purging behaviors. Many people with BED struggle with guilt, shame, and a sense of loss of control, which is often worsened by diet culture and weight stigma. A HAES-aligned approach to BED treatment recognizes that restriction and deprivation often fuel binge cycles, and healing requires breaking free from rigid food rules, honoring the body’s needs, and addressing underlying emotional triggers. Therapy may include Internal Family Systems (IFS) to explore parts of the self that turn to food for comfort, mindfulness-based practices to reconnect with hunger and fullness cues, and somatic work to foster safety and regulation within the body.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) involves persistent, intrusive thoughts about perceived flaws in appearance, often leading to compulsive behaviors such as mirror-checking, excessive grooming, or seeking reassurance. Individuals with BDD may struggle with anxiety, social withdrawal, and a distorted sense of self, regardless of how others perceive them. A body-affirming approach to treatment helps clients develop self-compassion, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, and address the emotional roots of body dissatisfaction. Therapy may include CBT to reframe distorted beliefs, EMDR to process trauma related to body image, and mindfulness-based techniques to foster body neutrality and self-acceptance.

Body grief refers to the mourning of a past body, loss of mobility, weight changes, or shifts due to illness, disability, or aging. Many individuals struggle with accepting their changing body, particularly in a society that equates thinness and able-bodiedness with worth. Therapy for body grief validates the emotional impact of these changes while fostering self-compassion and body neutrality. A body-affirming approach may include narrative therapy to explore identity beyond appearance, mindfulness-based practices to develop body trust, and somatic techniques to reconnect with the body in a nonjudgmental way.

Orthorexia is an obsession with “clean” or “healthy” eating to the point where it becomes restrictive, anxiety-inducing, and socially isolating. While not an official DSM diagnosis, orthorexia is a harmful and often overlooked form of disordered eating that can lead to nutritional deficiencies, fear of certain foods, and an inability to eat freely without distress. A HAES-informed approach helps clients break free from rigid food rules, challenge the moralization of eating, and restore flexibility in their relationship with food. Therapy may include CBT to reframe black-and-white thinking, exposure therapy to reintegrate feared foods, and somatic work to reconnect with authentic hunger and satisfaction cues.

Objective binge eating refers to consuming large amounts of food in a short period, while subjective binge eating involves perceiving oneself as overeating, even when intake is within normal limits. Both experiences can be distressing and fueled by cycles of restriction and guilt. Treatment involves breaking the restriction-binge cycle, reducing shame around food choices, and addressing emotional eating patterns through mindful eating, self-compassion practices, and nervous system regulation techniques.

Body shame is deeply tied to cultural beauty standards, weight stigma, and internalized beliefs about appearance. Chronic dieting often results from a lifelong pursuit of an "ideal body," leading to emotional distress, restriction, and weight cycling. Therapy helps clients unpack internalized fatphobia, challenge societal body ideals, and cultivate self-acceptance through body trust work, intuitive eating, and dismantling diet culture narratives.