You're tired of fighting with food and your body.

Maybe it’s the constant noise in your head—thinking about what you ate, what you’re going to eat, or whether you should be eating at all. Maybe you’re checking your body throughout the day, avoiding certain clothes, or feeling guilty after eating.

You’ve probably tried to change these patterns. You’ve tried to be “better,” have more discipline, or just stop thinking about it so much. But somehow, you keep ending up back in the same exhausting cycle.

Healing doesn’t come from trying harder.

The patterns we develop around food and our bodies don’t happen in a vacuum. They’re shaped by our experiences, the ways we’ve learned to cope, and the beliefs we’ve picked up along the way about ourselves, our bodies, and what it means to be “good enough.”

Rather than only focusing on changing what you’re doing, we’ll get curious about what’s underneath it and make sense of it in the context of your life. Understanding what these patterns are doing for you can help us find new ways of responding that don’t leave you fighting with yourself.

Together, we’ll work toward a more trusting relationship with food, your body, and yourself.

Imagine having more mental space for the parts of life that matter to you.

Imagine sitting down to a meal and actually being able to enjoy the conversation instead of getting stuck in your head. Wearing the clothes you want without spending the day thinking about how your body looks. Being able to make plans without food or your body having to be part of every decision.

Imagine having more energy for your relationships, your work, your creativity, and the experiences that make your life feel like your own.

Sara Burchfiel, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Eating Disorder Specialist, Newport Beach,

Hi, I'm Sara.

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Eating Disorder Specialist with over 15 years of experience supporting people through change and growth. My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and depth-oriented, grounded in compassion, curiosity, and believe in your capacity to heal.

I welcome clients from all backgrounds and walks of life, and I value creating space for people of all identities, neurotypes, faiths, body sizes, and relationship structures. I believe there should be room for the whole of who you are—the parts that feel easy to share and the parts that may be harder to put into words. There is space to find your own way, to question what you’ve been taught or expected to be, and to let how you understand yourself change over time. Therapy should be a place where you can show up as your full self, without needing to edit, hide, or shrink parts of who you are.

I shape therapy around you—your history, relationships, nervous system, and what healing looks like in your life. Together, we’ll look beneath the surface to understand what your symptoms and patterns may be trying to communicate, while also making room for practical support when you need it. We’ll move at a pace that feels supportive, helping you build greater insight, self-trust, and the possibility for meaningful change.

More About Me

Common Questions

How do I know if working together would be a good fit?

I invite you to reach out for a brief consultation call where you can share a little about what’s bringing you in, ask questions, and get a sense of me and how I work.

As we talk, I encourage you to pay attention to your own experience. Do you get the sense that I’m someone you could open up with? Do you feel heard and genuinely understood? Starting therapy can feel like a big step, and the relationship you have with your therapist matters.

We can also talk about what has and hasn’t felt helpful in past therapy, what you’re hoping for now, and anything that feels important for me to know.

If I have the sense that you might be better supported by a different therapist or approach, I’ll be open about that. I’m always happy to offer referrals or help point you toward someone who may be a better fit.

Most of all, I hope you feel that there is room for the whole of who you are and the experiences that have shaped you. There’s no pressure to make a decision on the spot. The consultation is simply a chance for us to talk and see how it feels to be in conversation together.

Do you only work with people with eating disorders?

No. While eating disorders and body image are a central focus of my practice, I also work with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, life transitions, and times when you may feel stuck or unsure of what needs to change.

Sometimes what brings us to therapy is clear, and other times it’s harder to put into words. You may notice patterns that keep repeating, feel like you understand something intellectually but still can’t seem to change it, or simply know that something isn’t working the way you want it to.

In our work together, we’ll look at what you’re experiencing in the context of your life—your history, relationships, ways of coping, and the experiences that have shaped you. Rather than focusing only on labels or symptoms, we’ll work toward a deeper understanding of what’s going on and what might help things begin to shift.

If you’re wondering whether what you’re going through is something I work with, you’re always welcome to reach out or visit the Services page to learn more.

What can I expect in the first therapy session?

Your first session is a chance for us to get to know one another and begin understanding what you’d like help with. I’ll invite you to share what’s been going on, what led you to reach out now, and what you’re hoping might feel different. We’ll approach it as an open conversation, with some gentle structure when helpful, and find a rhythm that feels comfortable for you.

You’re encouraged to speak as openly as you can, but there’s no pressure to get everything “right” or tell me your whole story in one session. It’s completely okay if things feel unclear, you don’t know where to start, or some experiences are difficult to put into words. We can take our time.

My goal is to begin getting to know you as a person—not just a list of symptoms or concerns—and give you a chance to get a feel for me and what it’s like to talk together. This is just the beginning; we’ll have plenty of time to understand your experiences more fully as we go.

Before we meet, you’ll complete intake paperwork through a secure online portal so we can spend more of our time focused on what matters most to you.

What if I’ve tried therapy before and still feel stuck?

That’s more common than you might think. Many people come to therapy with a lot of insight—you may already understand your patterns, know where some of them come from, and genuinely want something different, yet still find yourself falling into the same familiar loops.

Sometimes understanding something intellectually isn’t enough to change it. There may be deeper emotional, relational, or body-based experiences that haven’t had the chance to be fully understood or worked through.

Rather than pushing harder or assuming you just need to try something different, we can get curious about what keeps pulling you back into familiar patterns and what those patterns have come to mean or do for you.

The goal isn’t simply more insight. It’s to help what you understand begin to feel different too—so that change can become possible in ways that feel more lasting and less like something you have to force.

What is your fee and do you take insurance?

My fee is $215 per session. Sessions are 45 minutes in length. I reserve a limited number of slots at a reduced fee - please inquire if finances are a concern for you.

I’m out of network with all insurance companies.

Many of my clients use PPO plans with out-of-network benefits, and I provide a monthly superbill for possible reimbursement. A superbill is documentation similar to a receipt that also includes medical codes your insurance carrier will need to process the claim. Please speak with your carrier to learn what mental health benefits they offer and what your deductible will be.

Sara Burchfiel, LMFT

Eating Disorder & Body Image Therapy in Newport Beach, CA

In-person therapy in Newport Beach | Telehealth throughout California & Texas

You're tired of fighting with food and your body.

Hi, I'm Sara.

Areas I commonly support:

Life can feel bigger than the struggle.

Reach Out

Start Where You Are

Make Space for Change

Common Questions

Blog

Reach Out

I'd Love To Hear From You!

Sara Burchfiel, LMFT

Sara Burchfiel, LMFT

Eating Disorder & Body Image Therapy in Newport Beach, CA

In-person therapy in Newport Beach | Telehealth throughout California & Texas

You're tired of fighting with food and your body.

Hi, I'm Sara.

Areas I commonly support:

Life can feel bigger than the struggle.

Reach Out

Start Where You Are

Make Space for Change

Common Questions

Blog

Reach Out

I'd Love To Hear From You!

Sara Burchfiel, LMFT

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