Eating Disorders & Body Image
There are numerous popular myths surrounding eating disorders. Many people believe that eating disorders only impact young women, that eating disorders are just a ‘passing phase’ of adolescence or that you can ‘tell’ whether someone has an eating disorder by looking at them.
Unfortunately, eating disorders can have lifelong implications for our health and severe medical complications. Many people with Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-eating disorder and others can look ‘healthy’ on the outside. However, these disorders can impair all aspects of life: eating, working, socializing, relationships, exercise and movement, even sleep.
They can also negatively impact all systems of the body: the heart and circulation, muscles and bones, hormones, fertility and the endocrine system, brain function, the gut and digestive system, even bladder and bowel function. Cognitive and psychological functioning can also be severely impacted: thinking, attention and concentration are impaired, perception of reality becomes distorted, self-awareness is reduced, and sufferers often experience a high level of self-criticism, perfectionistic thinking and obsessiveness.
But with the right support and specialised, evidence-based treatment, recovery is possible.
Through clinical assessments and evidence-based treatment, I offer therapy to adults suffering from:
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge-Eating disorder
Other Specified or Unspecified eating disorders.
I also support individuals who are suffering eating or body image issues that do not necessarily meet all the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder. These include: disordered eating patterns, compulsive or obsessive exercise, orthorexia (obsession with ‘clean’, healthy or pure eating), body dissatisfaction and poor self worth associated to weight and shape.
Philosophy
I am a full member of ANZAED (Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders) and practice within a non-dieting, Health At Every Size framework (HAES).
HAES is a wholistic health promotion model, which focusses on supporting wellbeing in many different dimensions of health, rather than just weight and shape alone. Rather than focusing solely on losing weight to achieve health outcomes, HAES encourages a focus on health and wellbeing for people of all shapes and sizes, including:
Restoring a healthy relationship with food
Learning to listen and respond compassionately to your hunger and fullness cues
Soothing emotional distress through means other than food and restriction
Encouraging movement and physical activity for the enjoyment it brings, rather than for weight loss.
For further information and research supporting the benefits of HAES approaches, check out this link: https://www.haesaustralia.org.au/What-is-HAES
Eating Disorder Therapy with me will involve:
Initial assessment to identify the goals and focus of therapy and to outline your therapy team (this usually involves your GP and an eating disorder-focussed dietitian, psychiatrist, or in some cases, both).
Therapy: I have been trained in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (Enhanced) for eating disorders and will integrate other modalities (eg. Mindful Self-compassion, DBT skills, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR) where appropriate. I’ll also suggest a diverse range of helpful books, podcasts or articles, depending on your preferences.
Throughout therapy, I will work closely with your doctor and care team to ensure that your medical stability and care is prioritised, in line with the best practice standards of care.
What does eating disorder therapy require of you?
Eating disorders are best treated as soon as possible, but improvement in your symptoms and recovery can occur at any stage of this journey.
Therapy is enhanced with:
Self-motivation to attend and engage in therapy
A willingness to experiment with new strategies for approaching eating, weight and body-image, even if they may feel initially uncomfortable.
Agreement to see your doctor regularly for medical check-ups while you are engaged in therapy. This may be on a weekly to monthly basis, depending on the severity and complexity of your disorder
Curiosity about why you experience disordered thoughts and feelings about your body and your relationship to food
A commitment to attempting homework tasks and self-reflection outside of therapy