Does Harborside treat eating disorders in teenagers from North Andover?

Yes. We work with adolescents and adults. For a minor, a parent or guardian is typically involved in the initial appointment and ongoing care.

Is telehealth an appropriate way to treat an eating disorder?

For many patients, yes, particularly when combined with regular monitoring by a prescriber and consistent therapy. A clinician will discuss whether video-based care fits your specific situation during the first appointment.

Can medication be part of eating disorder treatment?

For some patients, medication addresses co-occurring anxiety, depression, or ADHD that affects eating patterns. Our psychiatric nurse practitioners evaluate whether medication is appropriate as part of a broader treatment plan.

Do I need a referral to schedule an appointment?

No referral is required. You can schedule directly, and questions about fit or cost can be answered before you book.

What if North Andover is not close to the practice's office?

Care is delivered entirely by video, so location within Massachusetts does not affect access to the same clinicians and appointment types.

What is eating disorder treatment?

Eating disorder treatment helps individuals address unhealthy eating patterns, emotional challenges, and related mental health concerns through professional support.

Who needs eating disorder treatment?

People experiencing concerns related to eating behaviors, food anxiety, body image, or eating disorder symptoms may benefit from professional treatment.

Does Harborside Psychiatry provide eating disorder treatment in North Andover, MA MA?

Yes, Harborside Psychiatry provides eating disorder treatment and psychiatric support services for individuals in North Andover, MA.

How can I schedule an appointment for eating disorder treatment?

You can contact Harborside Psychiatry at 508-876-3448 to schedule an appointment or learn more about available treatment options.

Eating Disorder Treatment for North Andover, MA

Every clinician at Harborside has an extensive background working with eating disorders and the anxiety, depression, trauma, or perfectionism that often travel alongside them. That depth matters, because disordered eating rarely shows up on its own, and care that only addresses food or weight without looking at what else is going on tends to miss the point. In North Andover, we see two groups reach out most often: parents trying to figure out what is happening with a teenager whose eating has changed, and adults with demanding jobs and full schedules who need care that fits around a commute or a calendar rather than the other way around. Both groups need clinicians who already understand this territory, not a general referral and a wait to see who has room.

Eating Disorder Treatment for people in North Andover, MA

Harborside Psychiatrics is based in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, and delivers care by video across the state, which means a patient in North Andover connects with the same clinicians and the same process as anyone else in Massachusetts. You do not need special equipment. A phone, tablet, or computer with a camera and a stable internet connection is enough, and you will receive a secure link before each appointment.

Initial appointments typically run longer than follow-ups, since there is more history to cover. After that, appointments are scheduled at a pace that matches what is going on clinically. Some patients are seen weekly, others every few weeks, and medication follow-ups are spaced out once things are stable. If a prescriber recommends medication, it is sent electronically to the pharmacy you choose, including a pharmacy in North Andover or wherever is most convenient for you.

Therapy sessions follow a similar rhythm: a set day and time, held by video, with the same therapist over time so the work has continuity. Nothing about the format is a scaled-down version of in-person care. It is the same clinical work, delivered over video because that is how most of our patients want to receive it.

How telehealth care actually works

We work with a range of eating and body image concerns, including restrictive eating, binge eating, patterns of bingeing and purging, and the anxious or obsessive thinking about food, weight, and control that can develop without meeting the criteria for a single named diagnosis. We also treat the conditions that frequently co-occur with disordered eating: anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive patterns, trauma history, and ADHD. Addressing only the eating behavior while ignoring what sits underneath it rarely holds up over time, so assessment looks at the whole picture from the start, and treatment planning reflects that.

What we treat

The first appointment is a conversation, not a checklist. A clinician will ask about eating patterns, physical health, mood, sleep, family history, and what has been tried before, if anything. For a teenager, a parent is typically part of this conversation, at least at the start. For an adult booking care for themselves, the same questions apply, just asked directly. By the end of the appointment, you should have a clearer sense of what the next steps look like, whether that is medication management, therapy, or both, and how often you will be seen.

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 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 medications sometimes used alongside therapy for eating disorders and related anxiety, depression, or ADHD. Full bios and credentials for each clinician 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 Lexie Carchedi, LCSW. Jacquelyn is also a registered art therapist, which can be a useful approach for patients, including teenagers, who find it hard to talk directly about body image or food. Across the team, eating disorder work is a consistent thread, not an occasional referral.

Who our clinicians are

Harborside is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly for appointments. Current fees for an initial appointment and for follow-up visits are listed on the pricing page, and if you have questions about cost, you can ask before anything is scheduled.

What it costs

If you are a parent in North Andover trying to decide whether to call, or an adult who has been managing this quietly for a while, the first appointment is simply a starting point for a conversation with a clinician who already works in this area. You can review the full range of care on our eating disorder treatment page, see how Harborside works across the state on our Massachusetts telehealth page, or check coverage for surrounding communities on our Merrimack Valley page.

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 is not medical advice. It does not create a provider-patient relationship. Reviewed by Rachel Egan, RN PMHNP-BC, Clinical Director, {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.

If you need help right now

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For mental health crisis support, call or text 988. Harborside Psychiatrics does not provide emergency or after-hours care.

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