LGBTQ and gender-affirming therapy for adults and teens
Eating Disorder Therapy in Philadelphia, PA
You don’t want to keep living like this, but letting go feels terrifying.
Real talk
Eating disorder therapy might feel like the last place you want to be right now. You're exhausted, overwhelmed, and the idea of dedicating even more mental energy to food probably sounds draining.
Eating disorder therapy asks you to sit with the very thing you've been trying to control, escape, or push away. But here's what I want you to know: my approach isn't about adding more rules to your already cluttered headspace. It's about finally finding some relief.
You’ve been doing this on your own for awhile and it’s been sort of working, until your kid tells you their snack has too much sugar in it. Or you find yourself sneaking off after dinner to go throw up. These moments shake you to your core, but you’ve tried therapy only to feel stuck in the same unhelpful place.
It’s hard to imagine a life where food and the number on the scale don’t dictate how your entire day goes. You see your friends laughing over burgers and fries and think, “god I want that”. But that life feels so foreign to you because you’ve never felt at ease around food. So you wonder, what’s the point of even trying?
Let’s face it
Diet culture sucks and it isn’t going anywhere.
Maybe you want a better relationship with food, but you can’t stop dieting because you don’t want your body to change. It feels like no matter what you do, your body is never enough and you’re exhausted from trying to shrink yourself just to fit in.
this work is for you if…
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You skip meals and count calories, only to end up feeling so hungry you eat until you’re sick. You’re too embarrassed to eat in front of others because you’re afraid they’ll judge you for not ordering the salad. So you sneak into the kitchen at night while everyone is asleep so you can finally have the food you actually want.
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Managing your food intake feels like the only way to achieve your gender goals, and body acceptance feels like it’s made for straight, cis people. But you’re also tired, and constantly tracking your food is taking a toll on your mental health.
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You’re noticing some thigh chaffing and it’s freaking you out. Clothes don’t fit the way they used to, and between weight gain and thinning hair, you don’t recognize yourself anymore. You find yourself constantly thinking about food, working out, and your health.
Look, I get it. I’m not going to pretend this is easy.
As someone who’s been there, I can tell you that finding peace with food is possible. I’m here for whatever you bring to our sessions, and I’d love to support you.
LGBTQ and Gender-Affirming Eating Disorder Therapy for Adults and Teens
eating disorders i treat:
Anorexia Treatment for LGBTQ Individuals in Philadelphia
Counting calories and skipping meals can feel like the one thing you can control, especially when your body doesn’t feel like yours. Anorexia treatment goes beyond food and weight to understand what triggers your eating disorder, and to have a relationship with food that is flexible and sustainable.
Bulimia Therapy in Philadelphia
The cycle of binging and purging is exhausting, and the shame that comes with it can feel impossible to talk about. Bulimia therapy creates space for honesty about your ED behaviors, so we can understand what’s driving it and ways to break the cycle.
Binge-Eating Disorder Treatment in Philadelphia
Binge-eating is often misunderstood as a lack of willpower. It isn’t. It’s frequently a response to food restriction, stress, or emotions that have nowhere else to go. Binge-eating disorder treatement in my practice is weight inclusive and rooted in understanding the function of these behaviors rather than adding more food rules.
ARFID Therapy in Philadelphia
ARFID is often dismissed as picky eating, but its impact on daily life — relationships, nutrition, is very real. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID isn’t driven by body image or a desire to lose weight, which means treatment looks different. I work with adults and teens navigating ARFID using a flexible approach.
Orthorexia and Disordered Eating
Not all food issues come with a formal diagnosis. Orthorexia, an obsessive focus with “clean eating”, and other patterns of disordered eating also need support. Even if they don’t fit neatly into a clinical box. If food is taking up more mental space than you want it to, that’s enough of a reason to reach out.
what to expect from eating disorder therapy
Instead of fighting with your eating disorder, we’ll get curious about the ways it’s protected you.
Everyone’s story is different. That’s why I take time to really get to know you and your history with food.
Together, we’ll figure out what’s been driving your eating struggles and what a life beyond them could actually look like for you. Defining what you want out of this journey helps you stay committed when things feel hard. Real lasting change happens when it’s driven by your own motivations for recovery, not mine.
I use mind-body approaches including Art Therapy and Internal Family Systems to get to the root of your eating disorder. Art therapy can help you connect to your inner world in a way that words might not be able to. IFS helps you understand your conflicting feelings around your eating disorder, and make decisions grounded in your true self. When you start to understand where your food issues come from, you can heal the pain underneath them.
