About Sonya Sanmateu, LCSW, CEDS
I believe you don’t need to be fixed—you need to be understood.
I’m a licensed clinical social worker and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, offering online therapy across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
I specialize in the treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image concerns, and also support individuals navigating anxiety and life transitions.
My clinical background includes extensive experience across residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient treatment settings, where I’ve worked with individuals navigating complex relationships with food and their bodies.
My work is grounded in evidence-based eating disorder treatment and integrates a mindfulness-informed approach. I help clients reconnect with their bodies, understand the patterns shaping their experience, and build the capacity for meaningful, lasting change.
Learn more about each specialty:
The things that brought you here today? There’s a reason for them.
Whether it’s an eating disorder, harsh self-talk, or patterns you can’t seem to shift—these experiences don’t come out of nowhere. They often develop for a reason, even if that reason isn’t immediately clear.
Together, we’ll begin to understand what these patterns are doing for you, what they may be protecting, and what they’re asking for instead.
Because meaningful change begins with compassionate understanding.
You may be someone who appears composed and in control, while internally feeling pressure, self-criticism, or exhaustion. You’re used to showing up for others, meeting expectations, and holding it all together—even when it comes at a cost.
In our work together, we’ll honor the strength that’s gotten you here, while also creating space to question the patterns that are no longer serving you. By understanding the deeper roots of these patterns, you can begin to relate to yourself with more compassion and move toward a version of yourself that feels more grounded, authentic, and at ease.
My approach:
Exploring the “why” beneath the “what,” then building new ways to respond.
We look at the patterns, experiences, and emotions that have shaped how you cope today—and begin to understand the deeper factors shaping them.
From there, therapy also focuses on building more supportive ways of relating to yourself and navigating your life. This might include developing more sustainable ways to manage stress, process emotions, and respond to your needs.
At times, we may slow things down to notice what’s happening in your body—your breath, tension, or stress responses—as a way of deepening awareness and supporting change. This can be especially helpful in shifting patterns around food, movement, and self-criticism.
This process honors your story, moves at your pace, and is grounded in a belief in your capacity for meaningful, lasting change.
Therapy with me is…
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For more than a decade, I’ve worked in eating disorder treatment across all levels of care—including residential and PHP/IOP at Monte Nido & Affiliates, and outpatient work in group practice. My path began with teaching yoga in a residential setting and later grew into clinical roles as a therapist and assistant clinical director in PHP and IOP programs. This depth of experience allows me to bring both expertise and genuine understanding—so you know you’re sitting down with someone who truly gets it.
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Creating space where you can show up as you are—without fear of criticism. Recovery is never linear, and I’ll offer patience, flexibility, and steady support at every stage.
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Helping you uncover what’s underneath your habits or patterns, make sense of them, and then translate that insight into lasting change.
Specializing in…
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My Training & Education
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Master of Social Work, University at Buffalo
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Pennsylvania: CW023333
New Jersey: 44SC06381200
New York: 096775
Colorado: CSW-09932717
Vermont: 089.0136974TELE
Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS), IAEDP
The CEDS credential reflects advanced clinical training in the treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image concerns, and signifies specialized expertise in this area of care.
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Formally trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), with specialized skills in trauma processing, emotion regulation, and mindfulness.
Extensive clinical experience applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in treatment settings.
Integrates insight-oriented, depth-informed approaches to explore underlying patterns and promote lasting change.
This training allows me to tailor treatment to your needs—supporting both deeper understanding and practical, day-to-day change.
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Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT® 200, RYT® 500)
Trained in Hatha, Restorative, Trauma-Informed, and Therapeutic Yoga
Practicing yoga for nearly two decades and teaching for over 15 years
Nearly a decade teaching yoga in residential eating disorder treatment settings at Monte Nido & Affiliates
I integrate this background into therapy for clients who are interested, supporting awareness, self-regulation, and a more connected relationship with your body.
Get in touch
Your story isn’t finished—and change is possible.
If you’re ready to go beyond symptom management and understand what’s really driving these patterns, I’m here to support you.
I offer online therapy across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York with flexible scheduling options.