Eating Disorder & Body Image Therapy in Madison, Eau Claire & Across Wisconsin
At Lakeside Counseling Center, we provide compassionate, evidence-based therapy for eating disorders, body image concerns, and body dysmorphia for children, adolescents, and adults. We understand that struggles with food, body image, appearance, and self-worth can deeply impact emotional wellbeing, relationships, physical health, and daily functioning.
Our therapists offer a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where clients can begin healing their relationship with food, movement, appearance, and themselves. We believe recovery is possible, and we are committed to providing individualized care that meets each person where they are.
We offer:
In-person eating disorder therapy in Madison
In-person eating disorder therapy in Eau Claire
Secure virtual therapy throughout Wisconsin
Therapy for children, adolescents, and adults
Trauma-informed and evidence-based care
Individualized treatment plans tailored to each client’s needs
Whether you are seeking support for yourself or your child, our team is here to help you move toward healing, emotional balance, and long-term recovery.
What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that involve disturbances in eating behaviors, body image, emotional regulation, and self-perception. They can affect people of all ages, genders, body types, and backgrounds. Many individuals struggling with eating disorders experience shame, anxiety, isolation, perfectionism, low self-esteem, or difficulty coping with emotions and stress.
Eating disorders are not simply about food or weight. They are often connected to deeper emotional, psychological, relational, and behavioral patterns. Without support, symptoms can worsen over time and impact physical health, relationships, school or work functioning, and overall quality of life.
Early intervention and specialized therapy can significantly improve outcomes and support long-term recovery.
Eating Disorder Therapy for Children, Adolescents & Adults
Terapia para niños
Children with eating concerns may struggle with food rigidity, sensory sensitivities, anxiety around eating, emotional dysregulation, or selective eating patterns. Our therapists work closely with caregivers to provide education, support, and developmentally appropriate interventions that help children build healthier relationships with food and their bodies.
Therapy for Teens & Adolescents
Adolescence can be a particularly vulnerable time for the development of eating disorders and body image concerns. Social pressures, perfectionism, sports participation, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions can all contribute to disordered eating behaviors and appearance-related distress.
We help teens develop healthier coping skills, emotional awareness, self-esteem, and resilience while also supporting parents and families throughout the treatment process.
Common Eating Disorders We Treat
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa involves restriction of food intake, intense fear of weight gain, and distorted body image. Individuals may experience anxiety around eating, rigid food rules, excessive exercise, perfectionism, or medical complications related to malnutrition.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging, excessive exercise, fasting, or restriction. Many individuals with bulimia struggle with shame, secrecy, and feeling out of control around food.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder involves recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food accompanied by feelings of distress, guilt, or loss of control. Unlike bulimia, binge eating episodes are not followed by compensatory behaviors.
ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
ARFID is an eating disorder that involves highly selective or restrictive eating patterns that are not driven by body image concerns. Children, adolescents, and adults with ARFID may avoid foods due to sensory sensitivities, fear of choking or vomiting, low appetite, or anxiety around eating. ARFID can impact nutrition, growth, emotional wellbeing, and social functioning.
Other Eating & Body Image Concerns
We also support individuals struggling with:
Chronic dieting and food anxiety
Emotional eating
Negative body image
Body dysmorphia (Body Dysmorphic Disorder/BDD)
Disordered eating patterns
Exercise compulsion or over-exercising
Fear foods and sensory food challenges
Perfectionism and control-related concerns
Obsessive thoughts related to appearance or weight
Co-occurring anxiety, depression, trauma, or OCD
Body Dysmorphia & Body Image Therapy
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), commonly referred to as body dysmorphia, involves persistent and distressing preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance that may be minor or not noticeable to others. These concerns can become overwhelming and significantly impact emotional wellbeing, confidence, relationships, and daily functioning.
Individuals struggling with body dysmorphia may experience:
Excessive mirror checking or avoidance
Constant comparison to others
Intense shame or anxiety about appearance
Reassurance seeking
Skin picking or grooming behaviors
Avoidance of social situations or photos
Difficulty concentrating due to appearance-related thoughts
Obsessive focus on specific body features
Body dysmorphia often co-occurs with eating disorders, anxiety, OCD, depression, and perfectionism. Our therapists work collaboratively with clients to reduce obsessive thought patterns, improve body image, strengthen self-worth, and develop healthier coping strategies and emotional resilience.
Therapy for Adults
Adults with eating disorders or body image concerns often feel isolated, discouraged, or exhausted from years of struggling with food, appearance, or self-worth. Our therapists help adults identify underlying emotional and behavioral patterns while developing sustainable recovery, self-compassion, and healthier relationships with their bodies.
Our Approach to Eating Disorder Treatment
At Lakeside Counseling Center, we believe therapy should be individualized, collaborative, and compassionate. Our therapists utilize evidence-based approaches tailored to each client’s unique experiences, goals, and developmental needs.
Treatment may include:
Terapia cognitivo-conductual (TCC)
Trauma-informed therapy
Exposure-based approaches for food anxiety
Family support and parent collaboration
Emotion regulation and coping skills
Mindfulness and self-compassion strategies
Support for co-occurring anxiety, depression, trauma, or OCD
Behavioral interventions for food rigidity or avoidance
Strengthening identity and self-worth beyond appearance
We understand that recovery is not linear, and we strive to create a therapeutic relationship where clients feel safe, understood, and empowered throughout the healing process.
In-Person & Virtual Eating Disorder Therapy in Wisconsin
We provide:
In-person therapy in Madison
In-person therapy in Eau Claire
Virtual therapy across Wisconsin
Virtual therapy allows clients throughout Wisconsin to access specialized eating disorder and body image support from the comfort and privacy of home while maintaining flexibility for school, work, and family schedules.
Schedule an Appointment
If you or your child are struggling with an eating disorder, ARFID, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, or body image concerns, support is available. Lakeside Counseling Center provides compassionate therapy for children, adolescents, and adults in Madison, Eau Claire, and virtually throughout Wisconsin.
Reach out today to schedule an appointment and begin the path toward healing, recovery, and improved emotional wellbeing.