Eating Disorder Treatment for Rye, NH
Every clinician at Harborside has an extensive background in treating eating disorders and the conditions that frequently accompany them, from anxiety and depression to trauma and body image concerns rooted in perfectionism. That depth matters, because an eating disorder is rarely one thing on its own. It shows up tangled with other pressures, and it deserves a team that already knows how to see the whole picture.
Rye, NH is a small coastal community with an outsized number of high achievers: people who built successful careers in and around Portsmouth, New Hampshire, families who have owned the same stretch of coastline for generations, and people who left bigger cities on purpose for the quiet and the ocean air. That kind of independence and drive can make it harder to ask for help, and harder still to find care that takes the whole person seriously rather than treating symptoms in isolation. We work with patients across Rye, NH by video, with care built around exactly that kind of complexity.
Eating Disorder Treatment for people in Rye, NH
Harborside is based in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, and delivers care by telehealth to patients in New Hampshire. There is no local office to visit and no waiting room. What you need is a private space, a stable internet connection, and a phone, tablet, or computer with a camera. Sessions happen through a secure video platform, the same way you might already talk to a colleague or a family member long distance, except the conversation is confidential and clinical.
A typical initial appointment runs longer than a follow-up, since there is more history to cover. After that, appointment length and frequency depend on what care you are receiving. Medication management follow-ups with a psychiatric nurse practitioner tend to be shorter and spaced out over weeks. Therapy sessions with a licensed clinician are usually held weekly or every other week, depending on what you and your therapist decide together. If medication is part of your care, prescriptions are sent electronically to a pharmacy near you in New Hampshire, so you pick them up locally the same way you always have.
Nothing about the video format changes the seriousness of the care. It changes the logistics: no drive, no parking, no sitting in a lobby. You log on, and the appointment starts.
How telehealth care actually works
Eating disorder treatment at Harborside covers a range of presentations, not just the ones that fit a narrow stereotype. That includes restrictive eating patterns, binge eating, cycles of bingeing and purging, and the kind of chronic, low-grade preoccupation with food, weight, or control that can quietly take over daily life without ever reaching a crisis point.
These patterns rarely travel alone. Anxiety, depressive symptoms, perfectionism, trauma histories, and body image distress often sit underneath or alongside an eating disorder, and care that ignores those layers tends not to hold. Our clinicians are trained to look at the full clinical picture, not just the behavior around food, and to treat the comorbidities that so often come with it.
What we treat
The first appointment is a clinical intake. Expect a conversation about your current eating patterns, your relationship with food and body over time, your medical and mental health history, and what has already been tried, if anything. If you are meeting with a psychiatric nurse practitioner, that conversation also covers physical health and any medications you take now. If you are meeting with a therapist, expect more focus on emotional history, current stressors, and what you are hoping care will look like.
By the end of that first session, you should have a clearer sense of what ongoing care would involve, how often you would be seen, and who else on the team, if anyone, should be part of your care going forward. There is no obligation to commit to anything beyond that first conversation.
What the first appointment involves
Medication management and functional psychiatry at Harborside are performed by psychiatric nurse practitioners: Rachel Egan, RN PMHNP-BC, who is also 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. Full bios and credentials for each of them are on the team page.
Therapy and eating disorder work are delivered by our licensed therapy team: Hannah Legesse, LICSW, Tori Mahoney, LMHC, Jacquelyn Duford, LCMHC ATR and a registered art therapist, and Lexie Carchedi, LCSW. Between them, this group brings training in social work, mental health counseling, and art therapy to bear on eating disorder care, which means the therapeutic approach can be adapted to how you communicate best, not forced into a single mold.
Who our clinicians are
Harborside is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly for appointments. Current fees for an initial and a follow-up appointment are listed on our pricing page, and questions about cost can be answered before anything is booked.
What it costs
If you are in Rye, NH and thinking about reaching out, you do not need a diagnosis in hand or a clear sense of what kind of care you need. Start with a conversation. From there, our team can help you figure out whether medication management, therapy, or both make sense, and who on the team is the right fit. You can learn more about eating disorder care generally on our eating disorder treatment page, see how we work across the state on our New Hampshire telehealth page, or check coverage in your part of the coast on our Seacoast NH page. If anxiety is part of what you are managing alongside food or body concerns, our anxiety treatment page has more detail on how we approach that separately or alongside eating disorder care.
Getting started
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. If you have concerns about your health or the health of someone you care about, contact a qualified clinician directly.
For general information on eating disorders and treatment approaches, see the [CITATION: National Eating Disorders Association or NIMH page on eating disorders, for general public education on symptoms and treatment options].
Reviewed by Jacquelyn Duford, LCMHC ATR. Last reviewed: {LAST_REVIEWED}.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Harborside treat eating disorders that haven't been formally diagnosed?
Yes. Many clients start therapy for a difficult relationship with food or body image before, or without, a formal diagnosis.
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.