Susan L. Richter, MFT has been providing individual, family and group therapy for over twenty years. She is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and published chapters on eating disorders and group therapy in a treatment manual for sexual trauma.  Susan is certified in both EMDR and Somatic Experiencing®. As an iaedp Approved Supervisor she supervises a training program for intern therapists in eating disorders treatment and group therapy, which includes sponsoring a free ANAD support group. As a local President of iaedp, Susan leads the efforts of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties to provide excellence in education and training for treatment providers.

What is a Specialist?

A Specialist is a person who:
has completed specialty training;
can verify extensive supervised hours of experience; and
has passed the exams required by the credentialing organization.

In my years of treating eating disorders, I have often worked with families who have depleted their emotional and financial reserves through unsuccessful treatment for a teenager.  Given the progressive nature of most eating disorders as well as their debilitating and potentially life-threatening physical consequences, I am always interested in helping such families find effective treatment as quickly as possible.

I have also worked with many adult clients who assumed that their eating disorder was a lifelong condition.  These people often blame themselves for their lack of progress toward recovery.  As someone who has recovered many years ago, I remember feeling the same way, so helping others find freedom from obsessing about food, weight and appearance is very important to me.

According to the Academy of Eating Disorders, receiving prompt, effective treatment by trained specialists utilizing the most current, research-proven treatment protocols gives a person the highest chance for recovery.

The field of eating disorder treatment is relatively young, and, due to the complexity of these illnesses, it's not surprising that getting an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan is often a difficult and frustrating task.  As a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, I can provide diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment for all disorders of eating, weight, body image and compulsive behaviors such as exercise or shopping. 

Due to the importance of finding affordable and effective treatment, NEW BEGINNINGS Counseling Center offers a variety of treatment options for those seeking care:

1.  Free ANAD Eating Disorders Support Group
This drop-in group is a good place to receive information and support.  The group is led by Masters' level intern therapists under my supervision.

2.  Individual and Group Therapy
In working with teens, adults and families, we offer a collaborative approach which helps us to coordinate care with all treatment providers – physicians, psychiatrists, dieticians and others.

3.  Insurance
We offer insurance billing as well as our skills at working with your insurance company to provide your care.  If you have had trouble finding specialists within your insurance network, we can help you deal with that difficulty.

4.  Low Cost Care
Since I am an IADEP–approved Supervisor, I supervise a number of Masters' level interns.  I meet with each intern weekly to ensure the quality and effectiveness of their treatment of you or your loved one.