When the average person is asked to define an eating disorder we likely all have the same description in mind; someone actively choosing not to eat in order to lose weight. Sometimes this is the case, making it relatively easy to identify who has an ED (eating disorder) and who does not. However, eating disorders involve much more than just the amount of food you eat. In fact, food is just one tool in the overarching struggle for control people with eating disorders use.
At Root & Rise Collective, our therapists see eating disorders as an attempt to make sense of something deeper, not a failure of willpower, but a search for safety, control, and understanding. In this post we will explore what really drives eating disorders beneath the surface, how these patterns are connected to safety and control, and why compassionate, trauma-informed support is essential for healing beyond the plate.
To understand an eating disorder only as a problem with food is to overlook the deeper story unfolding beneath the surface: a struggle for control, safety, acceptance, and self-understanding. People who manipulate their plates to lose weight aren’t struggling with vanity just as people with depression aren’t just choosing to be unhappy. To struggle with an ED is related to a deep lack of safety within one’s body. The dire urge to change comes from the belief that if my body were different, things would feel better. I’ve heard clients report that a different body would come with more respect, friends, pride, confidence, etc. Food is a noticeable behavior, while these beliefs and thoughts are hidden deep within the person struggling.
At Root & Rise, we understand that disordered eating is often a reflection of how disconnected someone feels from their body and sense of self. That’s why we approach treatment collaboratively, matching each client with a therapist who specializes in the intersection of trauma, body image, and identity. Learn more about us here.
The patterns of binging and restricting food also is a coping tool that allows an individual to feel in control. For people that have experienced trauma, an event our minds can’t properly make sense of on our own, binge and restrict patterns provide control over something that occurred that was beyond their control. This is why therapy and treatment is more than just consuming more calories, it’s about addressing these deeper issues of safety and control.
Therapy for people with eating disorders also focuses minimally on food and more on building safety through radical acceptance, narrative therapy, harm reduction, and somatic therapy. Eventually, new coping tools replace harmful ones and the need for binging or restricting is eliminated.
Ultimately, when we look beyond the plate, we can see that these struggles are far more complex than decisions about food or willpower alone. They reflect a complex intersection of psychological pain, cultural messaging, biological factors, and emotional needs. True understanding, and effective treatment, requires looking past the plate to see the whole person, their story, and the humanity behind their struggle. Only then can we address eating disorders with the empathy, nuance, and seriousness they deserve.
At Root & Rise, we believe that healing happens when people are met with compassion and curiosity, not correction. Our clinicians at Root & Rise Collective draw on a variety of modalities, including somatic therapy, EMDR, mindfulness, and relational approaches to support this process. We focus on restoring a sense of internal safety and trust in the body, so healing extends beyond symptom management into lasting self-understanding.
If this blog resonates with your experience, or you’re curious about exploring your relationship with food, we invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to learn more about how we can support you.
This blog is part of our clinician-led series at Root & Rise Collective, designed to share insight, tools, and understanding around the emotional and relational roots of mental health challenges. Our goal is to offer perspective and guidance while encouraging you to connect with care that feels aligned, safe, and attuned to your story.
Root & Rise Collective is a trauma-informed therapy practice serving adults, couples, teens, and children. Our therapists combine somatic and talk therapy approaches to help clients feel grounded, supported, and empowered. We offer in-person sessions in Fort Collins and Telehealth counseling throughout Colorado.
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