Eating Disorder Counselling
Are you concerned that you or someone you know may have an eating disorder?
Are you struggling to control your weight?
Distressed with your body image?
Can’t face another diet?
Are you experiencing uncontrollable cravings for sweet sugary food?
Tired most of the time or lacking in energy and don’t know why?
Do you think about food all the time, does it control your life?
Maybe you are experiencing medical complications as a result of your weight?
I can help!
There are a number of eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and more, all of these are serious conditions with damaging side effects. I can help you to gain a deeper understanding of your problem, to understand the influences that led to the development of the illness and to observe what factors are keeping it going. Together we will look at the physical and emotional factors that are maintaining the problem and learn strategies to manage stressful situations rather than use food.
I will work with you to help guide you to a deeper understanding of your eating disorder, the influences which led to the illness developing and what is happening now that is maintaining the illness. We will look at how the way you think affects your feelings and how those feelings then dictate what you do in response. The way you think about yourself will be a huge maintaining factor of your illness. As well as nutritional guidance to help with the physical and chemical imbalances caused by the disorder. There will be emotional strengthening to help you to manage your feelings without automatically turning to your eating disorder symptoms or over or under eating. You will learn new skills to manage your stress and panic and to learn what people or situations can trigger these feelings.
Motivation is a huge part of change, if you believe you can do something you are more likely to stick with it so building motivation will be essential. Lapses during treatment are normal and to be expected at some point during treatment. There will be times when we allow negative thoughts to creep in and steal our confidence away, sabotaging our motivation. We will work to build strategies to manage lapses without feeling out of control and feeling motivated to continue with the changes.
My counselling for eating disorders looks at the underlying causes of the eating disorder, considers what triggers the eating disorder behaviour and looks at new, healthier ways to cope with the difficult emotional experiences that drive the unhealthy eating. With the right help and support, successful treatment of eating disorders is possible. Speaking to someone about this problem can sometimes be the beginning of recovery.