Meet San Diego Eating Disorder Therapist Edie Stark, LCSW
Hi everyone! Have you ever felt like you are suffering alone in your eating disorder in San Diego, and you don’t know where to turn? One great resource is private practice eating disorder therapist Edie Stark, LCSW (Licensed Social Worker). Her office is in Bankers Hill, which is in central San Diego. Edie is an amazing, authentic, experienced eating disorder therapist—plus she’s also a good friend of mine, and I want you all to get to know how smart and wonderful she is! Given her central location, she works with a lot of college students who attend universities like San Diego State (SDSU), University of San Diego (USD), and Point Loma Nazarene University. She even works with students from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). PLUS, she’s originally from New York and is a LCSW in that state, so she can provide virtual therapy (a.k.a. Telehealth) in the entire states of California and New York. All in all, an excellent eating disorder resource in San Diego and elsewhere!
Why did you choose to become an eating disorder specialist in San Diego?
I am one of those people that knew what I wanted to do from a very young age. In middle school, a few of my friends were suffering with pretty severe eating disorders. My way of coping with the distress of seeing my friends in pain was to read. I read ALL the eating disorder books—from memoirs to textbooks. Although learning was interesting, I was also 14, so I knew I was not in position be a therapist. It was at that time when I decided that I wanted to be a person who could actually help in the future. Flash forward 15+ years, two masters degrees, and a move across the county, I reopened my practice here in San Diego. I am honored and thrilled to be here!
What kind of treatment do you provide?
I have an eclectic approach to my work. Every client presents differently, so I feel it is important to be able to utilize an array of techniques. I am trained in mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). I am a relational therapist, so no blank slate with me! I am a human first, therapist second.
Do you only work with eating disorders?
No! I see all sorts of clients I treat anxiety, depression, and relationship issues as well.
How long have you been working with eating disorders overall, and how long have you been in San Diego?
I started my career on the research side of eating disorder treatment in 2009, and I have been on the clinical side since 2011. I have been in private practice since 2015 and in San Diego since 2016.
Who are your favorite types of clients to work with?
I love working with women going through major life transitions; my goal is to make them feel more empowered. I tend to treat women between the ages of 19-35, but I do sometimes treat teens and those on the more mature end of the spectrum. I am passionate about helping people break free from diet culture and truly embrace who they are.
What happens during a first appointment with you?
Starting therapy can be really hard. I want the first appointment to feel as relaxing as possible. Thus, I am pretty laid back, and I tend to let the client take the lead. I have paperwork that I will send and that the client will complete prior to the first visit. That way I can get a lot of the history without taking time out the first session and really making room for the client to tell their story. I want to understand what is bringing them in to therapy at this time, while also assessing for appropriate fit. Given that I work primarily with eating disorders, it is incredibly important to make sure the client is in the right level of care. If they do meet criteria for outpatient care, I will asses for the need for other eating disorder professional support people, like a nutritionist and MD.
What do you wish people knew about getting treatment for eating disorders?
It’s 100% important that you are seeing a specialist. Eating disorders are complex and can be life-threatening if not treated appropriately. It is hard enough to get the help you deserve, so it is of upmost importance that you see someone who is trained and educated in eating disorder treatment.
You have an amazing podcast! Would you share a little about what inspired you to start a podcast and what kind of content it covers?
Thank You! I wanted to challenge myself and use some of my creative energy for a good cause. The podcast is called Breaking Down, and I, along with cohost Mia, who is another therapist, break down a variety of topics. Marianne has been on it, and it is an AWESOME episode about spirituality and eating disorder treatment.
Thanks for the kudos! How can people learn more and contact you?
They can visit my webpage, and I am super-active on Instagram @ediestarktherapy.
Share one fun fact about you.
I have a dog named Bacon, and he is the love of my life ( he often times makes appearances on my insta!).
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Thanks so much for reading my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)
Marianne
If you are struggling to find eating disorder treatment in San Diego give me a call for your free 15-minute phone consultation at (858) 699-3754, and I will help you get where you need to be!
You can find more information about me on Instagram @drmariannemiller or on my Facebook page.