Eating Disorder Support for Kids and Teens in Calgary

At Creative Sky Psychology, we recognize that eating disorders are not a choice but rather complex mental health conditions that can impact individuals of all genders and ages. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive care tailored to each individual's unique needs. Our child psychologists located in Calgary are trained and specialized in working with kids, teens, and parents to support individuals and families impacted by disordered eating.

Eating Disorder Support in Calgary

What Are Eating Disorders in Children and Teens?


Eating disorders aren’t just about food. They’re often about self-worth, stress, trauma, perfectionism, or feeling out of control. Children and teens may:

  • Rigidly restrict food

  • Obsess over calories or exercise

  • Binge eat or secretly hide food

  • Experience fear, guilt, or shame around eating

  • Display anxiety, irritability, or body checking

  • Withdraw socially or develop rigid rituals

Early intervention is key. We support kids and teens in Calgary who may be struggling with anorexia, ARFID, binge eating, bulimia, body image concerns, and disordered eating patterns — even if they don’t meet a formal diagnosis.

How We Support Eating Disorder Recovery in Calgary

Child Psychologist in Calgary, Marie Goulet, providing specialized support for eating disorders

At Creative Sky, we take a whole-person, strengths-based approach. Eating disorders often co-occur with anxiety, trauma, ADHD, OCD, or low self-esteem. We tailor our support to help your child or teen:

  • Understand the emotional function of their eating behaviors

  • Build body trust and food flexibility

  • Improve emotional regulation and self-compassion

  • Strengthen identity and resilience beyond appearance

  • Rebuild family connection and communication

Our psychologists create a safe, shame-free space for healing, using evidence-informed approaches like:

  • CBT-E (Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

  • Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)

  • Narrative Therapy

  • ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

  • Art & play-based interventions for younger children

Support for Every Stage and Age

Preschool & Early Childhood (Under 6):
While rare at this age, we offer early intervention for signs of ARFID, anxiety around food textures, or feeding trauma. Parent involvement is central at this stage.

School-Aged Children (6–12):
Children may begin showing signs of rigidity, body image concerns, or social withdrawal. We use gentle strategies that combine play, CBT, emotion regulation, and family-based approaches.

Teens (13–17):
Adolescents may present with more defined eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. Our therapists build trust while addressing body image, perfectionism, and co-occurring issues like anxiety, trauma, or low self-esteem.

Change Takes a Team — You’re Not Alone

Parenting a child with an eating disorder can feel like walking on eggshells. You're trying to be encouraging — without pressuring. Supportive — without enabling. At Creative Sky Psychology, we work with you, not just your child.

We’ll help you:

  • Understand what’s driving the eating behaviors

  • Shift from control battles to emotional attunement

  • Communicate in ways that support trust and recovery

  • Rebuild safety and closeness without shame or blame

Why Families Choose Creative Sky Psychology?

Our Calgary child psychologists are specialized in working with children and teens navigating complex emotional and behavioural concerns—including eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and perfectionism.

  • Evidence-informed

  • Compassion-focused

  • Developmentally tailored

  • Collaborative with families

  • Neurodiversity- and LGBTQ2S+ affirming

Our therapists Karli Jahn and Marie Goulet bring lived experience, advanced training, and a warm, empowering approach to every session. Karli and Marie work with children, teens, and parents and take a collaborative approach to wellness.

Child and Teen Psychologist specializing in the treatment of disordered eating, Karli Jahn

Karli Jahn, R.Provisional Psychologist

Calgary child and teen psychologist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders Marie Goulet

Marie Goulet, R.Psychologist

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is not about body image—it’s about fear, sensory sensitivity, or trauma around eating. We support children with ARFID or picky eating by gently expanding food flexibility without shame or force. Many neurodivergent children benefit from this affirming, relationship-based approach.

  • We help kids and teens untangle their worth from their appearance. Therapy includes building emotional regulation, identity, and self-compassion—not just symptom tracking. We never focus on weight or appearance goals. Our therapists create space for kids to feel seen and accepted, especially when they’re struggling to accept themselves.

  • Yes—parent involvement is essential. Whether it’s family-based treatment, emotional coaching, or communication support, we help caregivers become part of the healing process. You’ll never be blamed or left out; instead, we work with you to reduce conflict, increase safety, and support your child’s recovery.

  • As soon as possible. The earlier eating disorder patterns are addressed, the better the outcomes—both physically and emotionally. Even if you’re unsure, a consultation with a Calgary child psychologist can provide clarity and support. You don’t have to wait for a crisis to get help.

  • No. Eating disorders affect boys, girls, and non-binary youth of all sizes, races, and neurotypes. Many children with eating disorders don’t fit stereotypes, which can delay getting help. Our Calgary psychologists take a weight-neutral, inclusive, and neurodiversity-affirming approach that meets each child exactly where they are.

  • Therapy provides a safe, shame-free space to explore the emotional roots of eating challenges—like anxiety, control, perfectionism, trauma, or low self-worth. We use evidence-based approaches such as CBT-E, emotion-focused therapy, family support, and body image work. Our goal is to support healing, not control.

  • Disordered eating includes unhealthy patterns like restriction, bingeing, or food guilt—even if they don’t meet the full criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or ARFID. These patterns can still seriously affect a child’s mental and physical health. At Creative Sky Psychology, we support children and teens at all stages, from emerging concerns to diagnosed eating disorders.

  • Early signs may include sudden changes in eating habits, food avoidance, secretive behavior around meals, excessive focus on weight or appearance, rigid food rules, frequent body checking, or unexplained weight loss. Emotional shifts like irritability, anxiety, or withdrawal are also common. If something feels off, trust your gut—early support makes a big difference.