DR MARIANNE MILLER

CARING EATING DISORDER TREATMENT IN SAN DIEGO AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, AND WASHINGTON D.C. FOR ADULTS & TEENS

Interview with San Diego Eating Disorder Therapist Liz Bisarya, LMFT
HAES, Health At Every Size, Intuitive Eating Marianne Miller HAES, Health At Every Size, Intuitive Eating Marianne Miller

Interview with San Diego Eating Disorder Therapist Liz Bisarya, LMFT

Hi everyone! My latest interview is with Liz Bisarya, LMFT. I met Liz at a San Diego eating disorder training a few weeks ago, and I was struck with how compassionate she felt toward people in recovery. I could totally relate to that, and so I knew I wanted to get to know her better! Liz has a very diverse work background in multiple levels of care for eating disorders. She really embraces the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach, as well as intuitive eating. Enjoy getting to know her!

Read More
The Importance of Bio-Temperament and Engagement from Eating Recovery Center's Laura Effland, LCSW

The Importance of Bio-Temperament and Engagement from Eating Recovery Center's Laura Effland, LCSW

Struggling with opening yourself to the possibility of recovery from your eating disorder? A few weeks ago, I attended a San Diego training by the Eating Recovery Center (ERC), which provides eating disorder treatment in centers all over the United States. Its headquarters is in Denver, Colorado, which is where I grew up! :) It’s been fun to attend several of ERC’s annual conferences over the years to get up-to-date training on eating disorder treatment and research (and to visit my hometown as well!!!).

At this recent San Diego training, one presentation really stood out to me, and it was by Laura Effland, LCSW. She talked about the importance of understanding the role of bio-temperament in eating disorder treatment. Laura also discussed how improving levels engagement in the world around them helps people recover. She expands on this topic in her interview for this post. Enjoy!

Read More
Five Mindful Places to Visit in San Diego When You're Feeling Stressed During the Holidays
Mindfulness, San Diego, Self-Care Marianne Miller Mindfulness, San Diego, Self-Care Marianne Miller

Five Mindful Places to Visit in San Diego When You're Feeling Stressed During the Holidays

As Thanksgiving is coming round the corner, and other holidays are fast approaching, it’s easy to feel caught up in the holiday frenzy. Whether it’s traffic, shopping, or your full calendar, things just can seem crazy. It’s especially challenging while in eating disorder recovery, as there can be more triggers than usual this time of year. Sometimes you just need a peaceful place to go in San Diego where you can take deep breaths and soak in positive energy so you can feel grounded and renewed. I’ve asked top eating disorder therapists and dietitians in San Diego for their recommendations of mindful places to visit, and I’ve listed five of my favorites. Enjoy!

Read More
Interview with San Diego Eating Disorder Intervention and Treatment Consultant Jennifer Tarzia

Interview with San Diego Eating Disorder Intervention and Treatment Consultant Jennifer Tarzia

Happy Thanksgiving week, everyone! I want to introduce you to Jennifer Tarzia, who is an amazing eating disorder professional in San Diego who is incredibly passionate about intervening with and supporting families with help when their loved one is struggling with an eating disorder. Jennifer’s company, Doyen Consulting Groups (formerly CBI Healthcare), works with individuals and families in finding the best fit for eating disorder treatment and care. She works virtually as well. Jennifer really has a heart for helping people, and she’s a wonderful person to boot!

Read More
Learn About Dissociation from San Diego Eating Disorder Therapist Dr. Danielle Hiestand
Trauma, Trauma Treatment, EMDR, Disassociation Marianne Miller Trauma, Trauma Treatment, EMDR, Disassociation Marianne Miller

Learn About Dissociation from San Diego Eating Disorder Therapist Dr. Danielle Hiestand

Hi everyone! I’ve interviewed San Diego eating disorder therapist extraordinaire Danielle Hiestand, PsyD, LMFT, CEDS. Danielle is a BRILLIANT woman who was one of my top doctoral students when I was an academic. She has been in the eating disorder field for a long time, and she has worked in residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient levels of treatment.

Danielle has also taught undergraduate and graduate classes on eating disorders at University of California San Diego (UCSD) and Alliant International University. In the past few years, Danielle has added trauma specialist to her repertoire and has extensive knowledge about dissociation and how to treat it. I’m so excited that you get to read more about her approach to therapy!!!

Read More
Three Quick Tips on Finding Hope in Eating Disorder Recovery
Encouragement, Hope Marianne Miller Encouragement, Hope Marianne Miller

Three Quick Tips on Finding Hope in Eating Disorder Recovery

Feeling discouraged about your eating disorder recovery? Is it hard to find the motivation to keep showing up for eating disorder treatment in San Diego and elsewhere? Does it seem like the slips just keep happening?

Discouragement is common for people in eating disorder recovery. All you want to be doing in San Diego is to take a break, go down to the beach, and let the water wash over your toes. It can feel so frustrating to have to keep putting energy and effort into eating disorder treatment. I want to give you some encouragement for your eating disorder recovery—some hope that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Read More
Five Best Books for Eating Disorder Help
Eating Disorder Book Marianne Miller Eating Disorder Book Marianne Miller

Five Best Books for Eating Disorder Help

Looking for books that can help you in your eating disorder recovery but don’t know where to start? Well, have I have a TREAT for you this Halloween! I’ve asked some top eating disorder therapists and eating disorder dietitians in San Diego for their recommendations, and I’ve listed them in this blog post. In these books, you’ll find encouragement, hope, and recommendations for how to get further help. Whether you’re already in eating disorder treatment in San Diego or elsewhere, or you’re looking to find an eating disorder therapist, I think these books will be excellent additions to your eating disorder recovery. Enjoy!

Read More
Five Details on Dodging Depression in Eating Disorder Recovery

Five Details on Dodging Depression in Eating Disorder Recovery

Struggling with getting out of bed in the morning? Crying a lot and feeling lethargic? Struggling with finding pleasure in activities that you used to love? You may be suffering from clinical depression. The sun can be bright, and the palm trees swaying in the wind as you go about your life in San Diego, but you still feel sad. It can really, really suck—especially when you’re recovering from an eating disorder.

Depression is very typical in people with eating disorders. It is a common co-occurring or co-morbid mental disorder in individuals struggling with anorexia (AN), bulimia (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED). Having depression when you’re living in such a stunning location like San Diego can be especially challenging, as the disparity between what you’re feeling and the “beautiful life” others seem to be living can be hard to bear.

Read More
What to Do When You're Sick During Eating Disorder Recovery

What to Do When You're Sick During Eating Disorder Recovery

I’ve recently recovered from a nasty bought of the stomach flu, and it got me thinking about how illness can affect eating disorder recovery. You’re on your recovery journey in San Diego and elsewhere, and things are progressing nicely, when WHAM!! You get the flu, get a cold, or even learn that you have a a serious condition that needs more intense medical care, like surgery. It can be incredibly overwhelming, and it can definitely affect how you eat and how you see your body.

I’ve outlined three tips on how to navigate the rough waters of illness while in eating disorder treatment in San Diego and around the world. These three tips expand beyond the typical steps, such as seeing your medical doctor and take over the counter remedies. The reason is because eating disorders are incredibly complex—physiologically, nutritionally, and psychologically. Tackling all three areas when you are feeling crappy can be a challenge—so these strategies are quick, simple, and can help you get back on the road to recovery ASAP.

Read More