Eating Disorder Counselling in Vancouver, BC
Counselling for Disordered Eating in Vancouver, BC
Online and in-person
Are you struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder? We are here to support you.
Seeking therapy can be a brave and important step towards recovery.
Many people come to therapy because they feel that their lives are being controlled by obsessive thoughts about food, body size, or feelings of worthlessness.
Here at Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre, we prioritize creating a safe and supportive environment where you can discuss your experiences and feelings at a pace that is comfortable for you.
Difference Between Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is a clinical diagnosis that is characterized by abnormal eating patterns and behaviors that can have serious physical and emotional consequences.
Some examples of eating disorders include Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge eating disorder.
Disordered eating, on the other hand, refers to abnormal eating patterns and behaviors that do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of an eating disorder.
Symptoms of Disordered Eating
Disordered eating is characterized by abnormal eating patterns and behaviors that are similar to those of eating disorders, but are less severe or frequent. Some examples of disordered eating behaviors include:
- Avoiding certain food groups or only eating certain foods
- Binge eating, followed by restricting calories or dieting excessively
- Changes in weight or body size
- Constant thoughts and preoccupation with food, no matter how hard you try to distract yourself
- Lack of control over your eating habits
- Eating as a way to cope with stress or emotions
- Obsessing over food and having elaborate rituals related to eating
- Feeling guilty or ashamed for eating certain foods
- Labeling foods as “good” or “bad”
- Misusing diuretics, laxatives, or enemas to control weight
- Skipping meals or eating the same things every day
- Using diet pills or supplements to lose weight
These behaviors can interfere with your ability to enjoy food and live a healthy and fulfilling life, but they may not be severe enough to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of an eating disorder.
If you’re struggling with any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek help from a therapist who specializes in disordered eating.
Why Seek Help for Disordered Eating?
Disordered eating can have serious consequences on physical health. Chronic restriction of food intake or bingeing and purging can lead to malnutrition, and other physical health problems.
Disordered eating is often fueled by underlying emotional or psychological issues, such as anxiety, depression and, unresolved trauma which can be addressed through therapy. It can become an entrenched and chronic condition if left untreated, making it more difficult to overcome over time.
Your counsellor will Develop personalized treatment plans and provide you with practical coping strategies that are tailored to your experiences and situation.
How Can Counselling Help?
If you’ve been struggling with emotional eating or an eating disorder, you may have realized that you can’t overcome this problem on your own. Eating disorders and emotional eating can be difficult to address without professional help, because food is essential for survival. What you need is a way to eat healthily and feel good about yourself.
Our counsellors will help you develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself. This will involve learning to enjoy food, listening to your body’s signals of hunger and fullness, and staying present while you eat.
We will explore the function of your disordered eating and why it may have developed in the first place. For many people, disordered eating can serve as a way to regulate their emotions. We will work together to identify healthier, more adaptive ways of coping with stress and difficult emotions, so that you can bring more joy, balance, and purpose into your life.
Eating Disorder Treatment
Eating disorders are complex and often have underlying psychological, emotional, and social causes. Eating disorder treatment typically involves a combination of therapy, nutrition counseling, and medical support.
With the right support and guidance, it is possible to overcome challenges and achieve lasting recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible.
“There is a wisdom in trauma when we realize that our traumatic responses and imprints are not ourselves and that we can work them through and thus become ourselves.”