Eating Disorders Counselling
How many of us use food to regulate our emotions either by overeating (refined carbohydrates and refined sugars) or by restricting our eating? How many of us use food or semi / starvation in order to numb our emotions in a desperate attempt to silence the nagging voices resulting from our own internal pain?
Finally, how many of us have an unhealthy and obsessive relationship with food often to the detriment of our own personal relationships? Often food, or the controlling refusal of food, becomes a friend before it then becomes a relentless and punishing enemy.
People often use food and their body to tell a story for which they have no language.
Who can benefit from this specialised counselling?
This a specialised counselling service with a central focus upon issues relating to food, size and shape.
I am able to take on new clients aged 18 and over with a BMI (body mass index) of 18.5 and above, who may be experiencing or struggling with:
Food restriction (reducing or eliminating food items or food groups from one's diet)
Binge eating (the consumption of large quantities of food in a short period of time)
Chewing and spitting
Bulimia (bouts of extreme overeating followed by self-induced vomiting)
Compulsive exercising to lose weight
Obesity (BMI 30+)
How can counselling help?
Treatment to restore your relationship with food will focus on:
Gaining insight about your eating patterns and food cravings; discovering what in your past contributed to your relationship with food
Strengthening your motivation to change
Nutritional guidance to get you back in otuch with your natural appetite, banish cravings and transform your wellbeing
Emotional strrengthening to maage feelings like stress and unhappiness without turning to food
Managing constant thoughts and worries about food and weight
Managing lapses so that you keep feeling in control
Self-worth and body image healing
Initial assessment
Before counselling begins I will ask you to complete an initial assessment, lifestyle questionnaire and food diary. It is important that food diaries continue to be completed throughout your counselling.
Initial Counselling Session
Your first counselling session will be in-depth and last up to 2 hours. During the session I will compete a comprehensive "life-weight-line" and compile a pie chart which will highlight the main areas which give the bullying voice of the eating disorder it's power.
We will then work together in regular weekly sessions to challenge and disarm these maintaining factors.
The "life-weight-line" will be posted to you along with a copy of the pie chart. With permission I will take a copy of the "life-weight-line" to look back on for reference as we continue our counselling together. Some clients find it useful to add to the line as we go and some even like to decorate them. The "life-weight-line" is yours to 'own' and can be a powerful tool on this journey.
Cost
Initial assessment - FREE
Initial counselling session (up to 2 hours) - £60
Weekly sessions - £45 per 50 minute session
Discounted block booking - (6 sessions for £240. Usual price for 6 individually booked sessions is £270)
Please read my cancellations and missed sessions policy here
"Why does my BMI need to be above 18.5?"
I have a real passion to specialise as a counsellor across all areas of eating disorders, however in order to work ethically counsellors need to be aware of their knowledge, experience and limitations. My journey to specialise fully will lead me to complete the training to become a Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders and Obesity with The National Centre for Eating Disorders (NCFED).
At this stage, I have completed the NCFED accredited training in Practitioner Skills for Working with Eating Disorders and Obesity and this allows me to work ethically with clients who have a BMI of 18.5 and over. This is because a BMI of 18.5+ is considered physically "safe" and the mind has the ability to engage with counselling. However, there are many self-destructive behaviours associated with eating disorders that can be life threatening regardless of BMI.
If you are reading this and have a BMI below 18.5 then please do reach out and contact me. Just by reading this far you have already started on the journey to seeking help and that is one of the hardest parts. Well done. There is till a possibiilty we could work together and if not then perhaps I can recommend another counsellor or other routes for support.