Anorexia Therapy in Sydney and the Sutherland Shire

Anorexia nervosa is more than a fear of food or weight gain. It is a complex eating disorder that can gradually change the way you think about food, your body and yourself.

Eating may become increasingly restricted, rules around food or exercise can become harder to break, and thoughts about weight, shape or eating can take up more and more of your day. Over time, anorexia can affect your physical health, relationships, school, work and everyday life.

At Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology, our psychologists, counsellors and therapists provide anorexia therapy for children, adolescents and adults across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. Appointments are available in person at our Menai practice in Sydney’s south and via secure telehealth across Australia.

What are the signs of anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia can creep in slowly. At first, it might look like eating a little less, cutting out certain foods or becoming more interested in healthy eating or exercise. Over time, the rules can become stricter and harder to break. Foods that once felt ordinary may start to feel frightening, meals can become stressful, and thoughts about eating, weight or body shape can take up more and more of the day.

If you are experiencing anorexia yourself, you may know that what others see as “just eating” can feel anything but simple. You might feel anxious before meals, guilty after eating, frightened of gaining weight, or caught between knowing something needs to change and feeling terrified of changing it.

For parents, the changes can be confusing and frightening. You may notice your child eating less, avoiding foods they previously enjoyed, exercising more, withdrawing from family meals or becoming distressed when encouraged to eat. Conversations about food can quickly become tense, leaving you unsure whether to push, step back or what to do next.

For some people, restriction can also shift into episodes of binge eating or purging. Anxiety, perfectionism, rigidity, sensory sensitivities or difficulties with emotional regulation may also be part of the picture.

When to reach out

You do not need to wait until anorexia has reached a crisis before asking for help. You may be wondering whether things are really serious enough, particularly if you are still managing work, school or everyday life. You might recognise that something is wrong while another part of you is telling you that you are fine, that you are not unwell enough, or that you should be able to manage this yourself.

If you are a parent, you may be asking yourself the same questions. Is this a phase? Should I be more concerned? Am I making too much of it? Watching your child become increasingly anxious around food, withdraw from family meals or lose interest in things they once enjoyed can leave you unsure about when to step in.

Therapy starts with understanding what is happening around food, what feels difficult and how anorexia is affecting you or your child.

Our clinicians draw on evidence-based anorexia nervosa therapy approaches, including CBT-E, MANTRA and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), alongside attachment-informed and trauma-informed therapy. Where appropriate, we work collaboratively with your GP, dietitian, psychiatrist and other members of your treating team.

Our team works regularly with eating disorders and includes an ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician. You can also learn more about our eating disorder therapy approaches and the support available at Evolving Minds.

What does recovery from anorexia look like?

Recovery is about more than food or weight. It can mean feeling less anxious around meals, having fewer rules about food and exercise, and having more space for relationships, school, work and the things you enjoy.

For parents, it can mean seeing your child become less consumed by food and eating, and more able to take part in family life, friendships and the things that matter to them.