10 Top Therapists for Eating Disorders in Toronto 

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Published Date|
July 3, 2024

10 Top Therapists for Eating Disorders in Toronto 

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. They involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food, often leading to severe physical and emotional problems.

 Early intervention and proper treatment are crucial for recovery, and having the right support can make a significant difference. Therapy plays a vital role in addressing the underlying issues of eating disorders and helping individuals develop healthier relationships with food and their bodies. 

In a major city like Toronto, there are many highly skilled professionals dedicated to helping individuals overcome these struggles and reclaim their lives. One of the biggest challenges when it comes to overcoming eating disorders is finding the right support system to help guide you to healing. It’s no short journey, and there are many approaches a therapist or healthcare provider could take to help you make it through.

Thats why we've compiled a list of 10 top therapists for eating disorders in Toronto, each bringing unique skills and approaches to their practice. Whether you're dealing with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, or any other eating disorder, there's a therapist here who can help you on your journey to recovery.

#1 Dr. Madalyn Marcus

Dr. Madalyn Marcus is a registered clinical psychologist with extensive training and experience in psychological assessment and treatment. She obtained her PhD in Clinical Psychology from York University, equipping her with a solid academic foundation and clinical expertise to support her diverse client base effectively.

Specialties

Dr. Marcus specializes in treating a wide range of clinical concerns, with particular expertise in:

  • Eating Disorders
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
  • Depression
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Trauma
  • Self-Harm Behavior
  • Interpersonal and Adjustment Difficulties

Practice Description

Dr. Marcus’s practice is grounded in evidence-based treatments, with a primary focus on Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical-Behaviour Therapy (DBT). She employs a warm and empathetic approach, fostering a therapeutic environment that builds on clients' strengths. Dr. Marcus emphasizes collaboration with her clients, ensuring that their therapeutic goals are central to the treatment process.

Her professional experience spans various settings, including outpatient, inpatient, day hospital, community, and private practice environments. This diverse background allows her to tailor her approach to meet the unique needs of each client, whether they require intensive inpatient care or more flexible outpatient support.

Client Focus and Treatment Approach

Dr. Marcus is dedicated to helping clients from all walks of life, recognizing the unique challenges they face and providing tailored interventions to meet their specific needs. She works with individuals across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, and adults, and is particularly adept at addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ clients and those dealing with complex family dynamics.

#2 Tara Maggiacomo, MA, RP(Q) - KMA

Tara Maggiacomo, a therapist at KMA Therapy, is a Registered Psychotherapist Qualifying (RP(Q)) member with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, holding a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Guelph-Humber.

Specialties

Tara specializes in treating a variety of psychological concerns, including:

  • Addictions
  • Eating Disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Trauma
  • Relationship Difficulties

Practice Description

With over three years of experience, Tara is dedicated to guiding and supporting individuals in creating positive and sustainable changes in their lives. She is passionate about helping clients understand the root causes of their struggles and developing healthy coping skills to manage current stressors and symptoms. Tara emphasizes the importance of building a strong and meaningful therapeutic relationship with each client, ensuring a safe and supportive environment.

Client Focus and Treatment Approach

Tara provides a collaborative and non-judgmental space for clients to explore and address their concerns. She values the therapeutic relationship and works to create a supportive environment where clients feel safe to express themselves. By focusing on the development of healthy coping strategies, Tara helps clients manage their stressors and symptoms effectively, fostering a path towards personal growth and well-being.

#3 Melissa Di Fonzo

Melissa Di Fonzo is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with a Master of Social Work (MSW). She specializes in providing psychotherapy for individuals struggling with trauma, eating disorders, weight, food, and body image issues.

Specialties

Melissa has extensive experience in helping individuals and families overcome eating disorders. Her expertise includes:

  • Eating Disorders
  • Perfectionism
  • Trauma
  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
  • Art Therapy
  • Attachment-based Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Practice Description

Melissa has a wealth of experience from working at The Kyla Fox Centre, Danielle's Place Eating Disorder and Resource Center, CAMH's Eating Disorder and Addictions Clinic, and Body Brave. She understands the importance of addressing not just the symptoms and behaviors of eating disorders but also the root causes. Her approach aims to help clients live healthy and fulfilling lives by fostering self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-acceptance.

Client Focus and Treatment Approach

Melissa uses a compassionate, collaborative, and non-judgmental approach to help clients gain awareness of the connections between their mind, body, and spirit. This holistic perspective supports clients in achieving deeper understandings of themselves. Her treatment approaches include:

#4 Cassandra Claire Morrison- MSW , RSW 

Cassandra Claire Morrison is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with a Master of Social Work (MSW). She specializes in supporting individuals facing various mental health challenges and is committed to helping her clients achieve a state of unconditional self-love, acceptance, and fulfillment.

Specialties

Cassandra has extensive experience and expertise in treating a range of psychological concerns, with a focus on:

  • Relationship Issues
  • Eating Disorders
  • Trauma and PTSD
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychoanalytic Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relational Therapy
  • Somatic Therapy

Practice Description

Cassandra provides psychotherapy for those struggling with relationship concerns, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Her approach is centered on helping clients achieve serenity, acceptance, wholeness, and happiness. Cassandra offers a compassionate and non-judgmental space, encouraging clients to explore their concerns at their own pace. She understands the importance of addressing both symptoms and root causes of mental health issues to foster overall well-being.

