The holiday season can be challenging for individuals in eating disorder recovery, especially when the kitchen feels like a source of stress or triggers. Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Edie Stark, offers practical tips to foster connection, creativity, and self-compassion in the kitchen, transforming it into a space of healing and joy during the holidays.

Edie Stark, LCSW outlines five key warning signs that a teen may be struggling with their mental health—changes in eating habits, persistent mood swings, social withdrawal, risky behaviors, and unexplained physical symptoms—and provides actionable steps parents can take to support them. It emphasizes the importance of early intervention, open communication, and seeking professional help to ensure a teen’s well-being and recovery.

Traveling during eating disorder recovery takes planning and flexibility but offers growth opportunities. Edie Stark, LCSW, shares tips for traveling in recovery: listen to your body, honor your needs, and approach food and movement with self-compassion. Staying connected to recovery values and celebrating wins helps navigate challenges and embrace the adventure of travel.

Couples therapist, Nicole Edmonds, explores the power of "bids for connection"—small, everyday gestures that build intimacy and strengthen relationships. Drawing on the research of Drs. John and Julie Gottman, it highlights how recognizing and responding to these bids can create lasting closeness. Learn simple ways to make and accept bids for a happier, more connected partnership.

Stark Therapy Group owner, Edie Stark, offers practical tips on how to combat scary anxiety and body image distress that can accompany Halloween festivities. Working towards body neutrality can empower you to dial into the right level of spooky this Halloween season instead of being filled with the horror and dread that accompanies bad body image, increased eating disorder urges, and heightened anxiety.

Stark Therapy Group owner, Edie Stark, discusses how feeling doubts about being a therapist is common, whether you're just starting or years into your practice. This blog explores common challenges like burnout, emotional exhaustion, and feeling ineffective, offering practical guidance on how to navigate these struggles. By acknowledging these doubts, seeking support, and reconnecting with your purpose, you can rediscover motivation and fulfillment in your career.

Stark Therapy Group's owner, Edie Stark, LCSW, discusses how supporting a child through eating disorder treatment can feel overwhelming, often placing a strain on the entire family. Read how rediscovering joy as a family is an essential part of the recovery journey, providing comfort and connection along the way.

Guest writer Sharon Maxwell discusses the resurgence of anti-fat rhetoric with the rise of weight loss medications like Ozempic. It highlights the pervasive issue of weight stigma, particularly in medical settings, and offers strategies for self-advocacy in healthcare, while emphasizing the importance of dismantling anti-fat bias to support meaningful eating disorder recovery.

Supporting a teen with an eating disorder as they return to school can be challenging, but it's essential for their recovery. This blog provides eight HAES-informed tips for parents to create a compassionate, body-neutral environment that promotes overall well-being. By prioritizing open communication, collaborating with the school, and fostering healthy coping mechanisms, parents can help their teens navigate this critical period with confidence and support.

This post dives into the importance of couples therapy for parents, highlighting how it can help maintain intimacy, connection, and communication amidst the challenges of parenting. By addressing common relationship stressors, couples counseling provides tools to strengthen the bond between partners, ensuring a healthier family dynamic and modeling positive relationship behaviors for children.

Conflict is an inevitable part of any relationship. As couples therapists, we’ve seen how the way couples handle disagreements can make or break their relationship. The Gottman Method, developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, is a research-based approach to relationships that emphasizes the importance of healthy communication and emotional connection. In this blog post, we’ll explore the rules of fair fighting and strategies for maintaining healthy communication in your relationship.

Navigating the complexities of health insurance can be daunting, especially when it comes to mental health care. Many individuals and families find that their preferred therapists are not in-network, which can lead to significant out-of-pocket costs. However, understanding and utilizing your out-of-network benefits can make therapy more affordable and accessible. In this blog post, we'll explore tips and strategies for making the most of your out-of-network benefits for therapy services.

Summer, with its long days and relaxed schedules, offers a respite from the rigors of the school year. However, for teens grappling with mental health challenges, this season can also be a period of heightened stress and uncertainty. Stark Therapist Group specializes in teen therapy, we have seen how the lack of structure and increased downtime can exacerbate issues like anxiety, depression, and loneliness. To help parents support their teens through this difficult time, we’ve compiled a list of ten essential tips to guide you in fostering a supportive and nurturing environment this summer.

Embarking on the journey of starting your own therapy private practice is an exciting and nerve-wracking endeavor. Having navigated this path myself, I can attest that it offers unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and that when I started, I literally HAD NO IDEA what I was doing. I stumbled and made a lot of mistakes, and learned so hopefully I can help guide you and make your path to opening your practice a little bit smoother.

Here are the top five things to know before starting a therapy private practice, drawing from my own experiences and the lessons I've learned along the way.

* Blog Take Away: The HAES® framework is about promoting health and well-being without focusing on weight or size. It emphasizes body acceptance, intuitive eating, and finding joy in movement. This philosophy is particularly important when supporting someone with an eating disorder. Let’s explore how caregivers can apply the HAES® principles in their journey.*

In this blog pose we explore the nature of caregiver burnout and symptoms and strategies for managing burnout while continuing to provide essential support to your teen.

Your teen has an Eating Disorder. Here are some options for treatments available at Stark Therapy Group, located in Tustin, CA.

What is anorexia? Who does it impact? How can I tell the difference between “pursuing health” and engaging in potentially dangerous restriction? We dive into all of these details in this blog!

In this blog article, we will explore the profound impact of bulimia on both physical and mental well-being, shedding light on the challenges individuals face and offering insights into the journey of recovery and self-discovery

What is Binge Eating Disorder? The most common Eating Disorder.