Bulimia Recovery Counseling Services Based in Jacksonville, FL

Compassionate Support for a Healthier You

At River Shores Counseling in Jacksonville, FL, we know that recovering from bulimia can be an overwhelming journey, but with the proper support, healing is possible. Our experienced counselors are here to guide you through each step of your recovery with understanding, empathy, and evidence-based strategies that help you build a healthier relationship with food, body, and self. We provide a safe space where you can regain control and rediscover a life free from the cycle of bulimia.

A woman is sitting on a couch talking on a cell phone and eating a donut.

Understanding Bulimia and Its Impact

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by behaviors to avoid weight gain, such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise. This cycle can be distressing and harmful, leading to both emotional and physical consequences, including the following:

  • Digestive Issues and Malnutrition
  • Heart and Electrolyte Imbalances
  • Feelings of Shame, Guilt, and Isolation
  • Challenges With Self-Esteem and Body Image

Recovery from bulimia involves more than ending the binge-purge cycle; it’s about healing the emotional pain underlying the disorder and learning to approach food and body with self-compassion.

How Counseling Supports Bulimia Recovery

At River Shores Counseling, we take a compassionate, holistic approach to bulimia recovery. We provide tailored support to help you understand and overcome the underlying emotional and behavioral patterns that contribute to the disorder. Our team works with you to create a recovery plan that promotes long-term change, focusing on physical and emotional well-being.

Benefits of Bulimia Recovery Counseling

Breaking the Binge-Purge Cycle

We help you develop healthier responses to triggers and build a supportive, structured approach to eating, reducing the urge to binge or purge.

Addressing Emotional Triggers and Underlying Issues

Many people with bulimia struggle with anxiety, self-worth, or control. Our therapists help you identify and address these underlying issues, giving you tools to manage emotions without turning to disordered eating behaviors.

Building Body Positivity and Self-Compassion

Bulimia often stems from negative body image and self-criticism. We work with you to challenge harmful beliefs about body and self, fostering a mindset of self-acceptance and kindness.

Strengthening Coping Skills

Recovery can be challenging, but our counselors support you in developing effective coping strategies for handling stress, building resilience, and navigating everyday life without engaging in harmful behaviors.

Our Approach to Bulimia Recovery Counseling

Our approach to bulimia recovery is rooted in compassion and personalized care. We use evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness practices to guide you in making sustainable changes. Your treatment plan will be tailored to your unique needs, ensuring you feel supported, heard, and empowered.

Bulimia Recovery

Do you binge eat and then make yourself throw up?

Do you use laxatives or diuretics to lose weight?

Do you compulsively exercise in order to make up for “fattening” meals?

Do you feel ashamed of bingeing and purging, and try to hide it from friends and loved ones?

Do you feel “compelled” to overeat and throw up, but you have no idea why?

Are some days better than others with bingeing and purging, but you don’t know why?

Do you fear that someone you love is bulimic, and you don’t know what to say or how to help them? 

The Truth About Bulimia and How to Approach It

Many people believe that bulimia is a food addiction, but this is not true! If you treat bingeing and purging as an addiction, and try to stop “cold turkey”, you’ve probably already discovered that it just came back, and usually worse.

It’s not your fault! Sometimes even well-meaning doctors and therapists treat bulimia as an addiction and tell their clients to just “stop”. Bulimia is actually a very powerful coping mechanism which can have devastating side effects, such as holes in the esophagus, fatigue, low electrolyte balance, potassium imbalance, depression and anxiety.


Unlike anorexia nervosa, people with bulimia are well aware that they have a problem. They usually want to stop but do not know how. Going cold turkey makes the problem worse, making the person feel hopeless, like they just have to live with it as best they can for the rest of their lives.



Family, friends, and sometimes other medical providers can unknowingly make the problem worse by making comments and bad recommendations that cause the person feel even more ashamed and abnormal.

Many people believe that bulimia is a food addiction, but this is not true! If you treat bingeing and purging as an addiction, and try to stop “cold turkey”, you’ve probably already discovered that it just came back, and usually worse.

It’s not your fault! Sometimes even well-meaning doctors and therapists treat bulimia as an addiction and tell their clients to just “stop”. Bulimia is actually a very powerful coping mechanism which can have devastating side effects, such as holes in the esophagus, fatigue, low electrolyte balance, potassium imbalance, depression and anxiety.


Unlike anorexia nervosa, people with bulimia are well aware that they have a problem. They usually want to stop but do not know how. Going cold turkey makes the problem worse, making the person feel hopeless, like they just have to live with it as best they can for the rest of their lives.



Family, friends, and sometimes other medical providers can unknowingly make the problem worse by making comments and bad recommendations that cause the person feel even more ashamed and abnormal.

If you suffer from bulimia, you may ask yourself the following questions on a daily basis:

  • Why do I overeat?
  • Is something terribly wrong with me?
  • Why can't I control throwing up when I'm totally in control of other parts of my life?
  • Should I tell my friends and loved ones? 
  • What if they’re not supportive?
  • Will I have to live with this problem the rest of my life?


A Good Support System is So Important

Most of my clients with bulimia come to me racked with shame and guilt over the fact that they “can’t stop” bingeing and purging. In fact, most of my clients are extremely successful in most areas of their lives; they are excellent students or employees, attractive, well-liked, responsible, good mothers and fathers, hard workers. It is because they are so successful in most areas of their lives that they feel awful that they just can’t “kick” their eating disorder.


A Good Support System is So Important

Most of my clients with bulimia come to me racked with shame and guilt over the fact that they “can’t stop” bingeing and purging. In fact, most of my clients are extremely successful in most areas of their lives; they are excellent students or employees, attractive, well-liked, responsible, good mothers and fathers, hard workers. It is because they are so successful in most areas of their lives that they feel awful that they just can’t “kick” their eating disorder.


Please know, you do not lack willpower, you are not lazy, and you are not self-destructive.

In fact, if you don’t receive the right support to let go of the shame and guilt surrounding your bulimia, you will be unable to recover. We have been helping men, women and children quickly and permanently recover from bulimia for over twenty years, and I am positive that we can help you, too. And without going cold turkey, continually punishing yourself, or getting shamed by others who don’t understand this problem.

Just email or call me at 904-737-3232 for a free 15 minute consult. I’ll be the one to personally answer the phone. And the call is completely confidential.  Have courage – you can get better! 

Call River Shores Counseling at (904) 737-3232 to schedule an appointment.