Bardwell Behavioral

06/02/2026

Today is World Eating Disorders Action Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness and supporting those affected by eating disorders.
We're encouraging our community to take a moment to support the bipartisan Nutrition CARE Act (H.R. 2495/S. 1971). If passed, this legislation would expand Medicare coverage to include Medical Nutrition Therapy services for individuals receiving treatment for eating disorders, helping improve access to the care and support they need.
Eating disorders are not lifestyle choices — they are serious, complex mental illnesses with one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disorder. Early intervention and access to specialized, evidence-based care can be lifesaving. Yet currently, Medicare only covers Medical Nutrition Therapy provided by dietitians for individuals with diabetes or end-stage renal disease, leaving many older adults and disabled individuals with eating disorders without coverage for a critical part of treatment.
It only takes a minute to make your voice heard. Use EDC's action alert tool to contact your Members of Congress and encourage them to support this important legislation.

05/04/2026

Grateful to be part of such a dedicated and collaborative community.
Connecting with fellow Connecticut eating disorder providers at the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association conference this week was a powerful reminder of the depth of commitment, expertise, and compassion in this field.
When providers come together to learn, challenge ideas, and support one another, it directly strengthens the care our clients receive.
Proud to be among this group. 💙

02/25/2026

This may not be a popular post, but it’s an honest one.
GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc.) are rapidly changing the cultural conversation around food and body size.
These medications can be medically appropriate and life-changing for some individuals with diabetes and metabolic conditions. This is not about shaming people who use them under medical care.
But we also need to talk about the psychological and social impact of their widespread use.

While clinical trials support their medical use, we still have limited long-term, real-world data — particularly regarding psychological effects, use in younger populations, and use primarily for cosmetic weight loss. The full impact will become clearer over time.

As clinicians who treat eating disorders, we are already noticing patterns:
• Visible rapid weight loss reinforces the belief that smaller automatically means healthier or more disciplined.
• Appetite suppression can reinforce restrictive eating patterns and interfere with learning hunger and fullness cues.
• Adolescents and individuals in recovery are watching closely — and increased comparison, shame, and distress often follow.

This is not a moral argument. It is a cultural and clinical one.
A treatment can help some people medically and still have unintended psychological effects on others. Cultural messaging matters, and prevention often begins long before a diagnosis.

02/23/2026

For Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2026, I’m sharing a clip from the HBO documentary THIN. I appear briefly in the film in my role as a clinician.

These illnesses are often minimized and misunderstood. In reality, as this clip shows, they are serious, life-threatening medical and psychiatric conditions that ripple outward — impacting parents, partners, siblings, and friends who love someone who is suffering.

There is nothing glamorous about eating disorders — but there is hope when we recognize them earlier and respond with care instead of judgment.

You can find screening tools, treatment referrals, and educational resources through the National Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com

Jennifer attempts to leave Renfrew.Deleted scene from the documentary THIN.Director- Lauren GreenfieldThis is a fabulous documentary, I suggest you look it u...

07/21/2025

Bardwell Behavioral founder and owner Rebekah Bardwell Doweyko, LPC, CEDS-C joins Dr. Sarah Hewes to explore what body image really means and how to improve it. With insight from her work in eating disorder treatment, Bekah shares practical, compassionate ways to work toward a more accepting relationship with one's body, as well as ways for parents to positively impact the evolution of body and self-esteem throughout crucial developmental stages.

Ah the ever elusive concept, body image. What even is body image? Does negative body image go away? Will it ever get better?In this illuminating conversation...

02/27/2025

Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2025

07/29/2024

I am beyond proud and excited to announce that Bardwell Behavioral is officially a full-time psychotherapy practice offering outpatient individual, couples and family therapy for various behavioral and emotional concerns. Although we do specialize in the treatment of eating disorders, we also focus on treating PTSD, substance use, trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, athletes, pre-natal and postpartum concerns, and many others. Craig, I can’t thank you enough for your encouragement, empowerment, support (and administrative/technology skills!) throughout the years that helped bring this incredible opportunity to fruition. I am so very fortunate and grateful that I get to do all the things I absolutely love every day: helping others through their healing journeys, training and coaching new and seasoned clinicians, educating other healthcare professionals, and now having an even better work/life balance. Please do feel free to follow us here on Facebook or check out our incredible team and services at www.bardwellbehavioral.com.

Send a message to learn more

06/05/2024

What a beautiful day for a walk! Bardwell Behavioral joined the National Eating Disorders Association in Glastonbury over the weekend to help raise funds and awareness. Thank you, NEDA, for the invite!

02/20/2024

Check out our founder, Rebekah Bardwell Doweyko, on this podcast: Eating Disorders and Navigating Recovery

Eating Disorders Awareness week starts on January 26th and ends on March 3rd.Eating disorders affect people of every age, race, size, gender identity, sexual...

03/09/2022

So grateful that Fox 61 was willing to lend time in their morning news segment, especially during these scary times, to highlight eating disorders! Any opportunity to bring awareness to these deadly illnesses is one I cherish!!

Walden Behavioral Care certified eating disorder specialist Rebekah Bardwell Doweyko discusses how to recognize an eating disorder and resources to help.