Eating disorder and body image therapy with Sonya Sanmateu in PA & NJ


Eating Disorder & Body Image Therapy

I provide eating disorder and body image therapy for adults navigating anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and disordered eating.

I’m Sonya Sanmateu, LCSW, CEDS with specialized experience treating eating disorders across residential, PHP/IOP, and outpatient levels of care. My work is grounded in evidence-based treatment and adapted to meet you where you are.

Eating disorders are not just about food

They’re about how you relate to your body, your emotions, and your internal experience. Together, we’ll work to understand the patterns underneath these struggles, reconnect with your body, and begin responding in new, more supportive ways.

You feel trapped in cycles you can’t seem to break

If thoughts about food, weight, or your body occupy more space than you’d like, you’re not alone. You might find yourself stuck in patterns of restriction, bingeing, purging, or over-exercising—or exhausted by the pressure to “get it right” around meals and appearance, yet never feeling like it’s enough.

Even everyday moments—like eating with others, looking in the mirror, or choosing what to wear—can feel charged with anxiety, guilt, or self-criticism. You’ve probably tried to eat “normally” or to simply accept your body, but it hasn’t felt that simple.




How this might be showing up for you.

Maybe you’re noticing…

  • Food, weight, or body thoughts taking up most of your mental energy

  • Guilt, shame, or anxiety after eating

  • Restrictive eating, bingeing, purging, or over-exercising

  • Feeling out of control around food or stuck in cycles of dieting

  • Avoiding social situations that involve food

  • Harsh self-criticism or constant body checking



You’re ready for something to feel different.

You want food to feel more neutral.
Your body to feel less like something you’re fighting—and more like something you can live in.
And your mind to have more space for the things that actually matter.

You’re not looking for another set of rules—you’re looking for a way forward that feels steady, realistic, and lasting.


Here’s what we’ll do together.

Therapy that meets you where you are—and helps you move toward where you want to be.

Together, we’ll begin to understand the deeper factors shaping your relationship with food and your body—what these patterns are doing for you, and what’s underneath them.

From there, we’ll build new ways of responding that feel more supportive and sustainable.

At times, we’ll also slow things down to notice what’s happening in your body—helping you reconnect with cues, emotions, and internal signals that are often overlooked.

Change happens gradually, as you begin to understand yourself more clearly and build trust in your ability to care for yourself.

What we will work on:

Imagine a life where…

  • Food no longer controls your thoughts or your day

  • Meals feel calm and satisfying—not stressful or guilt-filled

  • Movement feels supportive, not punishing

  • You feel more grounded and at home in your body

  • You trust yourself to know what you need

  • You can speak to yourself with more kindness

  • You have more space—and energy—for what matters most

Get in touch

Change is possible.


You don’t have to navigate this alone.

If you’re ready to move beyond surface-level fixes and begin creating meaningful, lasting change, I’m here to support you.

I offer online therapy to clients across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.


FAQs

Frequently asked questions

  • No. You don’t need a diagnosed eating disorder to get support. Many people I work with experience distress around food, body image, or control without meeting full diagnostic criteria. What matters most is how it’s impacting your life—not whether it fits a label.

  • If thoughts about food, eating, or your body feel intrusive, stressful, or all-consuming—or if your eating patterns feel tied to control, guilt, or anxiety—it might be time to explore support. You don’t need to meet any checklist to deserve help; what matters is how much space these thoughts take up in your life.

  • I support individuals experiencing restriction, bingeing, purging, compulsive exercise, chronic dieting, and body image distress. Together, we’ll explore what these patterns are communicating and cultivate new ways of meeting those needs with care and understanding.