Meet Irene
Irene Rubaum-Keller, LMFT
License #MZ23528
Los Angeles' leading eating disorder therapist since l987.
Irene Rubaum-Keller, LMFT
Eating Disorders are symptoms.
I believe that the eating and/or body image disorder is a symptom of something deeper in the psyche that needs attention. While I treat the immediate symptoms of the disorder with cognitive/behavioral techniques, I also help my clients explore the deeper reason(s) behind the need for the disorder.The eating disorder is like a cry from the subconscious saying, ‘I’m not being my true self. I’m not living a full and satisfying life.’
The eating disorder can get so overpowering that it seems to be the main problem. ‘If only I didn't have this eating/body image disorder, life would be fine.’ Often then the focus of treatment is on overcoming the eating disorder forgetting to pay attention to the root cause. When one gets to the root cause and finds the courage to fix that, then the eating disorder is no longer needed. My treatment approach is aimed at helping my clients find the root cause of their pain and then the courage to work through it.
My work as an eating disorder therapist began by being a patient in treatment first. With the help of many excellent therapists along the way, I overcame my own eating/body image disorder. This personal understanding of what it’s really like to suffer informs my work with my clients. I have been there. I get it!
I received my B.A. from UCLA and my M.A. in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. I am certified to use hypnosis in my practice and have found this to be a useful tool in helping my clients to lose weight, stop binging and purging and learn to feel comfortable in their own skin.
I have been licensed and treating people with eating disorders for over twenty seven years. In addition to my private practice, I am on staff at UCLA’s Risk Factor Obesity clinic and am an active member of CAMFT and the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). My book, Foodaholic, The Seven Stages to Permanent Weight Loss was published in 2011 and I also write for The Huffington Post©. As an expert guest I have appeared on: NBC, CBS, ABC, KCAL, UPN and KTLA news.