Eating Disorder Treatment for Belmont, MA
Every clinician at Harborside brings an extensive background in treating eating disorders and the conditions that often travel alongside them, from anxiety to mood concerns to trauma. That depth matters, because eating disorders are rarely a single, isolated issue, and care that only addresses the eating behavior tends to miss the rest of the picture. For people in Belmont, where the expectation is a clinical fit that actually matches the complexity of the situation rather than whoever happens to be closest or fastest, that combination is the point. Many of the people who reach out to us are managing this for themselves while also coordinating care for a partner, a teenager, or a parent, and they want a team that can hold both jobs at once.
Eating Disorder Treatment for people in Belmont, MA
Belmont residents tend to research a provider carefully before booking, and they tend to have a good sense of what quality care should look like. That’s a reasonable standard to hold. Eating disorder treatment is not one-size-fits-all: a restrictive eating pattern that developed under academic pressure looks different from a binge-purge cycle tied to a mood disorder, and both need a clinician who can sit with the nuance rather than default to a generic protocol. We work with adults and adolescents across Belmont who are looking for that kind of attentiveness, delivered on a schedule that fits around work, school, and family logistics rather than requiring an office visit.
How telehealth care actually works
Harborside is based in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, and delivers care by video across the state. For Belmont patients, that means no drive into Boston or across town for an appointment. You need a private space, a stable internet connection, and a phone, tablet, or computer with a camera. Sessions are held through a secure video platform, and the link is sent ahead of time so logging on takes a minute or two.
A first medication evaluation typically runs about 45 to 60 minutes. Therapy sessions are usually 45 minutes. Follow-up medication appointments are shorter, often 20 to 30 minutes, and are scheduled based on what the treatment plan calls for, sometimes every few weeks early on and then spaced out as things stabilize. If medication is part of the plan, prescriptions are sent electronically to a Massachusetts pharmacy of your choosing, the same way an in-person prescriber would send them. Therapy and medication management can run in parallel, with the two clinicians coordinating on your care.
What we treat
We work with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and disordered eating patterns that don’t fit neatly into a single diagnostic label but still affect someone’s daily life and health. Many people we see are also managing anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive patterns, trauma histories, or body image concerns that developed alongside the eating disorder, and treatment is built to address that overlap rather than treat each piece separately. For some patients, medication is part of the plan alongside therapy; for others, therapy alone is the right starting point. That decision is made together, based on your history and what you’re dealing with now, not applied as a template.
What the first appointment involves
The first appointment is mostly conversation. You’ll be asked about your eating patterns, your relationship with food and body image, your medical and mental health history, and anything else going on that might be connected, including sleep, mood, and any substances. If you’re scheduling with a prescriber, that appointment will also cover current medications and whether a change makes sense. If you’re starting with a therapist, expect a discussion of what’s brought you to treatment now and what you’d like sessions to focus on. Nothing is decided or prescribed without that conversation happening first, and you’re welcome to ask questions about the plan before agreeing to it.
Who our clinicians are
Medication management and functional psychiatry at Harborside are performed by psychiatric nurse practitioners: Rachel Egan, RN PMHNP-BC, who is also the clinical director, Emily Pardue, RN PMHNP-BC, and Kirstin Ritchie, RN PMHNP-BC. Each is qualified to evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe for mental health conditions, including the medication needs that can come up alongside an eating disorder. Full bios and credentials for each clinician are on the team page.
Therapy and eating disorder-specific work are delivered by our licensed therapy team: Hannah Legesse, LICSW, Tori Mahoney, LMHC, Jacquelyn Duford, LCMHC ATR, and Lexie Carchedi, LCSW. Jacquelyn is also a registered art therapist, which offers an additional avenue for patients who find that talk-based approaches alone don’t capture everything they’re working through. Depending on your situation, you may work with one clinician or with a therapist and a prescriber together.
What it costs
Harborside is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly for appointments. Current fees for an initial evaluation and for follow-up appointments are listed on the pricing page, and any questions about cost can be answered before you book anything.
Getting started
If you’re ready to schedule, or you’d like to talk through whether Harborside is the right fit before committing to an appointment, you can reach out through our intake process. We’ll ask a few questions about what you’re looking for and match you with a clinician whose focus fits your situation, whether that’s a prescriber, a therapist, or both working together. You can review our full eating disorder treatment services, learn more about how we work across the state on our Massachusetts telehealth page, or see coverage details for your part of the state on our Inner Metro West MA page. If anxiety is also part of what you’re dealing with, our anxiety treatment page has more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Harborside treat eating disorders that haven't been formally diagnosed?
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For mental health crisis support, call or text 988. Harborside does not provide emergency or after-hours care.
This page is educational and does not constitute medical advice. It does not create a provider-patient relationship. Reviewed by Lexie Carchedi, LCSW. Last reviewed: {LAST_REVIEWED}.
[CITATION: National Eating Disorders Association or NIMH page on eating disorders, to support the plain-language description of conditions treated]
Will my therapist coordinate with my doctor or dietitian?
Yes, when a client is already working with one. Coordination is discussed during intake and ongoing treatment.
Does Harborside provide medical monitoring or meal planning?
No. Eating disorder therapy at Harborside is talk therapy. Medical monitoring, lab work, and meal planning are handled by outside providers and coordinated with as needed.
What if I also need medication for anxiety or depression?
Clients who want medication management can be connected with one of Harborside’s psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Is this a fit for someone who needs a higher level of care?
No. Outpatient therapy isn’t appropriate for every situation. If a higher level of care is needed, your therapist will discuss that directly rather than continuing with weekly sessions alone.
Is this service available outside Massachusetts and New Hampshire?
Currently, eating disorder treatment at Harborside is available to clients located in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.