Virtual therapy & safety guidelines
Virtual Therapy for Eating Disorders: Safe, Effective, and Accessible
Healing from the comfort of your home — supported by high standards of clinical care.
If you are in immediate danger
If you are experiencing an emergency, are at immediate risk of harming yourself or someone else, or need urgent medical attention, call 911 or go to your local emergency department.
Do not wait for a reply from me in an emergency. This practice provides outpatient virtual therapy. It is not a crisis hotline or emergency service, and messages are not monitored for emergencies.
Why virtual care
Care that fits into your life
We believe that seeking support for food and body image should fit into your life. Through secure, HIPAA-compliant video sessions, we provide the same compassionate, evidence-based therapy online as we do in an office.
Because eating disorders impact both mind and body, virtual outpatient care requires specific safety measures to ensure online therapy is the right — and safest — fit for your healing journey.
Is virtual outpatient therapy right for you?
I work only with medically stable clients.
Virtual eating disorder therapy is best suited for individuals who:
- Are medically stable and do not require daily medical monitoring, emergency medical interventions, or immediate hospital care.
- Are able to nourish themselves sufficiently between sessions, or are working actively with an outpatient dietitian.
- Have a private, quiet space where they can speak freely and engage deeply in sessions.
- Are motivated to work on eating disorder recovery in an outpatient setting (1–2 sessions per week).
We may not be the best fit if
- You require inpatient, residential, or medical stabilization for an eating disorder
- You are in immediate crisis or need 24/7 support
- You are experiencing active suicidal intent and are unable to commit to safety
- You are not open to a Health at Every Size (HAES) approach
- You do not have access to a phone or computer for virtual sessions (when applicable)
If any of these describe where you are right now, it does not mean you are out of options. Reach out anyway and I will help you find the level of care that fits.
How we keep care safe
Our virtual safety protocols
To ensure your care is safe, seamless, and fully supported, our virtual practice follows these guidelines:
- Primary care collaboration: All virtual eating disorder clients are required to maintain an established relationship with an in-person Primary Care Physician (PCP) for routine vital checks, lab work, and medical monitoring as needed.
- Multidisciplinary teamwork: Recovery thrives on team support. With your permission, we regularly collaborate with your dietitian, medical doctor, and psychiatrist to keep everyone aligned on your care.
- Emergency & location protocols: At the beginning of our work together, we establish an emergency safety plan, including documenting your physical location during sessions and identifying a local emergency contact.
- Objective weight & health monitoring: If weight tracking is clinically necessary for your recovery, we coordinate blind weighing through your local doctor or dietitian, or utilize secure remote-weighing protocols so you don’t have to look at the numbers.
Level of care & escalation policy
Your safety always comes first
Outpatient virtual therapy is a powerful tool, but it is not always enough for every stage of recovery. If at any point during our work together we determine that virtual outpatient care is no longer safe or sufficient to support your progress, we will not leave you without care.
We will guide you through a warm transition to a higher level of care — such as an Intensive Outpatient (IOP), Partial Hospitalization (PHP), or Residential program — and support you until you are safely connected with the right team.
If technology fails
When a session is interrupted
Because sessions are held virtually, you may be asked to provide an alternative way to be contacted in case the telehealth connection drops mid-session. Agreeing on this in advance means a lost connection never leaves a safety concern unattended.
Your provider
Practitioner information
Therapy is provided by Katelynn Anna Leisher, Licensed Certified Social Worker–Clinical (LCSW-C), Maryland license number 26294, in good standing through October 31, 2027.
This is a solo virtual practice administered from Catonsville, Maryland, serving clients located in Maryland. Non-urgent contact: mail@katelynnleisher.com.
Questions about online therapy?
Let’s find out if this is the right fit
Schedule a free initial consultation today. We’ll discuss your current needs, answer your questions about virtual care, and ensure our practice is the safest and best environment for your recovery.