Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Sooke, BC.

Eating Disorders can become all-consuming, and extremely disruptive of every day life. Most who suffer with eating disorders think about their relationship with food all day long, weigh themselves excessively, and do (sometimes irreparable) damage to their bodies and psyches. Dr Sloat helps you to find the underlying causes and thinking patterns that perpetuate your disorder so you can find a sustainable solution and implement it. Are you ready to reclaim yourself?

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.

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 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 am honoured that you are interested in my services and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I have been described as slightly non-conventional in the counselling world, which suits me perfectly, and also tends to suit youth who are trying to stand up to the force of the problems in their life. I am very comfortable working with this population, and I feel fortunate that I can connect with teens the way I do, conventionally or in a way that makes sense to them.

Eating disorder counseling provides a compassionate space to address the underlying emotional and psychological factors contributing to disordered eating. My approach focuses on building trust, exploring the root causes of behaviors, and fostering a healthier relationship with food and body image. Together, we’ll develop personalized strategies to challenge harmful patterns, manage triggers, and support your recovery journey. Clients benefit from greater self-acceptance, improved coping skills, and a renewed sense of balance and control in their lives.

If you are eating in an unhealthy way quite possibly you have sought medical advice. Counseling will support you by looking for the reasons why you use food and eating in unhealthy ways. i will ask you to tell your story in lots of detail. Maybe you will uncover self esteem issues or issues about control and power. We may talk about feminism and societal trends and advertising which encourage you to try to look like models or entertainers. We will try to strengthen your pride and acceptance of yourself so you do not seek approval using behaviours not respectful of you health and individuality. We will look at effective eating management strategies and self honoring lifestyle choices.

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 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.