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Eating Disorder Treatment and Body Image Therapy
in person in Bucks County, PA and virtually in Pennsylvania and Florida

Hi, I'm Kait Vanderlaan, LCSW!

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

She/Her/Hers

Kait Vanderlaan, LCSW is an eating disorder therapy and body image therapist near me in Newtown, PA and virtual eating disorder therapy in Florida and Pennsylvania

Are you struggling with body image, your relationship to food, or an eating disorder? Are you feeling overwhelmed by grief, anxiety, depression, trauma, or suicidal thoughts? I can help!

 

I strive to build a trusting relationship with everyone I work with that allows for space to talk through difficult life experiences. I don’t believe in pathologizing behavior, meaning that I will never label behavior or coping skills as bad or maladaptive.

 

Instead, we will identify the ways these things have helped you cope & survive, and explore if there are new coping skills that will help you in a different way. We will work together to identify your strengths, heal emotional wounds, and express emotions.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

she/her/hers

Lets Get to Know Each Other!

I specialize in eating disorders, body image, grief, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and trauma. I do my best work with pre-teens, teens, and adults. I am trauma informed, provide LGBTQ+ affirming care and practice from a HAES and weight inclusive lens. I am a fat woman and a fat positive Therapist who believes in fat liberation. As a Therapist and Yoga Teacher, I value the mind body connection and the ways it impacts our overall wellbeing. I believe that laughter can be healing and use humor when appropriate. I will work with you or your teen to find what therapeutic approach resonates best, as there is no one size fits all approach. Love journaling? Great, let's do it! Hate journaling? No problem, let's skip it! Therapy with me may involve parts work, learning new coping skills, processing difficult experiences, connecting past trauma to current experiences, learning ways to express and sit with challenging emotions, art, writing, yoga, or time outside in nature. I have an eclectic approach, drawing on concepts from Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and EcoTherapy.

Here's my experience & approach-

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of Pennsylvania. I received my Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Psychology from Ursinus College. I am a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and a 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher. I hold a certification in EcoTherapy from EcoPyschology Initiative. Additionally, I have extensive training in eating disorders, grief, trauma, and Internal Family Systems Therapy. I have 9+ years of experience working in both outpatient and inpatient levels of care, crisis hotlines & mobile crisis programs and in schools. I also work as a Grief Specialist at Experience Camp for Grieving Children presently and for the past 6 years.

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Eating Disorder Treatment, Intuitive Eating, & Body Image Therapy

 

I believe that all bodies are worthy bodies and that there are many ways to enhance your health without weight loss. All food offers nourishment - we will challenge diet culture together & find ways to make peace with food.  I offer therapy for Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, Orthorexia, and disordered eating. I also love working with people who are looking to break free from diet-culture. I work from a Health At Every Size, Intuitive Eating, Fat Liberation and Harm Reduction lens. We will dive into your relationship with your body through conversation, art, writing, and/or yoga. Together we will process trauma & challenging experiences, find ways to feel more at home in your body, develop new ways of coping, and find your individual balance with eating and exercise. 

 

Grief Therapy

 

Have you experienced grief following the death of a loved one or a big change in your life? I will help you to honor the person or people in your life who have died, talk through emotions and challenges, and find ways to express and move through your grief. Therapy for grief may include conversations about memories, talking through complicated emotions, writing, art, learning new coping strategies, or exploring ways to stay connected to your person. 

 

Therapy for Mood Disorders (Anxiety, Depression, Suicidality, Self-Harm)

 

There are so many things going on in the world and in our lives that can influence how we feel day to day, and sometimes certain feelings seem to take over and consume us. Have you been feeling increasingly anxious, struggling with panic attacks or experiencing a low mood that’s interfering with your life? Are you having thoughts of suicide or struggling with self-harm? I can help provide a safe place to express and process overwhelming emotions and learn new ways of coping with difficult feelings.

 

Trauma Therapy and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Therapy

 

Have you experienced trauma? Are you feeling stuck in the past or have patterns that you just can’t seem to break? Trauma can happen in many ways, including singular events, repeated traumatic experiences, or not having your needs met. This can result in intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia, feeling on edge, difficulty feeling safe, and engaging in efforts to numb emotional pain and distress such as disordered eating or self harm. Together we will explore the ways trauma is impacting your life and process things that have happened to you. I will help you learn techniques to regulate your nervous system, decrease symptoms, and learn ways to feel safe and heal.

 

EcoTherapy

 

Let's take therapy out of the office! I love being outside and believe that nature can be incredibly healing. EcoTherapy is the practice of utilizing nature to enhance your overall wellbeing and mental health. For those who are interested, sessions will take place at Tyler State Park (weather permitting). This can look just like a typical therapy session but in a new environment such as sitting on a bench near the water. Additionally, we can incorporate mindfulness, nature, and outdoor activities to strengthen coping skills and support you in feeling at home in your body. We can also have a walk and talk session or explore gentle and joyful movement to help foster a healthy relationship with exercise. When meeting indoors, we can utilize nature imagery and coping skills.

 

Therapy for Teens (ages 12+)

 

Is your teen having a difficult time with their mental health or the stress of being a teenager? Being a teen is really hard, especially in the age of social media. I understand the unique challenges that teens often face and have extensive experience helping teens with anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidality, trauma, eating disorders, and grief. I can support your teen 1:1 or with family sessions. I will work with your teen to help develop effective coping strategies and help them find ways to express themselves through talking, writing, art, or yoga.

When I'm out of the office...

In my free time, I like to read, create art, journal, and listen to music (especially Dave Matthews Band!). My favorite foods are mint chocolate chip ice cream and tacos. Yoga and hiking are my favorite forms of joyful movement. I love being outside and exploring new areas or relaxing at the beach. I enjoy spending time with friends, my husband, and two dogs.

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If you’re looking for therapy, please don’t hesitate to reach out

for a 15 minute discovery phone call to see if we’re a good fit!

I offer in person therapy in Bucks County, PA in Newtown, PA and virtually in Pennsylvania and Florida!

 

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Let's Work Together!

Kait Vanderlaan, LCSW is an eating disorder therapy and body image therapist near me in Newtown, PA
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