Do you or someone you know have concerns about eating, weight and/or attractiveness? These concerns can lead to distracting preoccupations with bodies, self-esteem, well-being, and vitality. These preoccupations can become serious and lead to significant health problems.
Food & Eating Services at Vaden
Struggling with food and eating can be painful, frightening, and lead to feelings of guilt or shame; however, the first step to overcoming any problem is acknowledging that you have one. This is often a difficult step. An important aspect of this is realizing that your eating behaviors and distressed feelings are impacting your food choices, as well as other aspects of your life. Feeling like you’re not ‘sick enough’ is a common feeling, but you deserve support wherever you are on the eating & body concerns continuum.
The next step is to talk with professionals who are experienced in helping students who struggle with eating. Treatment can comprise many elements, including education, individual and/or group counseling, nutrition counseling, and, when needed, medical monitoring. Proven approaches can effectively prevent, reduce, or stop troublesome behaviors while helping people develop new and positive ways of coping with underlying feelings.
Disordered eating is more common. Sometimes a person’s attitude toward food, weight, and their body leads to restrictive eating habits and/or rigid and excessive exercise, both which can jeopardize health and well-being.
Eating disorders are less common, but quite serious. These are the conditions known as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and can be life-threatening.
I Have Eating & Body Concerns... What Do I Do?
Feel free to take the NEDA screening tool or schedule an initial visit with a CAPS therapist to learn more. Any eating or body concerns are welcome; you don’t have to be ‘sick enough’ to receive care. If you are concerned about someone, please reference our ‘Eating Concerns’ for more information.
Who do you want to be on your support team? This can include a medical provider, a therapist, dietitian, family, or friend. You don’t need a referral, you can book directly with Vaden eating disorder medical services, and/or a dietitian.
Vaden offers a multidisciplinary approach to eating disorder care. Please book online at the VadenPatient portal to work with ED specialists in medical services and nutrition.
Any one of our clinicians or case managers can help you find support from outside referrals. For local ED resources you can visit Eating Disorders Resource Center.
Student groups on campus such as the Students Supporting Body Positivity (SSBP) or off-campus support groups are available to support you in recovery. The National Eating Disorder Association has a community resource that can be found at this webpage.
Additional Information About Services
Care Management support is available at Vaden for medical and psychological needs related to eating disorders. Our counseling and medical service teams work together when needed to support you in accessing medical care or in connecting with levels of eating disorder care. For medical care management, the Continuity of Care Nurse at Vaden is available to assist you with managing your medical needs. You may contact a Continuity of Care Nurse at 650.725.0984 for help obtaining the care you need while on campus. For questions related to therapy support, contact CAPS at 650.723.3785 and ask for a CAPS initial visit appointment. The CAPS Clinician can connect you with appropriate support, including CAPS Care Management support, based on your current needs.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers specialized Care Management support to connect students with eating concerns to the most effective level of psychological support and care. CAPS also offers brief therapy, medication management, and groups. Call 650.723.3785 and ask to meet with a CAPS therapist who can help you connect with options.
Our specialists include Bryan Lian MS RD CEDRD-S and Diane Saenz RD. Learn more about Nutrition Counseling.
Nutrition Counseling
Meet with an RD/RDN (Registered dietitian/nutritionist) to understand and explore your unique nutritional needs. An appointment can address your nutrition-related concerns such as health management, disordered eating or eating disorders, high blood cholesterol, and digestive problems. The goal is to help you to thrive as a student, reconnect to your wellbeing or answer your questions about general nutrition.
Eating & Body Concerns Resources
These resources investigate the relationship between the food we eat and good health. They also address how ineffective diets and body image disparagement can lead to serious health problems.
