Eating Disorders

RCBM is dedicated to educating and helping those suffering from all types of eating disorders. In addition, we have a Certified International Association of Eating Disorders (iaedp) Specialist on staff along with other highly trained specialists in eating disorder treatment. You can rest assured knowing that we are deeply invested in assisting you or your loved ones on the road to recovery. There are many different types of eating disorders. Eating disorders are generally defined as a persistent disturbance in eating behaviors that impairs health or psychosocial functioning. 

At RCBM, we provide a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Our eating disorders treatment team will work closely with you to develop an individualized treatment plan to guide you to recovery. 

Some facts about eating disorders:

  • Eating disorders are increasing among diverse ethnic and sociocultural communities, despite beliefs that this only affects affluent, Caucasian teens.
  • Eating disorder behaviors in individuals who are over-concerned with body image are ways to physically manifest a severe inner struggle.
  • Eating disorders affect over 30 million people in the United States.
  • Eating disorders are coping mechanisms that individuals have created to manage difficult experiences or feelings.
  • Eating disorders frequently co-exist with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance use, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, or anxiety disorders.
  • Eating disorders have the highest mortality of any psychiatric diagnosis.

The following eating disorders we currently treat at RCBM:

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is a particular type of eating disorder that is associated with weight loss, excessive exercise and restricting food to the point of starvation. Those who suffer from anorexia typically have a skewed body image and never think they are thin enough. This drives their motivation for weight loss and diet to an unhealthy obsession that is never satisfied. Anorexia nervosa may lead to serious medical complications.


Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is an eating disorder that is associated with binging on large amounts of food and then purging. It is a vicious cycle of indulging and self-loathing. Bulimia can do serious physical damage to the body and should start treatment as soon as it’s been discovered. The cycle of losing control over food is a common theme with bulimia and is also perpetuated by the desire maintain a certain weight along with body image concerns. Like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa may lead to serious medical complications.


Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating is a type of eating disorder that stems from bouts of extreme over-eating, in a rapid amount of time, which moves to loss of control over food intake followed by physical distress, guilt, shame and/or disgust. It differs from "overeating," which does not cause characteristics described with binge eating. Typically, people who binge eat are using this as a coping mechanism to deal with stress, anxiety or depression. Getting to the root of the problem is essential to help individuals recover from binge eating disorder. However, the treatment for binge eating disorder is NOT weight loss as focusing on weight will fuel the eating disorder and underlying trauma that is often the root of binge eating disorder. Normalizing eating patterns is the key to managing binge eating disorder, which in turn can aid in achieving health goals.


Other Specified Eating or Feeding Disorders (OSFED)

Individuals with OSFED commonly present with disturbed eating habits, a distorted body image, overvaluation of body shape and weight, and an intense fear of gaining weight. OSFED is the most common eating disorder diagnosed for adults as well as adolescents and affects both males and females. Some examples of OSFED include: Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating Disorder of low frequency and/or limited duration; Atypical Anorexia Nervosa, where an individual has restrictive behaviors and other symptoms of anorexia, however, they do not meet the low weight criteria; Purging Disorder: A person has recurring episodes of purging without binge eating; Night Eating Syndrome: A person has recurrent episodes of night eating. The night eating isn’t better explained by other factors.


Avoidant Food Intake Restrictive Disorder (ARFID) 

ARFID does not involve any distress about body shape or size, or fears of fatness. Both children and adults may be diagnosed with ARFID. Although many children go through phases of picky or selective eating, a child with ARFID does not consume enough calories to grow and develop properly and in adults, it results in difficulty to maintain basic body function. ARFID can also result in problems at school or work due to difficulties eating with others and extended times needed to eat. An eating or feeding disturbance may include lack of interest in eating or food, avoidance based on the sensory characteristics of food, and concern about aversive consequences of eating as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs, along with compromised physical issues.


