The Road to Recovery

Eating Disorders

Can Health Problems Trigger Eating Disorders?

Melissa Gerson LCSW on August 17, 2026

Physical illness can change how we experience food and our bodies. For some, necessary dietary changes can lead to food anxiety, restriction, and an eating disorder.

Physical illness can change how we experience food and our bodies. For some, necessary dietary changes can lead to food anxiety, restriction, and an eating disorder.

Eating Disorders

GLP-1s and a Hidden Risk of Weight Loss

Melissa Gerson LCSW on June 1, 2026

GLP-1 medications may offer significant benefits, but for some people with a history of anorexia, weight loss itself can reactivate aspects of a long-dormant illness.

GLP-1 medications may offer significant benefits, but for some people with a history of anorexia, weight loss itself can reactivate aspects of a long-dormant illness.

Bulimia Nervosa

The Silent Cycle of Bulimia Nervosa

Melissa Gerson LCSW on March 1, 2026

Bulimia nervosa often hides behind stability and silence. Sustained by shame and emotional function, it can persist for years before recognition or treatment.

Bulimia nervosa often hides behind stability and silence. Sustained by shame and emotional function, it can persist for years before recognition or treatment.

OCD

Is It an Eating Disorder or OCD?

Melissa Gerson LCSW on January 12, 2026

Eating disorders and OCD can look strikingly similar on the surface. Understanding what drives the behavior is essential for getting the right diagnosis and the right treatment.

Eating disorders and OCD can look strikingly similar on the surface. Understanding what drives the behavior is essential for getting the right diagnosis and the right treatment.

Eating Disorders

The New Year Trap of Starting Over for Eating Disorders

Melissa Gerson LCSW on January 2, 2026

The urge to "start over" for the new year feels hopeful. In eating disorders, that same impulse can either support recovery or quietly pull people back into harmful patterns.

The urge to "start over" for the new year feels hopeful. In eating disorders, that same impulse can either support recovery or quietly pull people back into harmful patterns.

Eating Disorders

Weight Goals in Teen Eating Disorder Treatment: Clinical Nuance

Melissa Gerson LCSW on November 20, 2025

Setting a goal weight in anorexia treatment is often misunderstood. It is not a fixed number but an early benchmark that evolves as the body heals and recovery takes shape.

Setting a goal weight in anorexia treatment is often misunderstood. It is not a fixed number but an early benchmark that evolves as the body heals and recovery takes shape.

Anorexia Nervosa

Fighting for, Not With, Your Teen in Anorexia Recovery

Melissa Gerson LCSW on October 7, 2025

When anorexia takes hold, parenting instincts can feel upside down. Teens recover best when parents step in with calm strength, honesty, and love, fighting for them, not with them.

When anorexia takes hold, parenting instincts can feel upside down. Teens recover best when parents step in with calm strength, honesty, and love, fighting for them, not with them.

Diet

Cheat Days Don’t Work: The Hidden Cost of This Diet Trend

Melissa Gerson LCSW on September 10, 2025

Cheat days promise freedom but fuel guilt, cravings, and cycles of restriction. Learn why this diet trend backfires—and how to build lasting balance with food.

Cheat days promise freedom but fuel guilt, cravings, and cycles of restriction. Learn why this diet trend backfires—and how to build lasting balance with food.

Eating Disorders

The Fantasy of Weight Loss in Eating Disorder Recovery

Melissa Gerson LCSW on August 5, 2025

If you've ever felt like losing just a few pounds would fix everything, you're not alone. But there's a better way to engage with those thoughts and move toward real freedom.

If you've ever felt like losing just a few pounds would fix everything, you're not alone. But there's a better way to engage with those thoughts and move toward real freedom.

Eating Disorders

How to Find the Right Eating Disorder Therapist

Melissa Gerson LCSW on June 19, 2025

To find the right eating disorder therapist, seek specialized, evidence-based care and ask about outcomes and building a strong, collaborative therapeutic relationship.

To find the right eating disorder therapist, seek specialized, evidence-based care and ask about outcomes and building a strong, collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Body Image

When Body Image Becomes the Center of Self-Worth

Melissa Gerson LCSW on April 21, 2025

Body image can take over a person’s sense of self. Therapy helps reduce its grip and build self-worth rooted in values, connection, and identity beyond appearance.

Body image can take over a person’s sense of self. Therapy helps reduce its grip and build self-worth rooted in values, connection, and identity beyond appearance.

Eating Disorders

When Weight Stigma Gets a Rebrand

Melissa Gerson LCSW on April 9, 2025

As new weight-loss drugs like Ozempic reshape cultural norms around weight, some in recovery are finding that their trust in their bodies is being quietly unraveled.

As new weight-loss drugs like Ozempic reshape cultural norms around weight, some in recovery are finding that their trust in their bodies is being quietly unraveled.

Eating Disorders

The Importance of Families in Eating Disorder Recovery

Melissa Gerson LCSW on February 6, 2025

Family involvement plays a key role in eating disorder recovery. Families can help create a structured, supportive environment that fosters healing and long-term recovery.

Family involvement plays a key role in eating disorder recovery. Families can help create a structured, supportive environment that fosters healing and long-term recovery.

Eating Disorders

Eating Disorder Recovery: Values Over Resolutions

Melissa Gerson LCSW on December 19, 2024

In the new year, shift your focus from resolutions to core values in eating disorder recovery and embrace self-compassion, authenticity, and health for lasting well-being.

In the new year, shift your focus from resolutions to core values in eating disorder recovery and embrace self-compassion, authenticity, and health for lasting well-being.

Eating Disorders

When the Shoe Fits, Wear It: Understanding Body Weight Set Point

Melissa Gerson LCSW on November 7, 2024

Your body has a natural weight range, just like its shoe size. Embracing that is a key to health and self-acceptance, especially in eating disorder recovery.

Your body has a natural weight range, just like its shoe size. Embracing that is a key to health and self-acceptance, especially in eating disorder recovery.

Self-Harm

Options for Severe, Chronic, Resistant Eating Disorders

Melissa Gerson LCSW on August 28, 2024

Combining advanced treatments offers hope for complex eating disorders.

Combining advanced treatments offers hope for complex eating disorders.

Eating Disorders

Navigating Childhood and Adolescent Eating Disorders

Melissa Gerson LCSW on July 14, 2024

Parents can guide eating disorder recovery with a home-based approach.

Parents can guide eating disorder recovery with a home-based approach.

Eating Disorders

Hope and Hesitation in the Journey of Anorexia Recovery

Melissa Gerson LCSW on May 31, 2024

Dive into the delicate balance of hope and fear in anorexia recovery to learn how effective therapy guides individuals through ambivalence toward healing.

Dive into the delicate balance of hope and fear in anorexia recovery to learn how effective therapy guides individuals through ambivalence toward healing.

Eating Disorders

Binge Eating Disorder: Struggling in Silence

Melissa Gerson LCSW on May 23, 2024

Behind closed doors, isolation and stigma fuel a silent battle for so many living with Binge Eating Disorder.

Behind closed doors, isolation and stigma fuel a silent battle for so many living with Binge Eating Disorder.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

DBT Prolonged Exposure: A Transformative Approach to Healing

Melissa Gerson LCSW on July 21, 2023

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) is an innovative treatment approach for post-traumatic stress disorder in high-risk clients with multiple diagnoses.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Prolonged Exposure (DBT PE) is an innovative treatment approach for post-traumatic stress disorder in high-risk clients with multiple diagnoses.