Client Focus and Treatment Approach

Cassandra is dedicated to helping clients navigate challenges such as returning to destructive relationships, low self-esteem, negative self-talk, and difficulties with coping skills or emotional regulation. She aims to support clients in achieving their personal and emotional goals, fostering a sense of calm, fulfillment, and enrichment in their lives.

#5 Eating Dynamiks & Psychotherapy- RD, MSW, RSW

She is an experienced psychotherapist and Registered Dietitian with over 20 years of expertise. Holding a Master of Social Work (MSW) and being a Registered Social Worker (RSW), she specializes in helping individuals and families overcome a range of interpersonal relationship challenges, particularly eating disorders.

Specialties

Her practice focuses on addressing various mental health and emotional challenges, with a particular emphasis on:

  • Eating Disorders
  • Depression
  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
  • Anxiety
  • Body Positivity
  • Child Issues
  • Coping Skills
  • Emotional Disturbance
  • Emotional Eating

Practice Description

In her practice, she guides individuals and families through the process of overcoming interpersonal relationship challenges and eating disorders. The therapeutic journey is paced to attend to mental health, emotional well-being, and eating management skill-building needs. Together, she helps clients identify and adjust "taken-for-granted" thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors that no longer serve their evolving life goals. Her goal is to help clients rebuild their skills, confidence, hope, life, and important relationships.

Sessions are grounded in evidence-based therapies, including Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Narrative Therapy. The therapeutic space created allows clients to tell their story, shape their future, and be assured they are heard as they move towards their goals.

Client Focus and Treatment Approach

She is committed to providing seamless service, self-booking convenience, and cost savings without sacrificing the quality of care. Her individualized approach ensures clients are uniquely supported as they regain control of their health, quality of life, and happiness.

#6 Elizabeth Bala - MSW, RSW

Elizabeth Bala is a dedicated therapist who integrates a number of therapeutic modalities to provide personalized care. She holds a realistic yet optimistic view of the therapeutic process, understanding that life can be challenging, and therapy is a space to explore wellness, healing, coping, and safety.

Specialties

Elizabeth has significant experience working with a variety of mental health concerns, particularly focusing on:

  • Trauma and PTSD
  • Anxiety
  • Eating Disorders
  • Anti-Oppressive Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Practice Description

Therapy with Elizabeth is a personalized and inclusive process, aimed at meeting clients where they are and celebrating them as unique individuals. She integrates a variety of therapeutic approaches to ensure the work aligns with the client’s needs and preferences. Elizabeth emphasizes that while diagnoses like anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and mood disorders are common in her practice, she is more focused on how clients describe their experiences rather than the labels themselves. She believes everyone is the expert on their own lived experience.

Elizabeth brings fresh, authentic energy to her work and is committed to fostering a safe, supportive space for clients to explore their mental health. She also maintains a critical understanding of how larger social structures impact individual mental health.

Client Focus and Treatment Approach

Elizabeth’s therapeutic approach is tailored to the individual, ensuring a supportive and effective experience. She balances critical thinking with hope, helping clients navigate their mental health within the broader context of societal influences. Her approach is trauma-informed and emphasizes the importance of understanding each client’s unique experiences.

#7 Kailey Feldman-MSW, RSW

Kailey Feldman is a registered social worker based in Toronto, Ontario. She has extensive experience working with individuals across the lifespan, from childhood through adulthood, providing support for various mental health issues and life challenges.

Specialties

Kailey specializes in assisting clients with a wide range of mental health concerns, particularly focusing on:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Coping skills development
  • Life transitions
  • Mood disorders

Practice Description

Kailey works with individuals experiencing mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. She also helps clients navigate life transitions and resolve conflicts in their relationships. Her practice is rooted in a strengths-based approach, empowering clients by building on their existing strengths and equipping them with new skills to manage their challenges effectively.

She has specialized training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Kailey particularly excels in helping those diagnosed with eating disorders and related issues such as anxiety, worry, body image concerns, interpersonal conflict, and avoidance. She also has significant experience in treating social anxiety.

Treatment Approach

Kailey Feldman employs a client-centered and strengths-based approach, integrating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Motivational Interviewing to provide tailored support. She emphasizes building on clients' existing strengths and equipping them with new skills to manage their challenges effectively, ensuring each client receives personalized and compassionate care.

#8 Natascha Gray- MA, RP, CYC

Natascha is a Registered Psychotherapist, child and youth counsellor, and athlete with 17 years of experience working at the Hospital for Sick Children in both inpatient and outpatient eating disorders and mental health crisis units. She specializes in supporting youth, adolescents, and adults through a variety of mental health challenges and life transitions.

