You don’t have to look unwell to need support
Eating disorders are not always visible. Learn what changes deserve attention—and how to take the next step.
Read articleTHE RUMI COUNSELING BLOG
Understanding.
Support. A way forward.
Answers to questions about eating disorders, treatment, and finding support in Maryland and Virginia.
What would you like to understand?
Understand eating concerns
Support someone you love
Choose and plan care
- What to expect when you seek eating-disorder support
- Do I need a therapist, a dietitian, or a doctor for an eating disorder?
- When is outpatient eating-disorder therapy not enough?
- What is CBT-E, and how is it different from general CBT?
- Can I get eating-disorder therapy online in Maryland or Virginia?
- How do I choose an eating-disorder therapist in Bethesda or Alexandria?
Explore body image
Explore the articles
16 articlesWhen your teen says, “I don’t need help”
A starting point for parents facing defensiveness, uncertainty, or reluctance about eating-disorder care.
Read articleWhat to say when someone you love is struggling
Practical language for a caring conversation that leaves room for honesty and professional support.
Read articleBinge eating deserves care, not judgment
Understanding loss-of-control eating, why an assessment matters, and what treatment can involve.
Read articleMaking room for yourself on difficult body-image days
A gentler way to describe body distress and bring it into a helpful conversation.
Read articleWhat to expect when you seek eating-disorder support
Questions to ask, the role of a care team, and why your first appointment is a beginning rather than a test.
Read articleWhat is the difference between disordered eating and an eating disorder?
Understand the difference between concerning eating patterns and a clinical diagnosis, and what to discuss when you seek help.
Read articleIs it picky eating or ARFID?
Learn how ARFID differs from food preferences and which concerns to bring to a medical or mental health assessment.
Read articleWhat is atypical anorexia, and can it be serious?
Why restrictive eating can require care at different body sizes, and how to ask for an assessment that goes beyond appearance.
Read articleWhat is the difference between bulimia and binge-eating disorder?
Understand the role of loss of control and compensatory behaviors, and why an assessment matters more than self-labeling.
Read articleDo I need a therapist, a dietitian, or a doctor for an eating disorder?
How mental health, nutrition, and medical professionals contribute to eating-disorder care, and what to ask about coordination.
Read articleWhat is CBT-E, and how is it different from general CBT?
A plain-language introduction to enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy and questions to ask about an eating-disorder treatment approach.
Read articleWhat is family-based treatment for a teen’s eating disorder?
How eating-disorder-focused family treatment differs from general family counseling, and what parents can ask before care begins.
Read articleCan I get eating-disorder therapy online in Maryland or Virginia?
Questions about virtual therapy, medical appointments, privacy, and arranging care with Rumi Counseling in Maryland or Virginia.
Read articleWhen is outpatient eating-disorder therapy not enough?
Understand outpatient, intensive outpatient, day-program, residential, and inpatient care, and how clinicians assess the right setting.
Read articleHow do I choose an eating-disorder therapist in Bethesda or Alexandria?
Questions about experience, treatment fit, care coordination, location, and fees when looking for eating-disorder therapy near you.
Read article