Inner Door Center® Eating Disorders Treatment Program

RCBM and its medical director, Joel Young, MD, is proud to carry on the legacy and offer the Inner Door Center®'s Eating Disorders Treatment Program. The Inner Door Center® continues to be a dedicated program to improving the quality-of-life experience for our patients and promoting patient-centered care through evidence-based treatment, measurable outcomes, and team collaboration between disciplines.

Ekaterina Malikov, RDN, MPH discusses eating disorders in this video and how our program can help.


Eating Disorders Professionals

Alicia Basin, MA, LPC
Eating Disorders

Alicia Basin, MA, LPC

Alicia is a licensed professional counselor who has worked with clients with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, self esteem…
Read More
Aundreah Walenski-Geml, LMSW
Eating Disorders

Aundreah Walenski-Geml, LMSW

Aundreah Walenski-Geml obtained a Masters in Clinical Social Work from University of Michigan and completed her undergraduate studies at Oakland…
Read More
Beverly Price, RDN, MA, CEDS-S, E200-RYT, C-IAYT
Eating Disorders

Beverly Price, RDN, MA, CEDS-S, E200-RYT, C-IAYT

Beverly Price is a registered dietitian nutritionist who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and Human Nutrition from Michigan…
Read More
Bryn Thompson, PA-C
Eating Disorders

Bryn Thompson, PA-C

Bryn Thompson, PA-C received her undergraduate degree from Wayne State University in Biology and Psychology. She then graduated Summa cum laude…
Read More
Chelsea Carpentier, RDN
Eating Disorders

Chelsea Carpentier, RDN

Chelsea Carpentier is a registered dietitian with a passion for helping individuals heal their relationship with food. Chelsea earned her…
Read More
Christopher J.  Discenna,  PA-C
Eating Disorders

Christopher J.  Discenna,  PA-C

Christopher J. Discenna, PA-C is a physician assistant who graduated Cum Laude along with departmental honors from Oakland University, receiving his…
Read More
Ekaterina Malikov, RDN, MPH
Eating Disorders

Ekaterina Malikov, RDN, MPH

Ekaterina (Katya) Malikov is a registered dietitian who earned her Master of Public Health in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Michigan…
Read More
Elizabeth Sweet, PMHNP-BC, MSN
Eating Disorders

Elizabeth Sweet, PMHNP-BC, MSN

Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Michigan. While attending school, she was a patient technician on…
Read More
Jennifer Lindsey, LMSW
Eating Disorders

Jennifer Lindsey, LMSW

Jennifer Lindsey obtained her Master of Arts degree in Social Work from Wayne State University and completed her undergraduate studies at…
Read More
Jessica Grzybowski, RDN
Eating Disorders

Jessica Grzybowski, RDN

Jessica Grzybowski is a registered dietitian nutritionist who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Andrews…
Read More
Julia Rodgers, BSN, LLMSW
Eating Disorders

Julia Rodgers, BSN, LLMSW

Julia (she/her) obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Wayne State University and her Master’s degree in Social Work from the…
Read More
Kaca Popovic, MA, LPC
Eating Disorders

Kaca Popovic, MA, LPC

Katarina "Kaca" Popovic received her Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Wayne State University and Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from…
Read More
Katie Young, MSN, NP, PMHNP-BC
Eating Disorders

Katie Young, MSN, NP, PMHNP-BC

Katie obtained her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at the University of Michigan. Upon graduation, Katie moved to Chicago, where she worked as a…
Read More
Kendra Niemi, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
Eating Disorders

Kendra Niemi, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC

Kendra Niemi MSN, PMHNP-BC is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, specializing in the treatment of older adolescents through the aging population, and…
Read More
Kendra Ball, LMSW
Eating Disorders

Kendra Ball, LMSW

Kendra Ball is a fully licensed social worker in the State of Michigan. She earned her Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from the…
Read More
Kimberly Roznowski, PA-C
Eating Disorders

