OCD & Food-Related Fear
When OCD or anxiety shows up around food, eating can feel anything but simple.
I work with people whose OCD or anxiety intersects with food and eating, whether that’s fear around how food was prepared, intrusive thoughts that make eating feel unsafe, worries about ingredients or contamination, or food rules and rituals that have become exhausting to maintain. My job is to meet you where you are nutritionally and help you find ways to eat that feel sustainable, even when OCD makes that complicated. When appropriate and coordinated with your treatment team, we may include food-based exposures as part of ERP, gradually working toward trying a feared food, eating in a challenging setting, or resisting a food-related ritual, always at a pace grounded in your goals.
I have advanced training in ERP-informed approaches for food-related OCD, and I always work alongside your therapist so nutrition support and exposure work stay aligned.
Our work together might include:
Identifying food rules, rituals, or patterns that are getting in the way of eating
Building a realistic picture of your nutritional needs and sustainable ways to meet them
Mapping out a graduated approach to feared foods or eating situations, together with your therapist
Practicing food-based exposures alongside your treatment team, at a pace that fits your goals
Coordinating with your treatment team so nutrition support aligns with your broader care
This might be for you if...
Worries about contamination, ingredients, or how food was prepared make eating hard
You follow food rules or rituals that feel exhausting to keep up
Intrusive thoughts make certain foods or situations feel off-limits
The list of foods that feel okay to eat keeps getting shorter
You’re working on ERP with a therapist and want a dietitian on your team
Don’t have a therapist yet? I have a network of trusted OCD specialists and can help connect you with one that might be a good fit for you.
Ready to make eating feel more manageable?
