IN-PERSON THERAPY IN SAN DIEGO & ONLINE ACROSS CA & ID
Specialized Therapy for Eating Disorders and Body Image in San Diego CA and ID
Your mind is in an endless cycle: what you ate, what you’re going to eat, and of course, what you shouldn’t have eaten. You catch yourself checking your body in the mirror, adjusting your clothes, and analyzing every angle. Everything feels overwhelming—meals, getting dressed, or fear of being looked at and perceived by others. And when you live in a larger body, this isn’t just internal—it’s reinforced everywhere you go. You scroll social media and compare without even realizing it, stacking yourself up against other people and somehow always coming up short.
Underneath all of this, there could be a deeper reason this feels so hard. Trauma from your past forced you to learn it’s safer to just try and control, push through, and overthink your way through everything—because at some point, that’s what you needed to do. Maybe it didn’t feel safe to fully be yourself, take up space, or feel everything you were feeling. So…you adapted, and you survived.
But with all the work you’ve done, the therapy you’ve been through, and the progress you’ve made—especially considering all the stuff you’ve had thrown at you—you can’t help but wonder: “Why am I not actually better?” or “I feel a little better, but why don’t I feel more relief than this?”
- Spend your days thinking about food, your body, and how you look all day, every day—and you’re over it.
- Technically “know” your patterns and habits, but you still can’t seem to change them when you’re triggered or activated.
- Don’t want to go back to where you were…but you’re not where you want to be either.
- Live in a larger body and are exhausted from always feeling judged or dismissed by others, especially medical providers.
- Definitely aren’t “fine,” you’re just really good at masking your emotions to keep it all together.
Emily Andersen, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Many of my clients are consumed by constant thoughts about food, body, and who they’re “supposed” to be and what they’re “supposed” to look like. I’m here to change that. I want to help you stop fighting your body, overthinking everything, and start showing up and being more present in your life again—whether that’s in your relationships, at work or school, being able to focus, going out to eat, traveling, or feeling less stuck in your head all the time.
Body Image Counseling and Therapy Services in San Diego CA and ID
I have years of experience treating eating disorders. And this isn’t about all-or-nothing recovery—it’s a gradual process, and we’re not expecting everything to shift overnight. The work is understanding how the eating disorder has served you—and helping you find a way forward in recovery that actually works and feels sustainable. Because you deserve a life that feels fuller and lighter and way more than just “getting by” and surviving.
I’m here for the chronic overthinkers, perfectionists, and anyone tired of the constant mental noise about food and their body. I will help you step out of the obsessive thoughts, rebuild trust in (and admiration for) your body, and stop putting your life on hold for a version of yourself that was never going to make you happier anyway.
This is where we go deeper than just talking—we go looking for the root cause of your pain and where it is being stored in your nervous system. Using somatic approaches like Brainspotting, I will help your nervous system process what it’s been holding onto so you’re not constantly triggered, falling into negative habits as a way to cope, avoiding relationships with others, or stuck in survival mode anymore.
My work is rooted in a Health at Every Size® (HAES®) approach — which means we stop chasing weight as the end-all be-all focus of health and start focusing on your actual well-being. Together, we will cultivate body trust, autonomy, and assertive communication and advocacy. I will encourage you to take care of yourself and prioritize your needs without shrinking, punishing, or earning your worth.
Provider Testimonial
"As a dietitian, I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Emily. She is an extremely skilled therapist and truly invested in her clients’ journeys. When I refer clients to Emily, I know they will be treated with warmth, compassion and the utmost respect. If you’re looking for a therapist who knows her stuff and will treat you as the individual you are, I highly recommended Emily!"
Christine Baumann, MS, RDN
Client Testimonial
"I was starting to get burnt out on therapy after more than a decade of work when I found Emily. She is a breath of fresh air for someone who thought they had heard and done it all. She offers new insight and perspective exactly when I need it, provides a fantastic blend of honesty and kindness, and creates an environment that feels safe and accepting. I genuinely look forward to our sessions and can feel the positive effects of all the good work we're doing together."
Provider Testimonial
"Emily is a warm, authentic therapist who takes a sincere interest in providing the best quality of care to her clients. She is an excellent eating disorder therapist who understands the complexities of the varying ED-diagnoses"
Meg McGuire, LMFT
your healing journey Today.