Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in East Vancouver, BC.

Making the commitment to seek therapy for an eating disorder or disordered eating is an act of courage. It can take years to make that first call and sometimes just the thought of discussing your experience can seem overwhelming. Feelings of intense shame are common. In my work with clients struggling with eating disorders, creating an emotionally safe counselling environment is my first priority. Counselling progresses at a pace that is comfortable for you. Counselling is an important pillar of recovery, helping to: Understand the thoughts and feelings which fuel disordered eating. Trace challenging patterns of behaviour and how to free yourself from them. We can start with compassion.

Eating disorders benefit from the same or similar approach used for all addictive behaviours. One of the main therapeutic approaches I use is Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. The relationship to food can be quite complex involving societal or cultural pressures, self-image, past traumas, addictive non-nutritious junk food, media images, social media pressures, bullying. Shame and guilt need to be addressed along with peer pressures. The most common eating disorders are: Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, Pica, Rumination Disorder, Avoidance/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Orthorexia, Purging Disorder etc. The benefits of therapy are enhanced self-image, health and well-being.

I help clients overcome addictive relationships with food. Like all addictions, the behavior is the tip of the iceberg, used to cope with underlying thoughts and emotions. Through collaborative conversations, clients gain insight into underlying concerns, gaining coping skills to more effectively navigate these issues. I draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), helping clients achieve a sense of freedom and control over their lives, leading to long-term change.

EMDR therapy can be a useful tool in treating eating disorders by addressing the underlying emotional issues that may contribute to disordered eating behaviors. Trauma, negative self-image, and other emotional factors can contribute to the development of eating disorders. EMDR therapy works to reprocess these negative emotions and beliefs, helping individuals develop a more positive self-image and reduce the urge to engage in disordered eating behaviors. EMDR can also be used to address triggers that may lead to binging or purging, and to develop healthier coping mechanisms. By addressing the emotional factors that contribute to eating disorder, EMDR can be an effective tool in recovery.

I am flexible in approach with Eating Disorders, starting with what has worked or is working with you already. I offer Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a new approach that will help you to target the thoughts and feelings that cause the problem behaviours in a whole new way. I will give you new skills for handling difficult thoughts and feelings that cause you to binge, purge, or over/under eat. I have formal training in the ACT model which is an evidence based treatment for EDs. Contact me to discuss further.

I will help you to understand the underlying reasons which cause your eating disorder. It's easy to fall into an unhealthy pattern, I can help you to free yourself from the chains of food and create a positive body image. It may seem hopeless at times, but you will learn new strategies and goals to restore a balance between mind, body, and exercise. I understand the complicated relationship we all have with food in the modern world. CBT (Cognitive behavior therapy) is an cornerstone of my treatment plan for eating disorders.

In counselling, we will explore together the factors that drive your perceptions and behavior around food. Molly's goal is to help you develop a healthy sense of freedom in your relationship with food, rather than feeling controlled and distrustful within that dynamic. Molly might use CBT, EMDR, and Enneagram theory to help you as you recover and grow in self-acceptance.