Philosophy

Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, Compulsive Eating and Obesity are complex emotional disorders that can dominate an individual's life. CEDAR Associates respects that the causes of an eating disorder are multidimensional and we recognize the unique needs of each individual we treat. Although the obsession with food, thinness and body image are at the forefront of an eating disorder, there are significant underlying causes that go beyond the preoccupation with food and body image.

The eating disorder acts as a distraction from these underlying conflicts because it takes on a life of its own and emotionally consumes the individual. The eating disorder is an attempt to cope with and control these core conflicts and feelings. That is why an eating disorder is both a symptom of repressed underlying conflicts and a disease in itself. The preoccupation with food becomes a symbolic “friend,” and metaphor for life issues, but is an unreliable source of security and self-control.

Our goals are to create and maintain a safe, nurturing environment for individuals and families to explore personal and interpersonal issues from an insight oriented perspective. In addition, symptoms are addressed from a cognitive/behavioral treatment approach in order to help sufferers develop a realistic and healthy self-image that will help free them from destructive behaviors and negative self-image.

Eating disorder treatment

Psychotherapy

Medication management

Nutrition & Recovery

There are many reasons why an individual might develop an eating disorder. Some of the dominant underlying issues are centered around…

…feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy

…feelings of shame or self-disgust

…fear of intimacy

…the need to please others and to be perfect

…conflicts around autonomy and dependence

…conflicts around angry feelings

…depression and anxiety

…conflicts about sexuality

…history of sexual abuse

…conflicts in family relationships

At CEDAR Associates, we are ever mindful of the fact that each individual works within her own process, so treatment is tailored to each person's unique sense of time, tolerance and pacing.