Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Los Angeles, CA.

While most eating disorder issues are treated by cognitive behavioral methodologies or specialized outpatient/inpatient programs, Grey Matters International and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, PhD provide relief first and foremost for the brain of one suffering from an eating disorder----without giving them medication. We believe that the neural circuitries responsible for the compulsive behaviors with eating are not necessarily only a neurotransmitter issue but of overused neural networks that affect the harmonization, balance, and decisions of the whole brain. Contact kevin@kevinfleminphd.com or 877-606-6161 to learn more about this safe and effective alternative.

An eating disorder is not a lifestyle choice. An eating disorder is a serious and often fatal illnesses that causes serious disturbances to a person’s eating behaviors, physical health, and relationships. Obsessions with food, body weight, and shape may also signal an eating disorder. The sooner someone struggling with this illness, or displaying behaviors and attitudes consistent with these disorders, can get connected to help, the better. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. As with any illness or psychological disorder, these problems will not go away on their own; without clinical support they often only escalate dangerously.

In addition to working with eating disorders in private practice, I also have experience working at inpatient facilities and running groups. I believe that eating disorders should be approached in a holistic manner and the underlying causes must be examined. There are many complexities when working with eating disorders and I take a warm, humanistic approach when doing so.

As a certified Mindfulness-Based Therapist, and guided by the principles of neuroplasticity, I help clients mindfully navigate symptoms of eating disorders through mindfulness interventions, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, psychodynamic and attachment-based therapies, and skills-based therapies such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy. I value psychotherapy that addresses the whole person, and can work in tandem with client's other healthcare providers to ensure all aspects of health are addressed.

If you have difficulties with your eating, there is always some emotional component. Together, we’ll examine what the psychological and emotional issues are that are involved in your particular problems with eating. This applies with compulsive overeating, anorexia, and bulimia. Even milder forms of overeating or undereating have emotional aspects, and we can deal with them. Bingeing or purging come in many forms, and we’ll examine how that may apply with you. It’s not about the diet, it’s about the dieter. It’s about the way you relate to your emotions, the people and situations in your life, and how you translate that to eating. You’re not damaged or a failure. Psychotherapy helps.

I view an eating disorder as a coping strategy (tool), and therapy is a place for you to replace this "tool" with one that is helpful rather than harmful. You and I would work together to find new ways of coping with uncomfortable feelings and situations. We would figure out what your triggers are and how to live with upsetting experiences. We might also discover that control has a lot to do with what's going on, and its roots might stem from how you were treated by your parents and other family members. So, we would also find ways for you to not only feel but actually BE more in control of your life.

I help individuals to break the chains of eating disorders which has them enslaved and obsessing over food and body image. Both women and men suffer from the norms in society and the ideals of how we are all supposed to look. People can become victims to the discourses of body image. I will work closely with you to free yourself from this eating disordered identity and to live a freer existence.