Welcome Blog
Welcome to BreakFree Therapy Services’ Blog page,
The purpose of this blog is to provide support and awareness on topics relating to eating disorder therapy, awareness, and support, including aspects of treatment and prevention efforts for diagnoses like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, disordered eating patterns, ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), body image issues, and other pathology relating to bingeing, purging, restriction, and overexercise. The blog’s main goal is to focus on education, stigma-breaking, and empowering messages around recovery. This blog is not a replacement for therapy or therapeutic services.
BreakFree Therapy Services offers support and resources available in the community in person or virtually for the state of Florida if you or anyone you know is struggling with an eating disorder. This blog is an extension of our efforts toward prevention, education, and therapeutic treatment. The blog will also provide information on different types of treatment approaches, interventions, and modalities that are found to be helpful with disordered eating and eating disorders (EDs). We provide outpatient therapy, which differs from higher levels of care including Intensive Outpatient (IOP), Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Residential (RTC), or Inpatient (IP). We will assess the fit of level of care consistently throughout your work with us, to ensure you are receiving the care that is most appropriate to fit your needs.
So, welcome, if you are someone struggling with an eating disorder, a parent of a child struggling with disordered eating signs, or a friend or loved one of someone with an eating disorder; this blog page is for you! Eating disorders not only affect the individual who is struggling, but often times also the loved ones who may be found struggling with how to support their family members or friends in the right way. I am here to tell you, you are not alone, and recovery from an eating disorder is possible and most successful when the individual has a strong support system by their side, and is receiving support from a specialist.
How Does Eating Disorder (ED) Therapy help?
Therapy for an eating disorder can help clients manage mealtime distress, learn how to identify and manage moods that may impact eating, improve the ability to reduce eating disorder behaviors through the use of healthy coping strategies, explore underlying causes and maintaining factors, engage with relapse prevention strategies, and address co-occurring conditions such as, but not limited to, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Depression, Anxiety, Addictions, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Through techniques like Dialect Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Family Based Therapy (FBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Person-Centered Therapy, and Internal Family Systems (IFS), clients can learn how to identify a life headed towards recovery, and a life beyond the eating disorder. Clients will have the opportunity and support to learn how to find their self-worth, feel a stronger sense of identity, and improve their relationship with their body and self.
Eating disorder outpatient therapy includes a collaborative approach with a multidisciplinary team, as previously mentioned that the individual struggling with disordered eating or an ED needs a strong support team. This often includes a treatment team made up of an eating disorder therapist, medical provider, dietitian, and psychiatrist when appropriate. Eating disorders come with many risk factors that can impact overall health and wellness at a physiological level, and have the risk of mortality if not treated and addressed appropriately and competently. It is important for individuals to be monitored closely, and for all providers to maintain consistent contact and communication to assist clients with meeting their physical, nutritional, and psychological needs.
9% of the U.S. population, or 28.8 million Americans, will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Additionally, 10,200 deaths each year are the direct result of an eating disorder, which is one death every 52 minutes. These statistics show how much more eating disorder awareness is needed, and how significant it is for individuals to seek therapy and support. This highlights why we find this blog and our work to be so important.
How can loved ones help?
Some things you can do to help your loved one who is struggling with an eating disorder is to avoid food and body comments, not comment their weight or their plate, un-label foods from being “good” or “bad” or “healthy vs. unhealthy,” and remind the individual that you are there for them, even if you don’t understand. Simply ask your loved one, “how can I best support you with what you’re going through?” Whether it’s letting them know what’s for dinner beforehand, providing options around meal time, checking in with them before/after mealtime, or even asking them if they would like to play a game during the meal or snack, remember that intentional help and support can go a long way for the one who’s struggling to feel seen and cared for. Offer support and encourage your loved one to seek out therapy. We hope this has been a helpful introduction into more to come on this blog page.
This blog will be monitored by both Maria Ortiz, MS, LMHC, CEDS and Jenesis Vasquez, MS, LMHC.
About the Authors:
Maria Ortiz is currently a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS). She is also personally recovered from an eating disorder, meaning this work is not only her profession, but her true passion as well. She is persistent in her efforts to provide awareness, education, and therapeutic services regarding all things eating disorders. “The road to recovery can be one of the most challenging processes one may ever face, and I'm so grateful that my story led me to helping others find their hope again. It gets better!” – Maria Ortiz, MS, LMHC, CEDS
Jenesis Vasquez is currently a Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern and in the process of earning her Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Credential. She strives to provide a safe place for everyone, and her desire and purpose is to provide awareness that reduces stigma surrounding eating disorders and overall therapeutic care. “To create an environment where everyone feels accepted and learns their self-worth is not defined by their body shape and/or size is my goal, and I truly believe recovery is possible for my clients. I will ensure to provide an individualized treatment approach to best fit each unique individual.” – Jenesis Vasquez, MS, LMHC