Kimberly Roznowski, PA-C

Kimberly Roznowski, PA-C is a physician assistant who graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Michigan with her Bachelor’s degree in…
Read More
Laurel Seabolt, PA-C
Eating Disorders

Laurel Seabolt, PA-C

Laurel Seabolt, PA-C is a physician assistant who graduated Cum Laude from Oakland University, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Health…
Read More
Lisa Michaux, MSN, PMHCNS-BC
Eating Disorders

Lisa Michaux, MSN, PMHCNS-BC

Lisa graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.  She received her Master of Science degree…
Read More
Marni Stone, LMSW
Eating Disorders

Marni Stone, LMSW

Marni Stone is a fully licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Telehealth Provider. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology…
Read More
Megan Mio, BSMS, PA-C
Eating Disorders

Megan Mio, BSMS, PA-C

Megan Mio, BSMS, PA-C graduated from the Accelerated 5-year Physician Assistant Program at University of Detroit Mercy. She completed her…
Read More
Rivonda Sesi, PA-C
Eating Disorders

Rivonda Sesi, PA-C

Rivonda Sesi, PA-C received her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Detroit Mercy. From there, she went on to receive her Master's…
Read More
Sarah Hutton, MD, Associate Medical Director
Eating Disorders

Sarah Hutton, MD, Associate Medical Director

Sarah Hutton, MD is the Associate Medical Director of the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Hutton attended the College of Social…
Read More
Sarah Krasnick, MSN, RN, ANP-C, PMHNP-BC
Eating Disorders

Sarah Krasnick, MSN, RN, ANP-C, PMHNP-BC

Sarah Krasnick MSN, RN, ANP-C, PMHNP-BC is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Sarah earned her Bachelor of Science degree…
Read More
Susha Panicker, MSN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC
Eating Disorders

Susha Panicker, MSN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC

Susha is a dual ANCC board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and family nurse practitioner (FNP-BC) with over 16 years…
Read More
Sheri Strzelecki, MSN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Eating Disorders

Sheri Strzelecki, MSN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Sheri Strzelecki is a dual board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses…
Read More

Related Services and Programs

Individual Therapy
Individual psychotherapy is an approach in which all therapists at Rochester Center are highly trained. Individuals receive assistance in addressing issues related to self, family, school and work. Clients who chose to participate in individual therapy work together with their therapist to gain insight and increase coping skills in order to improve general mental health.
Read More
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Medical Nutrition Therapy Services  At RCBM, the nutrition therapy process includes a food and behaviors assessment, health and treatment history, interface with treatment providers, along with meal and treatment planning. A thorough assessment paves the way for a successful nutrition counseling experience. Review of food intake and behaviors, evaluating the meal plan, evaluation of…
Read More
Medication Management
Many of the treatment plans developed at the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine include neuropsychiatric medication. When we prescribe these medications, we try to give you a full account of the potential benefits and some of the common side effects associated with these medications. Every RCBM prescriber (MD, PA or Nurse Practitioner) will be able to explain the medication management…
Read More
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder which occurs after an individual has personally experienced or witnessed a dangerous and life-threatening event. Individuals who are at risk for developing PTSD include but are not limited to soldiers who have been in combat, survivors or witnesses of violent crimes (including rape, kidnapping, robbery), individuals who have lived…
Read More
Sexual Health and LGBTQ Services
The Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine believes that sexual health and identity are vital to overall mental well- being. We strive to provide caring, affirming, and confidential services in an all-inclusive space that is supportive and free from bias. We have a dedicated multidisciplinary staff that is skilled in providing sexual health and LGBTQ services to individuals, couples, and…
Read More
Women’s Mental Health and Wellness
Research consistently shows that women suffer from mental illness at a higher rate than do men. This is likely due to a combination of the unique stresses women face, such as the pressure to conform to an unrealistic beauty standard or to be a perfect mother, along with factors such as hormonal shifts. We work with women of all ages to combat mental illness and manage challenging mental health…
Read More