Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in South Huron, ON.

We may not need to learn how to eat - but eating in a balanced way can be quite the trick to learn! If compulsive eating (or avoiding it or overeating and 'getting rid' of it...) is a problem it would seem simple to change this. Sometimes that's true. But if it's not for you, you already know how it has a profound impact on your life. So, like many of our addictions (and I would say that we all have some form of addiction) to change such a pattern can feel impossible. In therapy the trick is to find how the particular 'routine' that you have works - both to help you as well as how it hinders your life. From there, we can plan ways to continue the 'good' yet move beyond what is 'problematic'.

EDs often require services from many care providers however psychotherapy is crucial. EDs mainly are management strategies for coping with high-stress induced by interference with a young person’s self-identity development. The 'culture' (home, social-peer) responsible is one emphasizing image-performance as the basis of one's value/lovability. Strong fear of external judgement, rejection, failure and inattention overwhelms the child's/young person's normal course of healthy growth. Particularly the ages/stages when social esteem-bonding is very important. My approach is to restore connection with one's core 'real' self, from the inside, fostering personal empowerment and sound self-care.

Eating disorders affect more people than is often reported in the media and men are not immune to them. Today's media sets up unrealistic expectations for what is considered "beautiful" or "handsome." Eating disorders can result if we buy into these ideals and engage in behaviours that promote this unrealistic image. There are many types of therapy that can be helpful for those experiencing eating disorders.

Eating disorder recovery is a transformative journey towards a healthier relationship with food and yourself. Through a supportive and non-judgmental therapeutic process, we will work together to develop healthier habits, improve body image, explore emotional triggers, and restore your overall well-being. If you are on the path to eating disorders recovery, reach out today for a free consultation.

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 work with your negative body image, from the inside out. "The negative image is understood as a dissociated and shame-based “part” of the personality in need of understanding and compassion, achieved via mindful awareness, “parts” dialogue and trauma processing. Our first step will be to create a healthy separation between the "observing" or aware Self and the part(s) absorbed in the eating disorder via mindful awareness. Once this separation between the "whole" self and part of self is established, the Gestalt polarity tradition (empty chairs) is utilized to develop understanding of the shame-based part. This leads to developing more love and compassion for yourself. You are enough!

A sense of self is easily interrupted by stress, change, and trauma. Maybe you feel like you have never really known yourself and have always been focused on others. Or, maybe, you feel like you have lost a sense of self due to big changes in your life. This could all be tied in with how you feel about your body, especially if it has gone through a change as well. We can offer support for this, including help for: • Body image concerns • Low self-esteem or self-worth • Questioning self-purpose and plan • People pleasing, rescuing and fixing • Chronic guilt, regret and shame

Emotional eating can stem from social expectations, family of origin rituals and gatherings, and negative self-talk. Emotional eating can lead to weight gain and health concerns. I use CBT, DBT and ACT to help clients learn to recognize emotional triggers that lead to eating behaviors when not physically hungry. I also help clients develop techniques to mindfully eat, resist temptation and learn to recognize when emotions are pulling at your puppet strings.

Our struggles with food are rooted in several life events that remain unknown until you have a safe place to explore their impact. How we are raised, our initial relationship with food and how we manage our emotions are all intertwined with nutrition. Seeing food as purely for nourishment at times can be challenging with all the media's mixed messages about nutrition. Our need to control the food we intake takes over and we punish our bodies by over eating or under eating. We develop ways to harm ourselves through the use of food. Together we will explore your relationship with food and develop ways you can nourish your body and soul to embrace food as your happiness medecine.

My approach to Eating Disorder Counseling is holistic and compassionate, focusing on both emotional and physical healing. I create a safe, non-judgmental environment where you can explore the underlying issues contributing to your eating disorder. Using a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy, nutritional guidance, and mindfulness practices, we will work together to develop healthy coping mechanisms and a positive relationship with food. My goal is to empower you to break free from harmful patterns, restore your self-esteem, and achieve lasting recovery. Take the courageous step towards a healthier, happier you—book an appointment with us today and begin your journey to wellness.

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.

Eating issues are more about "what's eating you!" Often our food-related issues are signalling that we need to pay attention not only to our body but what is bothering us on the inside. Getting to the inside can be challenging, as the protective layers of eating issues can be difficult to get through. Working with eating disorders requires patience as the progress often occurs at a slow pace.