Most of the concerns that bring people to therapy can be helped by any good, licensed clinician. Eating disorders are one of the exceptions. They are serious illnesses with real medical consequences, their own research base, their own treatment teams, and a talent for hiding in plain sight. The research is clear that specialized, coordinated care makes a difference. So if you are looking for an eating disorder therapist, for yourself or for someone you love, it is worth being a picky shopper. This is the checklist I would hand to a friend, with the obvious disclosure that I am one of the therapists you might be considering. The list works no matter who you end up choosing.

What to look for

  • Dedicated eating disorder experience, not a checkbox. Many directory profiles list twenty specialties. You want evidence of depth: time spent in dedicated eating disorder treatment settings (residential, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient programs), a current caseload that includes eating disorders, and ongoing consultation or training in the field. Some clinicians hold the Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS) credential. Years of dedicated practice in treatment programs is just as meaningful. Ask about the path, not just the label.
  • Comfort working on a team. Eating disorders are often a three-chair illness: therapist, dietitian, physician. A specialist should already have eating-disorder-trained dietitians and medical providers they work with, and an easy answer to "how do you coordinate?"
  • Knowledge of the full range of care. Weekly outpatient therapy is right for many people, and not for everyone at every moment. You want a therapist who knows the whole spectrum (outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential), who will tell you plainly if you need more support than they can provide, and who can help you get there. A specialist who never refers anyone up is a warning sign, credentials or not.
  • A clear stance on food and weight. Ask where they stand on dieting, weight loss, and body image in recovery. You are listening for a coherent philosophy that does not rely on shame. In my case that is weight-inclusive and informed by intuitive eating. Vagueness, or a side business in weight loss, should give you pause.
  • A license in your state. For Floridians that means an LMHC, LCSW, LMFT, or psychologist licensed in Florida, and that applies to telehealth too.

Questions for the consultation call

Nearly every specialist offers a short consultation call (mine is free). Use it. You are interviewing them, not the other way around:

  • What portion of your current caseload is eating disorders?
  • Where did you get your eating disorder training and experience?
  • How do you work with dietitians and physicians?
  • What happens if I turn out to need more support than weekly sessions?
  • What is your stance on dieting and weight loss during recovery?
  • How will we know it is working?

There is no single right answer to any of these. You are listening for fluency, directness, and how it feels to talk with this person. You would be trusting them with something hard.

Warning signs worth walking away from

  • Promises of a quick fix, or any guarantee tied to weight
  • Prescribing diets, cleanses, or weight-loss plans as "recovery"
  • No relationships with dietitians or medical providers, or resistance to involving them
  • Shame used as a technique, whether about your body, your eating, or your mixed feelings about getting better
  • Vagueness about their actual eating disorder experience when you ask directly

Fit still matters most

After all of the vetting, the strongest predictor of therapy working is still the relationship between you and your therapist. A perfectly credentialed therapist you cannot be honest with will not help you as much as a well-qualified one you can. That is what consultation calls are for, and it is why you have my full permission to keep looking. A good specialist would rather you find the right fit than the closest one.

Interview for depth, coordination, and honesty. Then trust your gut about the fit.

If you are starting your search near the Beaches, or anywhere in Florida or Colorado by telehealth, here is how I work with eating disorders, consultation call included. And if it turns out I am not your fit, ask me for names. That is how this field is supposed to work.

This article is education, not a substitute for care from a licensed clinician — and not medical, insurance, or financial advice. Details reflect Florida practice as of August 2026.