I practice from a weight-inclusive and social justice framework. That means we’ll look at how messages from your family, culture, and society have shaped how you see yourselfand how you feel in your body.By unlearning these beliefs, you can begin to treat yourself with real compassion and actually connect to whatreally matters to you.
Recovery doesn’t have to be so lonely. We’ll work on building and strengthening a support system of people you trust, so you don’t feel like you’re doing this all on your own. The more you share your story, the lighter it feels.
I’m not here to fix you, because you’re not broken. You won’t have to follow a strict treatment plan and you don’t have to do recovery “perfectly”. We’ll build a plan together—one that has structure and is flexible.
It’s okay to want a healthy relationship with food and still want to lose weight.
My goal is for you to feel safe enough to lay everything out on the table so we can sort through it together.
My approach to eating disorder treatment.
As one of the few Certified Eating Disorder Specialists (CEDS) in Philadelphia with advanced training in gender-affirming care, I offer an approach that goes beyond traditional treatment models.
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IFS is a an experiential therapy apporach that views your inner world as parts, including your eating disorder.
You might discover a part that is always counting calories while another part wants doesn’t want to think about food at all. Together, we'll help all parts of you feel heard and work toward internal harmony. We’ll explore what drives your eating disorder, and create a path forward that is right for you.
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Art therapy provides a powerful avenue for exploring emotions, body image concerns, and experiences related to your eating disorder that might be difficult to talk about.
Art therapy can help us access our emotions in a way that words can’t. You don’t need to be good at art or have any artistic background to benefit from art therapy.
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Understanding how past experiences shape current eating behaviors is crucial for lasting recovery. Focal psychodynamic therapy helps us explore how early relationships, trauma, and family dynamics influence your relationship with food and body. This depth-oriented approach provides insights into why certain patterns developed and how to create healthier alternatives.
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If you’re navigating OCD treatment along side of eating disorder recovery, ERP is an evidenced-based treatment approach that helps you face your fears and break the cycle.
ERP is a collaborative model where we both create exposure exercises that you practice in session, while resisting your compulsions.
Specialized Support for LGBTQ+ and Gender-Diverse Individuals.
If you’ve ever felt like eating disorder treatment wasn’t built for you, you’re not alone.
Traditional eating disorder treatment often fails to address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals.
As someone deeply connected to the queer and trans community, I understand how identity, marginalization, and eating disorders intersect. In our work together, your full identity isn’t just accepted—it’s central to how you heal.
If you’re trans or non-binary, it might feel complicated to live in a body that doesn’t always match how you see yourself. Eating disorder recovery can feel like it’s in direct conflict with your gender goals.
Queer people are not immune to the white-cis-thin ideal, and also face unique pressures in their own community. Having a certain body shape may be a way to feel safe in a world that is hostile to queer people. Maybe it’s hard to imagine yourself in your true gender, because our society pressures you to fit into a binary.
Eating Disorder Treatment For Transgender Individuals in Philadelphia
For trans and non-binary individuals, the relationship between gender and disordered eating adds layers of complexity that many therapists don't understand. I bring both expertise and lived experience to these conversations, having supported countless individuals through the intersection of gender transition and eating disorder recovery.
In our work together, we'll:
Differentiate between gender dysphoria and ED symptoms
Develop strategies that affirm your gender identity while healing your relationship with food
Address fears about body changes during transition without using harmful eating behaviors
Create a recovery plan that honors your authentic self
Eating disorder therapy can help you…
Cultivate Relationships
Laugh with friends, grab coffee, and accept dinner invites without hesitation. Go to board game night, book club, or a music concert with energy to spare.
Reduce Stress Around Food
Rebuild trust with your body’s signals, quiet the constant food thoughts, and open up space for what truly matters to you.
Embrace Your Uniqueness
Show up at work events with confidence. Go on dates without second-guessing yourself. Wear outfits you love regardless of the size on the tag. Feel proud of who you are, and worry less about what other people think.
Rediscover Who You Are
Do you miss writing fanfiction, D & D nights, and going to yoga class? Maybe you’ve been wanting to take up painting or pottery. Therapy helps you uncover the pieces of yourself that got buried under your eating disorder.
Increase Spontaneity
You’ll be able to grab ice cream on a whim, without it overwhelming you. You can actually eat with your family on pizza night, instead of sitting on the sidelines
Build Resiliency
Diet culture, racism, and transphobia mess with your self-worth. Therapy gives you the strategies to push back and reclaim your body and your relationship with food.
