Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Don Mills, ON.

I am specialized in helping clients explore the root of their problems in order to develop new ways of coping and live healthy, fulfilling lives. Often our emotional concerns manifest externally in ways that may be initially useful for coping in the short term, but over time become chronic problematic behaviours, such as addictions or disordered eating. I use approaches such as mindfulness, interpersonal counselling (therapy through relationship), and CBT to explore the factors contributing to the underlying difficulties to promote healthy ways of managing difficult experiences, help clients gain a sense of control and improved self-esteem, and foster lasting growth and transformation.

I work with your negative body image, from the inside out. "The negative image is understood as a dissociated and shame-based “part” of the personality in need of understanding and compassion, achieved via mindful awareness, “parts” dialogue and trauma processing. Our first step will be to create a healthy separation between the "observing" or aware Self and the part(s) absorbed in the eating disorder via mindful awareness. Once this separation between the "whole" self and part of self is established, the Gestalt polarity tradition (empty chairs) is utilized to develop understanding of the shame-based part. This leads to developing more love and compassion for yourself. You are enough!

Eating disorders are serious and complex mental health conditions — but with the right support, recovery is absolutely possible. At Durham Psychotherapy, our registered therapists provide compassionate, evidence-based treatment for clients struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and disordered eating patterns. We understand that eating disorders are rarely about food alone — they are often rooted in anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, perfectionism, or a need for control. Using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, and emotion-focused techniques, we help clients explore the underlying drivers of their relationship with food and their body, develop healthier coping strategies, and build a more stable and compassionate...(view profile to read more)

My approach to working with people who struggle with food issues, is looking at the issue as an expression of a need that can't (yet) be put into words. Because eating disorders can be quite harmful, a team approach is always recommended; a family doctor, perhaps a nutritionist and a therapist. Together we will look at your history of food and how food and body image was spoken about at home; there are often ties to early childhood here. Then, we'll find ways to help manage symptoms, which could look like finding other ways to express the need/feeling, instead of using restriction or bingeing. Eating disorders are quite isolating, and the hardest part can be admitting you need help.

Eating is a part of our daily lives, but for many people, it is an enormous stressor. I am a Health At Every Size advocate and support clients with eating disorders in finding ways of eating that support their lifestyle, goals, and well-being. Through gentle and compassionate care, we work to re-build your lifelong relationship with food, eating, and body image, allowing you to move forward with food freedom.

While I do not offer support for eating disorders, at Psychotherapy Collective, we have other therapists who are well positioned to support you. Eating disorders are not really about food. They involve complex emotional issues that have significant impact on ones physical, emotional and social health. If you are preoccupied with your weight, focused on body image, size, or shape, compelled to perform specific rituals around food, obsessive about food, or deem foods as “safe” or “unsafe” to eat you may be engaging in disordered eating. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with a member of our team today https://www.psychotherapycollective.ca/our-team

While I do not offer support for eating disorders, at Psychotherapy Collective, we have other therapists who are well positioned to support you. Eating disorders are not really about food. They involve complex emotional issues that have significant impact on ones physical, emotional and social health. If you are preoccupied with your weight, focused on body image, size, or shape, compelled to perform specific rituals around food, obsessive about food, or deem foods as “safe” or “unsafe” to eat you may be engaging in disordered eating. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with a member of our team today https://www.psychotherapycollective.ca/our-team

Clients who seek eating disorder counseling and treatment can benefit in a variety of ways. Firstly, counseling can help clients to understand the underlying causes of their eating disorder, such as past trauma or negative self-talk. By addressing these underlying issues, clients can begin to develop healthier coping mechanisms and strategies for managing their symptoms. In addition, counseling can help clients to develop a healthier relationship with food and their body image. Clients can learn to identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs that may be contributing to their eating disorder, and they can develop more positive and self-affirming self-talk.

While I do not offer support for eating disorders, at Psychotherapy Collective, we have other therapists who are well positioned to support you. Eating disorders are not really about food. They involve complex emotional issues that have significant impact on ones physical, emotional and social health. If you are preoccupied with your weight, focused on body image, size, or shape, compelled to perform specific rituals around food, obsessive about food, or deem foods as “safe” or “unsafe” to eat you may be engaging in disordered eating. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with a member of our team today https://www.psychotherapycollective.ca/our-team

I offer individual counselling to support your efforts to lose weight based on the diet of your choice. Stress, depression, or anxiety due to hormonal changes, cravings or emotional difficulties may lead some individuals to overeat. Being overweight alters the functioning of the whole body plus may hurt emotionally as well. The psychological component of a successful weight loss is just as important as nutrition and exercise. Counselling supports you by identifying the emotional factors that affect your weight by rebalancing your lifestyle in a holistic way. We also work on improving your relationship with food, with your body and to learn to respond in a different and compassionate way.

I focus supporting those working with disordered eating which includes restrictive and compulsive eating and irregular or inflexible eating patterns. Eating disorders are an extreme form of disordered eating and are diagnosed. As a psychotherapist, I am unable to provide a diagnosis; however, I do use a team-based approach. We work together to build a care team that you trust and that will support you on this journey. If this leads to an assessment and diagnosis for an eating disorder that may become part of the journey. My approach includes walking alongside you as you learn skills, building safety, self-compassion, and trust, and connect to the value of a support system.

Our team's approach to working with eating disorders is to address the underlying issues that often perpetuate disordered eating: anxiety, perfectionism and a need for control. In helping clients build confidence and explore alternative ways of managing the underlying issues, clients are able to move towards a life that is no longer controlled by food and body image.

Eating disorders are a complex mental health problem with many contributing factors. My approach focuses on understanding the context of the eating disorder development with each individual client, learning about triggers for related behaviours, and exploring and healing underlying issues. Clients will learn to cope without the eating disorder and will be able to minimize or eliminate unhealthy behaviours. In addition, clients will rediscover who they are away from the eating problem. Many clients have described feeling free or like they have "been lifted out of the fog" as they recover and are able to enjoy their life without the eating disorder thoughts and behaviours interfering.