Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Lynwood, CA.

I view an eating disorder as a coping strategy (tool), and therapy is a place for you to replace this "tool" with one that is helpful rather than harmful. You and I would work together to find new ways of coping with uncomfortable feelings and situations. We would figure out what your triggers are and how to live with upsetting experiences. We might also discover that control has a lot to do with what's going on, and its roots might stem from how you were treated by your parents and other family members. So, we would also find ways for you to not only feel but actually BE more in control of your life.

With over 16 years of clinical experience, I provide a comprehensive assessment of eating disorder/body image issues in order to determine the best course of treatment. Initial interviews focus on gathering a full history of symptoms, including any/all preoccupations with weight and appearance. We will work with your physician to screen for any medical complications, as well as refer you to a dietician if you need more structure with your nutritional intake. The goal is to improve the relationship you have with food and your body, so that you can move forward with life and create lasting change.

Eating disorders are most often a reaction to other life events. Often clients feel like life is so chaotic that eating habits are the only aspect of life that they can control. Eating disorders are also often linked to anxiety and low self-esteem. In order to treat eating disorders, I would help clients to build a more positive body image, create and implement a healthy eating plan, and build support in the family system.

Disordered eating is a fairly recent phenomenon in history. I believe it is important to consider the context in which clients are living, and the cultural ideologies and norms for body image, weight, aging, sexuality, sex-appeal. Here in the United States, is health and beauty synonymous or do we sacrifice our health in order to conform to a certain definition of perfection? I have found that perfection plays a heavy hand in clients relationship to eating. I am interested in analyzing and contextualizing perfection's presence within the very fabric of our society in order to begin to show that it's pressures are palpable, powerful, and do not belong to any single person.

My comprehensive approach includes looking at both psychological and physiological factors contributing to eating disorders. Highly specialized in binge eating disorder, obesity, bulimia, orthorexia. Therapeutic approach includes several modalities, including (but not limited to) CBT and psychodynamic therapy. Treating both adolescents and adults.

I am a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS). During graduate school I trained in an eating disorder research clinic and I specialize in providing evidence-based treatment for eating disorders in adults and adolescents. For adults with eating disorders, I provide cognitive behavioral therapy which is well-proven in research, especially for the treatment of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. For adolescents with anorexia or bulimia, the treatment of choice is Maudsley Family Based therapy (FBT) in which the support of the whole family is enlisted to help in treatment. I am one of the few therapists in LA County certified in FBT.

I help individuals to break the chains of eating disorders which has them enslaved and obsessing over food and body image. Both women and men suffer from the norms in society and the ideals of how we are all supposed to look. People can become victims to the discourses of body image. I will work closely with you to free yourself from this eating disordered identity and to live a freer existence.

EMDR, Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, & Acceptance & Commitment Therapy have all been shown to be useful in the treatment of eating disorders. While anorexia is imminently life-threatening and is, therefore, best treated inpatient, bulemia, bulmarexia & compulsive over-eating may respond if matched well to one of the above out-patient therapies and used in conjunction with group therapy, a peer support group, or a 12-step program.

Eating disorders greatly interrupt the quality of life for the person suffering from this complex disease. It can become the center of one's existence, creating isolation, depression, and anxiety in its' wake. My approach to treating eating disorders is to deeply understand what is at the core of the development of the eating disorder...what pain it is helping to manage...so that one to begin to understand the root cause of this addictive behavior and begin to slowly replace eating disordered behavior with a new understanding and acceptance of teh self as well as new coping behaviors. It is a complicated process, but one that can lead to long term health and recovery.

If you have difficulties with your eating, there is always some emotional component. Together, we’ll examine what the psychological and emotional issues are that are involved in your particular problems with eating. This applies with compulsive overeating, anorexia, and bulimia. Even milder forms of overeating or undereating have emotional aspects, and we can deal with them. Bingeing or purging come in many forms, and we’ll examine how that may apply with you. It’s not about the diet, it’s about the dieter. It’s about the way you relate to your emotions, the people and situations in your life, and how you translate that to eating. You’re not damaged or a failure. Psychotherapy helps.

If you are over or under eating you are very likely to have had a painful trauma and will benefit from learning to face this difficult experience. Dare to share and ease the blame and shame. You will learn to use your body's signals to ease the pain through relaxation techniques, meditative skills and hypnosis. Find out how hidden beliefs and rules limit your progress.

In addition to working with eating disorders in private practice, I also have experience working at inpatient facilities and running groups. I believe that eating disorders should be approached in a holistic manner and the underlying causes must be examined. There are many complexities when working with eating disorders and I take a warm, humanistic approach when doing so.

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.