Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Monterey, CA.

Do you find yourself eating for no particular reason? Do you prefer to eat in private? Food carries with it many powerful symbols. It can be used to nurture, comfort, and strengthen. It can also be used to control, punish, shame as well as suppress our feelings. Like any other addiction, food can be used to disconnect us from our intuition and alienate us from ourselves and others. Therapy is an ideal place to explore issues and feelings around food.

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.

I help people with eating disorders overcome their concerns with feeding and eating by assisting them in developing and maturing their minds intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically. I appreciate the unique complexities involved in developing and interrupting eating disorder tendencies and recognize how early experiences impact the mind and the body. Rich insight and sustained change over time can be found by working in a psychodynamic fashion.

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.

My approach to eating disorder therapy emphasizes a holistic understanding of the individual in the context of relationships, phase of life, and physical health. By integrating various therapeutic techniques tailored to the unique needs of each client, I aim to uncover the underlying emotional factors contributing to the eating dysregulation. Clients benefit from this personalized approach as it not only addresses the symptoms but also fosters resilience, self-awareness, and healing in a supportive environment. My approach encourages a sustainable recovery by empowering you to develop healthier relationships with food and yourself, promoting overall well-being.

I have found the approach of Internal Family Systems that helps clients to get in touch with the parts that keep them stuck in a pattern of unhealthy eating, to be extremely helpful. Sometimes I will invite the entire family to sessions if it seems beneficial so that we can eliminate the stigma and shame often associates with disordered eating and look at new ways in which the entire family might benefit

I have worked with numerous clients with Eating Disorders using CBT and EMDR therapy as outpatient clients following in-house treatments, but also those women who have not been in-house. These therapies eradicate the negative beliefs, and negative emotions that drive the disturbing behavior of anorexia and bulimia. Wonderful results helping beautiful women with this most distressing issue.

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.