Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Kelowna, BC.

My approach to eating disorders is to look beyond the behavior and understand what it is communicating. What is your relationship to food--what are your early experiences around eating, food, nurturance? From birth on food comes to mean so many things to us--food as fuel and energy, food as a demonstration of love, food as a way to exert control. Together we can unearth your relationship to food and work towards changing patterns using tools such as EMDR, hypnotherapy, CBT, Dreamwork (in which the mind tells us the underlying emotions associated with our issues), and creating new associations to food.

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.

If you’ve struggled with disordered eating, you are all too familiar with compulsive behavior, obsessive thoughts and a disconnect from the body. You may also have a constant need for control while at the same time feeling a frightening and exhausting loss of all control. Please know that none of this is your choice, but rather is a state of stress and overwhelm while you do your best to feel better. I have nothing but compassion for the distress that comes with food-related challenges, and you have my commitment to help you care for the difficult underlying emotions involved. Together, we will create a safe space to move towards healing and a safe relationship with food and the body.

I help people overcome their addiction to food. We all eat for emotional reasons, but if your emotional eating is ruining your health or your well-being I can help you learn skills to take back control. Through a health and wellness approach, with a strong nutritional component, we will work together to help you create a healthy relationship to food.

While most eating disorder issues are treated by cognitive behavioral methodologies or specialized outpatient/inpatient programs, Grey Matters International and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, PhD provide relief first and foremost for the brain of one suffering from an eating disorder----without giving them medication. We believe that the neural circuitries responsible for the compulsive behaviors with eating are not necessarily only a neurotransmitter issue but of overused neural networks that affect the harmonization, balance, and decisions of the whole brain. Contact kevin@kevinfleminphd.com or 877-606-6161 to learn more about this safe and effective alternative.

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.

Disordered Eating patterns and Eating Disorders are not about food. Those who suffer from these afflictions experience emotional torment, fear, a feeling of a loss of control, and cultural and societal pressures. Whether you have experienced sexual, emotional, or physical abuse, we work with you to discover the root of your beliefs about food, your body, and the factors that are both contributive and protective in the development and maintenance of your eating disorder

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 do a complete assessment before deciding on an approach. An eating disorder is a symptom of root causes. As in an iceberg model, the symptom is just the tip of the iceberg. Through cognitive/behavioral therapy and the use of EMDR, I target the life experiences that produce the negative behaviours of eating disorders. This is much the same as working with an addiction to a substance.

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.

With many issues in life, if you are struggling with something you can simply ignore it. Eating disorders and disordered eating are different, because food is a constant, and a biological need. Jadon Ward can help you explore your relationship with food and body image. Ultimately the goal of therapy is for you to be comfortable with yourself and your lifestyle, and that looks different for everyone.