Specialties

Natascha provides expert support for a wide range of mental health concerns, particularly focusing on:

  • Anxiety
  • Eating Disorders
  • Sports Performance
  • Attachment-Based Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Compassion-Focused Therapy
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Practice Description

At Toronto Psychotherapy Space, Natascha offers both online and in-person psychotherapy appointments. She recognizes the challenges of transitioning from childhood to adulthood, a period often marked by uncertainty, identity formation, and the desire for acceptance. Natascha uses an integrative approach, combining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and attachment-focused therapies to provide personalized support. Whether you are a young person seeking mental health guidance, an athlete dealing with self-doubt, or struggling with perfectionism, Natascha is here to help you navigate these challenges.

Client Focus and Treatment Approach

Natascha's approach is compassionate and integrative, utilizing a variety of evidence-based therapies to meet the unique needs of each client. She is committed to helping clients build coping skills and resilience, ensuring they feel supported on their journey to mental wellness. Free 15-minute consultations are offered to help determine if she is the right fit for you.

#9 Michelle Leybman - Psychologist, PhD

Michelle Leybman is a psychologist with a PhD. She has extensive training and experience working with adolescents and adults in various settings, helping them navigate a wide range of mental health challenges.

Specialties

Michelle specializes in addressing a variety of mental health concerns, with a particular focus on:

  • Eating Disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy

Practice Description

Therapy is an opportunity to find ways to live a more fulfilling and satisfying life. It can help individuals overcome difficult symptoms or stresses, cope effectively with problems, or bring more positives into their lives when things are going well. Michelle approaches therapy by balancing helping clients understand and accept themselves and their life situations, with supporting them in changing ways of thinking and behaving that are not working. She offers training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for those interested.

Michelle works collaboratively with clients to determine the most helpful therapy approach, whether it is structured therapy or a more flexible, integrative method. In all orientations, she strives to foster a non-judgmental atmosphere where clients can feel both supported and challenged.

Treatment Approach

Throughout her training, Michelle has worked with adolescents and adults experiencing a range of difficulties, such as eating disorders, anxiety, relationship difficulties, identity confusion, and low self-esteem. She believes in a collaborative approach to determine the most beneficial therapy for each individual.

#10 Aglaia Tudor - BSc, MA

Aglaia Tudor is a therapist with extensive experience in helping individuals and couples navigate their relationship dynamics and personal challenges. Her therapeutic approach integrates Emotionally Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Existential Therapy, focusing on the meaning clients make of their experiences and their unique stories.

Specialties

Aglaia specializes in addressing a variety of mental health and relationship concerns, with a particular focus on:

  • Relationships
  • Eating Disorders
  • Self Esteem
  • Anxiety
  • Career Guidance
  • Codependency
  • Depressionsome text

Practice Description

At Tudor Therapy, Aglaia believes that the quality of relationships lays the foundation for how life is experienced. She works with couples and individuals to explore what relationship satisfaction means to them and addresses relationship transgressions and attachment injuries through open and honest dialogue. Aglaia also supports clients with eating disorders and concerns related to food, dieting, lack of control, and perfectionism, offering a gender-sensitive approach, particularly for men of all ages struggling with disordered eating, body image, and self-esteem.

Aglaia's clinical experience is rooted in helping people heal their relationship with food and their body. At Tudor Therapy, all emotions are welcome, and the aim is to create a life of meaning, joy, and fulfillment. Aglaia looks forward to meeting clients wherever they are in their journey and supporting them through their challenges.

Treatment Approach

Aglaia's therapeutic approach is client-centered and collaborative, drawing from various evidence-based therapies to best meet the needs of her clients. She is committed to providing a supportive and non-judgmental space for personal growth and healing.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQs)

1. What types of eating disorders do these therapists treat?

Our featured therapists treat a broad range of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED). Each therapist offers a unique approach tailored to meet your specific needs and goals.

2. What therapeutic approaches do these therapists use?

These experts use a variety of evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical-Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and more. Their goal is to help you build a healthier relationship with food and your body, using methods that best fit your personal journey.

3. Can these therapists help with co-occurring conditions?

Absolutely! Many of these therapists are well-versed in treating co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression, trauma, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). They provide holistic care that addresses all facets of your mental health.

4. Do these therapists offer individual or group therapy sessions?

You bet. These therapists offer both individual and group therapy sessions. Individual therapy gives you personalized, one-on-one support, while group therapy connects you with others who are facing similar challenges, creating a community of understanding and mutual support.

5. How can I choose the right therapist for me?

Choosing the right therapist is a personal decision that involves considering their specialization, therapeutic approach, experience, and how comfortable you feel with them. We recommend scheduling an initial consultation to discuss your needs and see if their style aligns with your goals.

Find Your Therapist Today With KMA Therapy

Steering the path to recovery from an eating disorder is challenging, but with the right therapist, it becomes a journey of hope and healing. The 10 therapists we've highlighted are dedicated professionals in Toronto, each offering compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your unique needs. Don't wait to get the support you deserve.

At KMA Therapy, we're here to help you take that first step toward a healthier, happier life. Ready to find your perfect therapist? Register online with us today and take our Therapy 101 quiz to get started. Your path to recovery begins now.

Author |
Haseena Baig
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