Find An Eating Disorder Therapist in Vaughan, ON.

Eating disorders often occur alongside depression and anxiety. I view eating disorders as a symptom of deep and painful emotions, often linked to trauma, stress, or grief/loss. In our work together we can address your eating disorder in relation to your family of origin and current relationships and also address any anxiety or depression that may be occurring. The goal is to better understand the role eating disorders play in helping one to cope with the painful emotions that arise due to trauma, depression, anxiety and/or early life family of origin disruptions.

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 or uncomfortable participating in social activities involving food (such as getting dinner with friends) you may be engaging in disordered eating. I offer free consultations to answer your questions and help you determine if therapy will be beneficial for you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Eating disorder can overshadow your life, stealing the joy and self-respect. I have worked with many who struggled with eating disorders and disordered eating and yes, it is possible to fight it and move beyond it. In the therapy with me you become aware of your strengths, your limitations and areas that need strengthening. You discover you are not alone and let the guilt and shame sweep away and become stronger. You learn how to create healthier boundaries, recognize triggers and become emotionally and mentally stronger.

Disordered eating has served a purpose in your life. Together we will not only restore your healthy eating practices, we will determine the root cause of your eating disorder. This is essential to ensure we respect your emotional needs and enable you to maintain healthy eating patterns lifelong. I will provide us with the compassionate and supportive dynamic essential to your journey of creating the life experience you desire.

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.

The two most common forms of eating disorders are Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. The current research shows that two of the most effective treatments for these conditions are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy. The other disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). The severity can range from mild to extreme whereby individuals experience irregular eating patterns, yo-yo dieting or at the other end can experience life threatening conditions. Eating disorders do not usually resolve on their own, they need professional intervention. It is my goal to help you overcome your difficulties with your eating disorder.

In my experience, self acceptance and self esteem lie at the core of almost every eating condition, even when anxiety feels like the primary motivation for your behavior. Having said that, I never make assumptions about why you do what you do and what is motivating the relationship you have with food. I work hard in our relationship to understand what it feels like to be you so that we can both learn what it will take to change your eating habits for the better and encourage natural and healthy associations with both food and your body.

A sense of self is easily interrupted by stress, change, and trauma. Maybe you feel like you have never really known yourself and have always been focused on others. Or, maybe, you feel like you have lost a sense of self due to big changes in your life. This could all be tied in with how you feel about your body, especially if it has gone through a change as well. We can offer support for this, including help for: • Body image concerns • Low self-esteem or self-worth • Questioning self-purpose and plan • People pleasing, rescuing and fixing • Chronic guilt, regret and shame

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.

Often abnormal eating habits disturb our physical and mental functioning as well as adversely impact emotional wellbeing and our daily life activities. We help individuals overcome eating disorders through a holistic approach to treatment. Specializing in medical care, nutritional counselling, therapy, and support groups are strong predictors of promoting physical and emotional healing. We are committed to early intervention and empowering individuals to reclaim their health and well-being. The specific type of psychotherapy used may depend on the individual's needs, preferences, and the severity of their eating disorder. Treatment is often tailored to address clients' individualistic need