Does Harborside treat eating disorders in teenagers, or only adults?

We work with both. Adolescent care typically involves a parent or guardian in the initial evaluation and ongoing check-ins, while treatment approach is adjusted based on age and developmental stage.

Can medication be part of eating disorder treatment?

Yes. Our psychiatric nurse practitioners can evaluate for and manage medications that address co-occurring anxiety, depression, or other symptoms alongside disordered eating, where clinically appropriate.

Is video-based care appropriate for something as serious as an eating disorder?

Telehealth works well for many patients, particularly for ongoing therapy and medication management. Your clinician will help determine whether your situation calls for a higher level of medical monitoring than video visits can provide.

Do I need a diagnosis already before reaching out?

No. Many families contact us with concerns rather than a formal diagnosis. The initial evaluation is designed to help clarify what's happening and what kind of care fits.

How is a therapist different from a prescriber in this treatment plan?

Our licensed therapists (LICSW, LMHC, LCMHC ATR, LCSW) provide talk therapy and eating disorder-focused counseling. Our psychiatric nurse practitioners (RN PMHNP-BC) evaluate, diagnose, and manage medication. Many patients work with both.

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 Wellesley, MA MA?

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

Every clinician at Harborside has an extensive background in treating eating disorders and the anxiety, depression, trauma, or perfectionism that so often travels alongside them. That depth matters in a town like Wellesley, where a lot of the calls we get come from parents who have already noticed something is wrong but aren’t sure whether it’s disordered eating, a stress response to school and college pressure, or something else entirely. In a community built around high-achieving schools, competitive athletics, and a lot of scrutiny on grades and appearance, an eating disorder can hide in plain sight for a long time before anyone names it out loud.

Eating Disorder Treatment for people in Wellesley, MA

Harborside is based in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, and delivers care by video to patients across the state. Nothing about that changes what an appointment covers, but it does change how it fits into a family’s week.

You’ll need a private space, a stable internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone with a camera. Initial evaluations typically run longer than follow-up visits, since there’s more history to cover. After that, appointment frequency depends on what’s needed. Someone newly starting medication management might be seen every few weeks at first, then move to a monthly check-in once things settle. Therapy sessions are usually weekly or every other week, depending on the clinician’s recommendation and what the person in care wants.

If medication is part of the plan, prescriptions are sent electronically to whatever pharmacy you use, whether that’s in Wellesley or wherever the patient happens to be that week. You don’t need to drive anywhere to pick up a paper script, and you don’t need to take a morning off work or school for an in-person visit.

How telehealth care actually works

Eating disorders rarely show up alone. We work with restrictive eating, binge eating, purging behaviors, and the rigid food rules and body image preoccupation that can develop even without meeting full criteria for a diagnosis. We also treat the conditions that commonly accompany disordered eating: anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and the kind of chronic stress that builds up in academically demanding households. For adolescents and young adults, we pay close attention to how school performance, sports, and family dynamics interact with eating behavior, since those pieces are often tangled together and need to be addressed as a whole rather than one at a time.

What we treat

The first visit is mostly about listening. Your clinician will ask about eating patterns, weight history, mood, sleep, family history, and anything medical that’s already been ruled in or out. If you’re seeking care for a teenager, a parent is usually part of this conversation, at least initially. From there, the clinician will talk through what treatment could look like: therapy alone, medication management alone, or both together, depending on what the evaluation points to. There’s 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 serves as clinical director, along with 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 medical complications and co-occurring symptoms that often accompany eating disorders. Full bios and credentials for each of them 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 can be a useful entry point for patients, especially younger ones, who find it hard to talk directly about food and body image at first.

Who our clinicians are

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 our pricing page. If you have questions about cost, we’re glad to answer them before you book anything.

What it costs

If you’re a Wellesley parent trying to figure out whether what you’re seeing at home warrants a call, that uncertainty is common and it’s a reasonable place to start from. You can request an appointment through our intake process, and a member of our team will help match you with the right clinician based on age, symptoms, and whether medication management, therapy, or both make sense. You do not need a referral to reach out.

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. For guidance specific to your situation, please schedule an appointment.

[CITATION: National Eating Disorders Association or NIMH resource on eating disorder screening and warning signs]

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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