Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Signal Hill, CA.

CONCERNED ABOUT OVEREATING? Are you obsessed with self image, weight issues and food? Do you frequently get on some type of diet and then realize that it does not work for you? I can help you look deeper and uncover the real underlying issue and the source of your emotional pain. In counseling, you can work through your inner conflicts, your painful past issues, unpleasant memories and move on to balance, healing, recovery, and healthy self-esteem. Call me for a FREE telephone consultation session and we will go from there!

I believe forming a healthy self-image requires change and healing on several layers. Constructive and healthy behavioral changes need to be implemented, as well as understanding the underlying factors that are contributing to the disorder. Only focusing on the behavior may result in temporary change, but the true healing will not be complete until the deeper issues are addressed. Too often those struggling with eating disorders do so alone, with no one aware of what they are fighting with. Therapy is a safe place to explore and process through the painful and private layers of intense self-criticism, as well as find support for the day to day (and sometimes moment to moment) hurdles.

Portion control and/or nutrition is simply not enough. We need to uncover root causes, process trauma, find emotional peace, identify strengths, increase confidence, and find overall healing at a pace that is comfortable and effective. Your eating disorder does not define you. Let us help you find victory over food and all of its wacky, illegitimate power. You can learn more about us at www.HealPlayLove.org

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.

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.

OCAC specializes in the area of Body Dysmorphic Disorder and eating disorders that relate to control and obsession. If you find your compulsions irrational yet unpreventable, there are solutions. If food is merely an arena for you to exert control or if food strongly corresponds to anxiety's role in your life, OCAC can help. Our focus is not in body image therapy. Rather, our approach addresses the mind's associations with food and the underlying mentalities that influence thoughts about food and eating.

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.