Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Monrovia, CA.

All of us find ways to "take the edge off" of difficult feelings. Loneliness, anxiety, and stress can make us feel scared and out of control. We all search for comfort in these painful times. From infancy, being cared for and cared about has often meant being fed. Ideally, we are not only fed with food, but emotionally attended to as well. But for some of us, food has always been paired with feeling soothed and comforted. It makes sense that we would turn to food to calm ourselves even now. But it doesn't have to be this way. Together we can get to the heart of what hurts, and learn other ways to feel safe and comforted. It is possible to feel full, even when your stomach is empty.

An eating disorder is not a lifestyle choice. An eating disorder is a serious and often fatal illnesses that causes serious disturbances to a person’s eating behaviors, physical health, and relationships. Obsessions with food, body weight, and shape may also signal an eating disorder. The sooner someone struggling with this illness, or displaying behaviors and attitudes consistent with these disorders, can get connected to help, the better. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. As with any illness or psychological disorder, these problems will not go away on their own; without clinical support they often only escalate dangerously.

I have a history of working with compulsive dieters and compulsive overeaters. I work with clients to understand the underlying needs for the food and/or for the weight, while supporting clients' abilities to take care of themselves in profound ways, whether physically, spiritually, emotionally, or mentally. Clients find ways to create more nourishing and harmonious relationships with themselves as well as with food.

A safe place to talk about intense emotions for those diagnosed with an eating disorder can be of benefit as an individual uncovers the root motivations which might be linked with eating disorders. Several unresolved emotions and issues often are found at the core of eating problems, often beginning in early adolesence. Learning how to express feelings such as anger, sadness, guilt, and fear can be a freeing experience with a professional therapist.

We ask you to consult your medical doctor, in order to rule out any medical condition which may contribute to your eating disorder. We focus on helping you understand the causes of your eat, as long as you are medically stable. If you are not medically appropriate for outpatient treatment we will refer you to an inpatient facility until you are ready to do psychotherapy.

Eating disorders are often undetected as there can be a great deal of shame is involved as often depression is a co-occurring disorder. Some disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulima can lead to serious complication or even death if left untreated. Often food can be a source of comfort to an individual, resulting in over-eating, as well as the flip side when it comes to severe food restriction, allowing a person to dictate specific control in their diets. It is vital that eating disorders are brought to the surface; however, and a collaborative healthcare team can work in unison with the individual and their family, if possible, & reaching out for help is of upmost importance.

We have Psychologists with specialized advanced training who specialize in the treatment of eating disorders. Because there are many forms of eating disorders it is important to work with a therapist that has experience in this area. If left untreated, eating disorders can become severe and even life threatening. We work closely with other medical professionals to develop a physical, emotional and spiritual approach to your healing. Give us a call and begin your path to healing.

Unresolved issues from your past can lead to more serious disorders such as an eating disorder. We will go beyond the symptom of the eating disorder to treat the underlying cause and unresolved psychological trauma that brought you to experience it in the first place. This will help you restore your sense of control and reduce the poweful hold that any painful memories have on you as well as getting to a place where you have a better relationship with food.

The goals during treatment for eating disorders are designed to promote long term healthy behaviors and prevent relapse after completing treatment for eating disorders. Deconstruct urges to binge and purge so that urges can be identified early and emotion regulation skills practiced. Identify and challenge dysfunctional thoughts, which are characteristic of their eating disorder Improve each individual’s self image, self-control, self-esteem, and behavior.

I work with a variety of eating disorders and work at treating both the behavior initially and the issues that are underneath the eating disorder. I am an expert at treating trauma and often trauma or traumatic relationships are at the heart of an eating disorder. Eating disorders typically are related to self-soothing or trying to gain control in areas where one doesn't feel he/she has control. Contact me for more information and assistance with an eating disorder. We are specialists in a variety of different areas and are able to offer help not only for the client with this issue bu also couple or family support. Experts in helping women & teens! Trauma experts too!

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.