Are Your Struggles With Food and Your Body Controlling Your Life?

▹ Have you been considering eating disorder treatment?

▹ Have you wondered what you might do with all that time if you weren’t obsessing about food and exercise?

▹ Does the number on the scale or your calorie counting app equal how you feel about yourself that day?

▹ Do you think to yourself, “If I could only lose some more weight, I’d be . . .[fill in the blank]”?

▹ Does it seem like you turn your attention food or exercise every time something disappointing happens?

▹ Are you worried that your fixation about food and your body is impacting your relationships?

Whether you think you’ve been struggling with binge eating, purging, restricting, emotional eating, compulsive exercise, negative body image, any or all of the above – recovery is possible and eating disorder treatment will help you to get there.

It’s so Normal to Struggle with Feeling Bad About Your Body

In our image-obsessed culture, body dissatisfaction is sadly the norm. People of all ages struggle with eating disorders. Obsessing about diet and weight, and how you can try to get that “perfect body” is all-too-common. It’s no secret that here in the greater Agoura Hills area, and in Southern California in general, the expectation for looking perfect can seem like the norm.

We’re bombarded daily with images in the media telling us how we should look, subconsciously dictating our own standard of beauty. There’s no denying that these messages all around us can contribute to the development of all types of eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and orthorexia.  However, this explanation is likely only telling part of the story.

Most of the time, an eating disorder has developed as a way to help you cope with or manage uncomfortable emotions. However, over time the eating disorder comes to serve a very important purpose in your life.  Perhaps the trigger was undergoing a big transition, suffering a trauma, or another overwhelming emotional experience. The eating disorder might have taken hold when you needed a way to cope and simply didn’t have a better, less destructive way of doing so.

Eating Disorder Recovery is Possible

You’re probably looking to start therapy now because you’ve realized that you can no longer go on living this way – that’s where I can help. Starting eating disorder therapy will help you to gain a better understanding of what’s happening internally and learn healthier ways to experience emotion. Treatment for eating disorders can eventually help you to leave all of your obsession with food and your body behind you and begin to live a life filled with what you truly value.

What Can I Expect from Eating Disorder Treatment?

My personal experience gives me a window into the pain that eating disorders cause. I know that motivation can be hard to hold onto, but with nearly a decade of experience treating all types of eating disorders, I’m prepared to help with that. In therapy, I provide the space to share openly, freely, and without shame, the painful thoughts and feelings that you’ve been carrying around.

Regardless of the reasons you developed an eating disorder, I always aim to help my clients gain some immediate relief right off the bat. Because your eating disorder been serving an important purpose, you’ll need to learn healthier coping skills to replace unhealthy behaviors. Through therapy you’ll also gain a new way of relating to your thoughts, body, and emotions.

I work best with clients who’ve decided that they are ready to dive in and make important changes. The connection I foster with clients, built on trust and unconditional support, is the key for true insight to flourish. A lot of time behaviors have been ingrained for such a long time that you might not even be aware that they are going on. With increased awareness and a bevy of skills to start challenging your eating disorder, we can take a look at some of the underlying theme or cycles that have been keeping you stuck, and we can pave the way to true freedom.

So maybe you know now that you need eating disorder treatment, but some concerns are holding you back. . .

I’m worried that if I stop obsessing about my body, I will just gain weight.

In order to truly recover from an eating disorder, you’ll need to learn how to listen to and take care of your body in a different way. Through therapy,recovery will give you the tools to intuitively give your body what it needs to become and stay healthy: to nurture and honor your body, rather than punish it. In a recovered mindset, you’ll be too busy living a fulfilled life to care about the number on the scale, whatever natural set point at which you’ve arrived.

Okay, so I have an eating disorder, but I know I’m not that sick.

Eating disorders are skilled at deceiving you. The problem might be worse than you’re really able to see right now. Let’s say you aren’t really that sick or haven’t been struggling for a long time – I’d be willing to bet that the eating disorder is still robbing you from living a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, eating disorders are so insidious that they have the ability to escalate quickly, taking their toll both mentally and physically. Why not take steps now to prevent that from happening? In therapy, you’ll have the opportunity to confront the eating disorder head on and learn healthier ways to relate to your body and emotions.

I’ve tried eating disorder treatment before, how do I know this time will be different?

This is a common theme among clients I’ve worked with, whether they are seeking anorexia treatment, bulimia treatment, or binge eating disorder treatment. I understand that what works for one person might not work for another in therapy. Each person’s treatment experience is entirely unique. If something isn’t going well, I’m not afraid to think outside of the box and try a different approach. I’m the kind of therapist who will push you to keep going, as long as you still want to be pushed.  Recovery is messy, but that’s ok because it’s 100% worth it.

WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?

Reach out to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation.