Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Edmonton, AB.

I view eating disorders as process addictions. I view addictions and compulsions as coping strategies that persist because they work (or once did); but are being identified as disordered because they no longer help the client cope they way they once did. So, sourcing the root of the disorer is essential. There are also specific strategies for altering habitual behaviors that can be quite useful as the client turns from a failing method of coping to one that in fact functions and permits personsl growth toward self-actualization.

Starting as early as in grade 2, our youth are deeply affected by the issues of body evaluation and peer acceptance. More and more kids are falling into despair because they don’t know how to combat the pressures of going along with what others might consider normal, or because they don’t have the tools to fight against the moments of low esteem/confidence that are a regular part of youth development. Dealing with eating disorders requires a two prong approach - the physical aspect of the disorder must be addressed, as does the psychological aspect of the issue. Tools for healthier resiliency must be developed.

Eating disorders can manifest in a number of forms; including over eating, bulimia and anorexia. A therapist is an integral part of your treatment. Our relationship with food is usually not just physical, but emotional as well. If your emotional relationship with food is not addressed it is difficult to make lasting changes. Often people deal with unpleasant feelings by eating or not eating. I will help you to address feelings and deal with them in a more constructive manner.

Our relationship with food can get really complicated! Food is intended to nourish us and keep us healthy, but a unhealthy relationship with food can easily develop. Frequently food becomes a coping mechanism for dealing with stress, anxiety, perfectionism and self-hate. It is when you start to address the underlying causes of destructive eating and begin to value yourself more that you can start to develop a healthier relationship with yourself and food.

If your relationship with food has taken over, whether that is compulsive or emotional eating or a genuine struggle to lose weight, I can help you understand it and change it. One honest note so you can choose well. Because I am in private practice and am neither a physician nor part of a medical facility, I do not treat anorexia or bulimia, which need medical oversight. For food addiction and weight concerns, I have been a psychologist since 1986. I am based in Calgary and see clients across Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick by secure video. Book a session now: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14249112

Sometimes we deny our needs and this can include our need to eat. The problem is the control others might have over us if we are to reveal our needs. Exploring the need to express our needs and have control over our lives increase our ability to choose. The tangible we create with our bodies that mirror this dilemma can take many forms, but the healing comes from reconnecting to our needs. I have successfully worked with people from a variety of backgrounds to treat a variety of eating disorders and look forward to working with you. Visit my website at www.prairieowlpsychology.ca from more details.

My approach to treating eating disorders is compassionate, holistic, and strengths-based. I focus on helping clients build a healthier relationship with food, their body, and themselves by addressing underlying emotional patterns, unhelpful thoughts, and coping strategies. Using evidence-based approaches like CBT, ACT, and mindfulness, I support clients in developing self-awareness, emotional regulation, and self-compassion. We also work on building life and relational skills, improving communication, and reconnecting with personal values to foster lasting recovery and well-being.

When food, eating, or the way you feel about your body starts taking up too much space in your life, it can be confusing and exhausting. You may find yourself caught in cycles of restriction, overeating, guilt, shame, body checking or constantly thinking about what you should and shouldn't eat. Over time this can effect your confidence, relationships, energy, and ability to simply enjoy life. My approach is compassionate, practical and focused on understanding the person behind the struggle, without judging you or reducing you to a behaviour or compulsion. You deserve a life where your thoughts aren't constantly consumed by food, weight or appearance.

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@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161 to learn more about this safe and effective alternative.