Therapy for OSFED
OTHER SPECIFIED FEEDING OR EATING DISORDER
Healing from OSFED-We’re here to help.
If you’ve made it to this page, you or a loved one may be struggling with OSFED (Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder). You may be uncertain as to the severity of your diagnosis. You may even feel “not sick enough.” Please here this—if you are struggling, you are sick enough. You are worthy of support.
OSFED is painful and has the potential to be minimized by sufferers, loved ones, or the medical community. Yet it is one of the most common eating disorders to have, and the physical and emotional risks are nothing to minimize.
With the right support, healing is possible. Your struggle deserves to be seen, understood, and treated with competent care.
What Is OSFED?
OSFED is a serious and potentially life-threatening eating disorder that does not meet diagnostic criteria of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or ARFID. There may be restricting, purging, bingeing, or other behaviors present.
It is important to remember that OSFED is a complex disorder—one that needs specialized and competent care.
In therapy, we create space to understand the eating disorder—not just stop the behaviors. We get curious about how it’s helping you cope, so we can explore gentler, more sustainable ways to meet those needs in a way that feels more aligned to your values and interests.
You don’t have to try to figure it out on your own. You deserve to be heard.
What to Expect in Therapy for OSFED
My approach for treatment with OSFED is non-pathologizing and client-centered . Together, we will look at the driving forces behind your eating patterns and beliefs and consider how these patterns have helped you. After identifying what reinforces the eating disorder, we will look into how to get those needs met in ways that feel much more aligned to your values and personal goals. Therapy at Brown Family Counseling is trauma-informed, so we go at your pace using techniques that are both evidence-based and customized to your unique needs.
Signs and Symptoms of OSFED
OSFED, given the nature of the disorder, looks different for everyone. It affects people of all sizes, genders, ages, and backgrounds. Some common signs include:
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Gastrointestinal issues
Fatigue and poor sleep
Changes in weight
Heart palpitations
Electrolyte imbalance
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Anxiety, depression, or emotional numbness
Feeling disconnected from your body
Fear around social situations that involve food
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Obsessive thoughts about food, weight, or body
Difficulty concentrating
Brain fog
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Frequent binges
Puring via vomiting, exercise, or use of laxatives/diuretics
Hiding food
Withdrawing from friends and family
Distress around eating in public or with others
How Therapy For OSFED Works
When starting therapy for an eating disorder, it’s common to feel a bit nervous or uncomfortable. After all, you will be talking about something that you may have not spoken about to others before. My job is to help you feel more comfortable as we get to know each other and learn how to best support you.
After getting a better idea of how the eating disorder started and how it’s being reinforced, we will create a treatment plan that is both evidence-based and indivdidualied to meet your particular needs.
Therapy for eating disorders can include skills-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help with the day-to-day difficulties. It is also common to explore body image origins from a micro- and macro- level to build self-compassion, curiosity, and understanding. Parts work (in which we look at the different parts of you and how to build a your sense of self) and brainspotting can also be incorporated for further healing.
Compassionate Care, Tailored to Your Needs
Reclaim Your Life
Those struggling often feel as if the eating disorder takes up the majority of space in one’s life—let’s get you back to having the space for the things that matter most to you. You deserve compassionate, competent care. Reach out today.