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Therapy For Eating Disorders

therapist talking with their client

Eating disorders are one the hardest things to live with and perhaps the most challenging to recover from. Here at Your Counselling Service we understand that eating disorders can really take over people’s lives and identities. We appreciate that individuals can often find themselves consumed with thoughts and feelings around food, body size, shape and obsessive thoughts. The internal battle is relentless.

We understand that there is a varied spectrum when it comes to disordered eating, and we don’t expect individuals to fall into one set category or label. However, it is important to acknowledge that our experienced team of therapists work with a wide range of Eating Disorders including:

  • Anorexia
  • Binge Eating Disorder
  • Bulimia
  • Compulsive Overeating
  • Obesity

Eating disorders range from binge eating to restricting eating, and they can often include abuse of laxatives, vomiting and exercise. Eating disorders are not just about food and exercise though. They have a lot to do with relationships, experiences, history, and confidence.

How we can help beat eating disorders

Therapy can help people to practically change the relationship they have with food and exercise, and at the same time help them to change and challenge destructive patterns. Finally, it can also help people to increase their self-esteem, improve their general self-care and wellbeing, while developing and improving all other areas of their lives.

Many clients come to us after battling with an eating disorder for a long time.  They are often feeling very lost and consumed with their illness and at times very hopeless. Our dedicated team work hard to help them to recover by putting a lot of new coping strategies in place, as well as giving them a therapeutic toolbox to take away and use. We also address the underlying issues that can lead to an Eating Disorder developing in our comprehensive therapy sessions.

For all our clients we offer face to face appointments in St. Albans, or virtual calls, so that they can feel comfortable during an appointment with one of our experienced counsellors.

Hear Lucy’s story

This is Lucy, she recovered from her Eating Disorder through a very powerful therapeutic journey with our Director Hayley Ryan and very kindly volunteered to share her recovery experience.

Our approach to helping those with eating disorders

  • Starting the recovery process is the biggest step forward
  • Separate the ED voice from the healthy voice
  • Learn to respect and value yourself
  • Everything in moderation
  • Trust the process of recovery
  • Self-soothing and respect is key
  • Food diaries and mood diaries can be very helpful
  • Everyone is individual with their own recovery plan
  • Emotional and physical health is so important
  • Change can happen and it can be positive
  • Fear can be overcome
  • Support network is important (and our service becomes a major part of this)
  • Feeling less alone and isolated aids recovery
  • Self-worth and esteem can develop through therapy
  • You are never alone
  • Recovery takes time, strength, and determination
  • We are here to help whenever you feel you can’t do it

Lets take your first step to recovery, together.

Making the decision to start therapy is both daunting and frightening. People often feel nervous and don’t know what to expect. To give you an idea, we would book an assessment as an initial chance for us to meet and talk. This would last an hour, and it is an opportunity to ask questions and to get to know you more. You can also ask about anything that you are unsure about. If you feel comfortable and are happy to go ahead, then we would book you in for weekly therapy. Each week would be different depending on where you are at, and what you are coming for. We can discuss all of your needs in the assessment and put a treatment plan in place. We have a great team and we are here to help.

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