A deeper path to healing.

Eating Disorder & Body Image Therapy

Newport Beach, CA

A deeper path to healing.

Eating Disorder & Body Image Therapy

Newport Beach, CA

If this feels familiar...

You may notice thoughts about food and your body taking up more space — a running conversation about what you should eat, what you shouldn’t have eaten, and what you’ll do differently tomorrow.

Over time, what may have begun as a way to cope can gradually take on a life of its own, leaving you feeling disconnected from your relationships and unsure of who you are outside of the eating disorder.

You might feel caught between wanting more peace with food and finding yourself pulled back into familiar patterns. Even when part of you understands what’s happening and wants something different, it can still feel incredibly hard to shift.

If you recognize yourself in any of this, you’re not alone.

Therapy offers a space to slow down, make sense of what’s happening, and begin reconnecting with yourself.

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 meaningful, lasting change. My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and depth-oriented — grounded in compassion, curiosity, and a belief that healing is possible.

I welcome clients of all identities, backgrounds, and body sizes, and I’m intentional about creating a space where you don’t have to edit, hide, or shrink parts of yourself to be here.

Our work is shaped around you — your history, relationships, nervous system, and what healing looks like in your life. Together, we look beneath the surface to understand what your symptoms and patterns may be trying to communicate, moving at a pace that feels supportive and attuned as insight, self-trust, and meaningful change begin to take shape.

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 what’s bringing you in, ask any questions, and get a sense of me and how I work.

As we talk, try to notice your own inner experience and first impressions: does it feel like I am someone you could open up with? Starting therapy can feel like a big step, and it’s important that you feel able to talk openly — and that you’re met with genuine interest, understanding, and care.

We can also talk about what has felt helpful — and unhelpful — in past therapy, or in your efforts to navigate what you’re going through now.

If at any point I have the sense that you might be better supported by a different therapist or approach, I’ll be open about that and offer referrals to help guide you in the right direction.

My hope is that you feel respected, understood, and met in the fullness of who you are and the experiences that have shaped you. There’s no pressure to make a decision on the spot — the goal is simply to see whether it feels like a supportive fit.

Do you only work with people with eating disorders?

No. While eating disorder recovery is a central focus of my practice, I also work with concerns like anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, life transitions, and feeling stuck or disconnected.

Often, what brings people to therapy isn’t just the surface issue, but patterns underneath — ways of coping, relating, or responding that once made sense, but no longer feel like they’re working.

In our work together, we focus less on labels and more on understanding these patterns in the context of your life — how they developed, what they’re trying to protect, and how they may be keeping you stuck. From there, we begin to open up space for relief, clarity, and meaningful change.

If you’re wondering whether your concerns are a fit, 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 begin getting to know one another and to start understanding what you’d like help with. I’ll invite you to share what’s been weighing on you, along with anything else that feels important for me to know. We’ll approach this as an open conversation, with some gentle structure if needed, and find a rhythm together 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 cover it all in one session. It’s completely okay if things feel unclear or hard to put into words at first—this is something we come to understand over time.

This first meeting is simply a starting point. Together, we’ll begin making sense of what’s going on and what you’re hoping might feel different.

Some of the questions we’ll begin to explore include:

What’s been going on?
How do you hope therapy can help?
What's led you to reach out now?

Before we meet, you’ll complete intake paperwork through a secure online portal so our time together can stay 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—and it doesn’t mean you’ve failed or that therapy “didn’t work.”

Many people come to therapy with insight. You may already understand your patterns, know where they come from, and genuinely want something different—yet still find yourself pulled into the same loops.

Often, this isn’t about a lack of effort or awareness. It can mean there are deeper emotional or relational layers that haven’t yet been fully understood or worked through.

Our work isn’t about pushing harder or trying to override those patterns. Instead, we slow down and get curious about what’s underneath them—what they’ve been protecting, expressing, or holding in place.

From there, change tends to feel less forced and more like something that unfolds from within—creating a deeper, more lasting shift.

What is your fee and do you take insurance?

My fee is $200 per session. Sessions are 45 minutes in length. I reserve a limited number of slots at a reduced fee.

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

A deeper path to healing.

A deeper path to healing.

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

If this feels familiar...

Hi, I'm Sara.

Areas I commonly support

Steps for getting started

Reach Out

Begin Together

Find Your Way Back

Common Questions

Reach Out

I'd Love To Hear From You!

Sara Burchfiel, LMFT

A deeper path to healing.

A deeper path to healing.

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

If this feels familiar...

Hi, I'm Sara.

Areas I commonly support

Steps for getting started

Reach Out

Begin Together

Find Your Way Back

Common Questions

Reach Out

I'd Love To Hear From You!

Sara Burchfiel, LMFT

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