One size doesn’t fit all. Treatment is different for each eating disorder and unique to each person.
Seeking help for an eating disorder can feel daunting, you may feel caught in a trap of “can’t live with it but I can’t live without it”. On the one hand you want to be symptom free but may still want the Eating Disorder “benefit” – for example “I want to stop purging but only if I can remain thin.” You may be asking yourself “what will life be like without my Eating Disorder? It’s been my ‘friend’, kept me safe and has given me a way of coping in life?” These are all normal thoughts and feelings associated with change. Rachel takes a gentle and individualized approach to your recovery. We will focus on:
- What has brought you here at this time?
- What purpose the Eating Disorder is serving?
- How to stabilize your thoughts, emotions and eating patterns.
There isn’t a single cause of an Eating Disorder and even the same Eating Disorders affect people in different ways. Therefore the approach to treatment differs, however there are some universal aspects to treatment of each eating disorder which include:
- Nutritional rehabilitation – restore regular eating pattern with nutritional food, while working on the excuses or barriers to change this. With Anorexia the goal is stop weight loss and move towards weight restoration while in Binge Eating, eating patterns are restructured.
- Food monitoring – through food journals capture not only what you are eating and when but becoming aware of what the thoughts and emotions are around eating.
- Providing education and facts – for example education about the physical effects on the body caused by overeating, purging and dieting.
- Challenging unhelpful thought patterns – identify and change dysfunctional beliefs about weight, food and body shape.
- Work on emotional issues – What is the eating disorder a coping mechanism for? What are the underlying issues that prompt you to engage with your eating disorder? This means something different for each person but it could be issues around anxiety, depression, low self-esteem or trauma.
- Body image and self-esteem – work on becoming aware of and changing some beliefs, thoughts, attitudes, assumptions about your body image and self-esteem.
- Relapse prevention – strategies to help you cope if you feel you are re engaging with your eating disorder.
Depending on the presenting eating disorder it may be necessary to work with a multi-disciplinary team. Some Eating Disorders can pose a serious physical and medical risk to you. We may work with a GP, Nutritionist and or Psychiatrist to ensure all your needs is being looked after.
Recovery is possible. Rachel will help you find freedom from the obsession of food, weight and body image. She will provide a safe and supportive space for you to work through your recovery. You can live without your Eating Disorder. Is now your time to let go of the Eating Disorder and take your control back?
