Anorexia Treatment in Bergen County, NJ
Anorexia Can Trap You in Fear, Food Rules, and Self-Criticism That Take Over Your Life..
When Anorexia Takes Over Your Life
Anorexia is not about vanity or willpower. It is a serious and complex eating disorder that often develops as a way to cope with anxiety, uncertainty, perfectionism, or a deep need for control. For many individuals, especially high-achieving teens and adults, restrictive eating initially provides a sense of safety or relief. Over time, however, anorexia becomes overwhelming and all-consuming, interfering with physical health, mental well-being, and everyday life.
In our anorexia treatment work, we commonly see individuals struggling with:
Persistent obsession with food, calories, weight, or body shape
Intense fear of eating certain foods or gaining weight
Rigid rules around eating, exercise, and appearance
Difficulty focusing on work, school, relationships, or daily responsibilities
Ongoing physical fatigue and emotional exhaustion
Feeling trapped by the eating disorder voice and constant self-criticism
A sense that nothing is ever “enough,” even when progress is being made
Many people with anorexia feel deeply conflicted—wanting recovery while simultaneously fearing it. This push-and-pull can keep individuals stuck in harmful patterns, unsure how to move forward without losing control. Without specialized anorexia treatment, this internal struggle often intensifies over time.
At Clear Light Therapy, we provide evidence-based anorexia therapy for clients in Ho-Ho-Kus, Alpine, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Englewood Cliffs, Franklin Lakes, Ridgewood, Haworth, Tenafly, Woodcliff Lake, and throughout Bergen County, New Jersey, with virtual therapy options available statewide.
Why “Just Eating More” or Talking Isn’t Enough
Well-meaning advice often misses the mark. Anorexia is not resolved by simply eating differently or talking through fears without addressing behavior. Traditional talk therapy alone can sometimes unintentionally reinforce the eating disorder by focusing too much on reassurance or insight without action.
Effective anorexia treatment requires addressing:
Fear-based avoidance around food and body sensations
Compulsive behaviors and rigid rules
The belief that control equals safety
Deeply ingrained patterns of anxiety and self-criticism
At Clear Light Therapy, we integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to treat anorexia in a structured, evidence-based way. This approach helps individuals gradually face feared situations, loosen rigid patterns, and build psychological flexibility so that fear no longer dictates choices. We provide anorexia treatment to clients in Ho-Ho-Kus, Alpine, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Englewood Cliffs, Franklin Lakes, Ridgewood, Haworth, Tenafly, Woodcliff Lake, and throughout Bergen County, New Jersey, with virtual therapy available statewide.
Our Evidence-Based Approach to Anorexia Treatment:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns that fuel anorexia, such as rigid beliefs about weight, perfectionism, and self-worth.
Clients learn how thoughts influence behaviors and how to respond differently to the eating disorder voice.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Eating feared foods
Reducing rituals and rules
Tolerating uncertainty around body changes
Sitting with discomfort without compensating
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Create distance from eating disorder thoughts
Practice self-compassion instead of self-criticism
Take meaningful action aligned with personal values
Build a life that is bigger than the eating disorder
A Team-Based Approach to Recovery
Recovery from anorexia is not meant to happen in isolation. At Clear Light Therapy, we believe in working as part of a collaborative treatment team when appropriate. This team-based approach ensures that both physical health and mental well-being are addressed, creating a stronger foundation for lasting recovery. This may include coordination with:
Primary care providers
Dietitians
Psychiatrists
Family members or support systems
