Common Questions
Eating disorders or difficulties with food, eating and body image affect people of every age, weight, race, and gender. In my practice, I work with people of diverse ethnicities, ages, body types, genders, and races.
No. Many people will experience difficulties relating to food, eating and body image distress without having an eating disorder. I can work with you to best determine your needs and adjust therapy to help you work towards your individual hopes and goals.
Yes, recovery from an eating disorder is absolutely possible. While the journey can be challenging and requires commitment, many individuals have successfully overcome their eating disorders and gone on to lead fulfilling, healthy lives. With the right support, treatment, and resources, you can make significant progress. Therapy can help you develop healthier coping mechanisms, address underlying issues, and build a positive relationship with food and your body. Remember, each step you take towards recovery is a victory, and you don't have to do it alone.
Absolutely, it is still possible to recover even if past treatments have not been successful. Many factors can influence the effectiveness of treatment, including the timing of therapy, the fit between you and your therapist, and the type of therapy used. Sometimes, it takes finding the right approach and the right therapist who truly understands your unique situation.
Most people who struggle with eating related difficulties will likely also experience a secondary impact on their mood or anxiety levels. For some people their eating difficulties may have developed as a way of helping them to manage other difficult experiences like low mood or anxiety. Whilst I am an eating disorder and body image specialist, I routinely work with individuals with other difficulties including low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem, perfectionism, and high self-criticism.
The number of sessions needed varies greatly from person to person. During our initial session, we will discuss your specific concerns, review your personal history, and identify your therapy goals. Some individuals may benefit from just a few sessions to address their immediate needs, while others may prefer longer-term therapy to explore deeper issues and achieve lasting change. Ultimately, the frequency and duration of sessions will be determined based on your unique circumstances and therapeutic progress. Flexibility and collaboration ensures that the therapy process meets your individual needs and goals.
Yes, abolutely!
It is well established that having a loved one with an eating disorder can negatively impact your wellbeing. I can work with you to help you better understand eating disorders and how to support your loved one, whilst also supporting you to build skills in taking care of yourself and holding healthy boundaries to support your own wellbeing.
Parents play a crucial role in the recovery process for young people with eating disorders as young people will typically struggle to recover without the involved support of their parents. What therapy would look like would depend on the age of your child and their motivation to recover but in most cases there would be a mixture of both individual and family based sessions.
The first 1-2 sessions are more question and answer format as I gather important background information so that I can best understand what’s going on for you. After that, I will spend some time summarizing my understanding of your issues and talk about how I can help moving forward. You will have the opportunity to tell me about the main difficulties you are struggling with and the hopes and goals that you would like help moving towards.
Online therapy sessions are conducted through an end-to-end encrypted version of Zoom along with a VPN to ensure appointments are private. After scheduling an appointment, you'll receive a link to join the session on the designated day and time. During the session, the experience is very similar to that of an in-person session, where there is a safe space to discuss and explore experiences, thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
Online therapy can be highly effective for many individuals. Research has shown that online therapy can produce outcomes comparable to traditional in-person therapy for a wide range of mental health concerns.
Online therapy is a powerful way to access professional psychological support from the comfort of your own home. Some benefits include:
Privacy
Having therapy online ensures complete privacy and confidentiality. All you need is a need a smartphone, laptop or computer with a camera and microphone; a secure wifi connection; and a safe space (room) where you can have an uninterrupted, confidential conversation.
Convenience
Online therapy offers the convenience of accessing therapy from your home. This eliminates the need for travel time and allows for greater flexibility in scheduling appointments.
Accessibility
Online therapy makes psychological support more accessible to individuals who may face barriers to traditional in-person therapy, such as those living in remote areas, individuals with mobility issues, or those with busy schedules.
Online therapy offers the same level of support as in-person sessions, with the added convenience of remote access. It's an excellent option for individuals who prefer the convenience of remote sessions, have busy schedules, live in remote areas, have mobility limitations, or do not have local access to eating disorder specialist treatment.