REcovery is possible
It's time to make peace with food & accept yourself as you are.
faqs
Common Questions About Treatment
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Our first session focuses on what’s bringing you to therapy. We work together to craft a timeline of the history of your eating disorder and how it’s affecting you now.
We’ll explore what recovery means to you, identify the people in your community, and discuss whether you need more support.
Sessions may involve just talk therapy, while other sessions may incorporate mind-body approaches, like Art Therapy and Internal Family Systems.
Eating disorder treatment is collaborative. If needed, I will help you build a care team of people you trust. This often includes a dietician, primary care physician and sometimes a psychiatrist.
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Recovery timelines vary greatly depending on individual needs, severity of symptoms, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Some clients work with me for several months, while others benefit from longer-term support. We'll regularly assess your progress and adjust our approach as needed.
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It can be a big leap to make that first appointment! There are no guarantees, but here are some things to look for.
You might be ready if you…
Have been trying to manage your eating disorder on your own, but you need help.
Feel ready to add some accountability.
Just completed intensive outpatient treatment and are looking to step down.
Think body acceptance sounds nice in theory, but struggle to put it into practice.
Are interested in intuitive eating, but feel scared to try it alone.
You’re looking for a mind-body approach to therapy, and want more than just coping skills and behavior change.
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You can schedule a consultation directly through my website by booking online.
You can also send an email through my contact form. I’ll reply to your email within 1-2 business days (not on weekends). From there, we’ll pick a day and time that works for both of us.
Your journey begins with a free 20-minute phone consultation where we'll discuss what's bringing you to therapy for eating disorders. This is a chance for you to ask me questions about my approach and see if we’re a good fit.
Once we book the first appointment, you'll receive an email to set up your client portal and complete the intake paperwork online. Once all of the forms are completed, your appointment will be confirmed.
During our first full session, we'll explore your history with eating behaviors, screen for various eating disorder symptoms, and discuss your goals for recovery. I'll explain how my treatment approaches can support your healing journey.
These first few sessions are a way to see if it will be a good fit for both of us. So there’s no pressure to commit before you’re ready, and my feelings won’t be hurt if you decide to go with another provider. I want the best care for you, and will help you connect with a therapist who’s right for you.
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I typically meet with clients weekly for one-hour sessions, though some benefit from meeting more frequently or for extended 90-minute sessions depending on the severity of their eating disorder symptoms. Consistency is crucial in eating disorder treatment – we'll establish a regular time that becomes your dedicated space for healing.
Our sessions blend different therapeutic approaches based on your evolving needs. Some weeks might focus on IFS work to understand internal conflicts, while others might involve art therapy to process emotions or exposure therapy to challenge fear foods.
Between sessions, I provide journal prompts and, when appropriate, ERP homework to help you practice new skills and continue your recovery work.
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You don't need to be fully ready for recovery to begin therapy for eating disorders. Many clients feel ambivalent about change initially. We'll explore this ambivalence together and work at a pace that feels manageable while gently challenging eating disorder behaviors.
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Yes, I provide treatment for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorders. My integrative approach adapts to address various eating disorder symptoms and behaviors.
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You don’t have to check certain boxes to be struggling with disordered eating. In fact, a lot of people with an eating disorder have never received a diagnosis. This is because not everyone’s experience with food is the same. Diet culture also normalizes undereating, which can make it harder to know if you have an eating disorder.
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For some LGTBQ individuals, eating disorders are directly connected to traumatic experiences from the past. Counting calories and purging can be ways to manage feelings, and a feel a sense of control. Depending on where you are in your recovery, reducing eating disorders behaviors may be the first goal before starting trauma therapy.
Learn more about trauma therapy for LGBTQ individuals in Philadelphia.
What Makes My Practice Different
As an art therapist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS), I use creative and somatic approachs to help people get to the root of their food issues, and find real confidence in themselves. As a queer therapist with over 15 years in practice, I’ve dedicated my career to helping LGBTQ and transgender individuals discover and affirm their amazing selves.
I understand that recovery isn't one-size-fits-all, and that each journey is different. My approach is truly collaborative which means you define your therapy goals, not me.
In Person Therapy in Philadelphia, PA
Located in Philadelphia’s Society Hill and accessible across Pennsylvania via online therapy, Ruberti Counseling Services is committed to bridging the gap between clinical expertise and compassionate, personalized care. The practice offers a collaborative environment where clients co-create wellness plans tailored to their unique needs and histories. From individual psychotherapy to specialized group sessions, Ruberti Counseling provides a roadmap for individuals to navigate life transitions, improve self-worth, and build the resilience needed to face life’s challenges with confidence.