Evidence-based therapy

Provided with kindness and compassion.

My Approach

Serving teens and adults in California

Collaborative

Let’s work together to identify your personal values and goals for therapy. I am passionate about supporting individuals and families through challenges and times of growth. My style is caring and active, balancing acceptance and change.

People describe me as non-judgmental and down-to-earth. I enjoy working with people from all walks of life. My approach is weight-inclusive, queer-affirming, and respectful of cultural diversity.

Evidence-Based

Therapy should be helpful. With over ten years of experience in clinical research and education, I specialize in evidence-based interventions that promote well-being.

One size does not fit all. My expertise is in tailoring therapy to meet your unique needs and strengths. I lead with curiosity, compassion, and warmth.

Are you totally new to therapy? Have you tried a lot of options and feel like nothing works?

I can meet you there.

Disordered eating

Are you stressed about eating or thinking about food too much? Have issues with nutrition or exercise impacted your health?

I provide therapy for adolescents and young adults across the full spectrum of disordered eating, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and picky eating.

My expertise is in individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family-based treatment (FBT), and parent coaching. My therapeutic style is informed by dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and includes skill building for emotion regulation and distress tolerance.

Areas of Specialty

Body image & self-esteem

No matter your body size or shape, worrying about appearance too much can be painful. I help teens and adults of all genders develop tools for coping with body image issues.

Difficulties with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, trauma and/or life transitions can be related to trouble with eating and body image. I work to understand how these experiences interact for each individual, tailoring therapy to fit their unique needs.

My approach integrates cognitive behavioral (CBT) interventions with acceptance, self-compassion, and embodiment practices.

Anxiety & perfectionism

Do worry, fear, or stress drain your energy or cause you to feel stuck? Have you struggled with avoidance, repetitive thinking, or perfectionism?

I offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) for generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). I incorporate acceptance and mindfulness strategies from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), with an emphasis on values.

I specialize in supporting people with rule-bound thinking or issues with “overcontrol” develop more flexibility and openness.

Education & Experience

  • 2021-2024 Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF Eating Disorders Program

  • 2019-2021 Clinical Psychology Fellow, UCSF Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

  • 2020 Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University

  • 2013-2015 Clinical Research Coordinator, Mount Sinai, Mood & Anxiety Disorders Program

  • 2013 B.A. in Psychology & English, cum laude, Barnard College, Columbia University

Expertise in eating disorders treatment

Before starting my practice, I was on the clinical faculty at the University of California, San Francisco for over three years. I was an attending psychologist in the UCSF Eating Disorders Program, providing assessments and therapeutic services for adolescents, young adults, and their families in the outpatient clinic and medical stabilization service at Benioff Children’s Hospital. I also engaged in clinical research, teaching, and supervision.

I completed my doctoral training in eating disorders programs in New York and San Francisco, including: UCSF, Montefiore Medical Center, and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. I’ve supported people across the lifespan and in all levels of care: outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization, as well as inpatient psychiatric and medical hospitals.

I am a certified Family-Based Treatment (FBT) Therapist with the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders. I was also trained in dialectical-behavior therapy (DBT) for adolescents with expert teams at Montefiore and UCSF.

FAQ

Publications

As a scientist-practitioner, I am passionate about bridging the gap between research and clinical practice. Follow the links below to learn more about my work.

Get in touch.

Complete the form below. You are also welcome to contact me directly at hello@kathrynhurykphd.com or (510) 214-6898.

We’ll discuss what you’re looking for and whether I may be a good fit.