If you’re struggling with eating issues, know that you don’t have to face them alone.
Counselling offers a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore the underlying causes of your eating issues to help you create a better relationship with food and yourself. A skilled therapist can help you understand the connection between your emotions, thoughts, and behaviours related to food.
Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Taking the first step towards counselling could be the beginning of a positive transformation in your life.
Now, the burning question. Can counselling really help with my eating issues? Let's have a look together at the current evidence-based research!
What Counselling Can Do
Creating a Safe, Non-judgmental Space
When dealing with eating issues, feelings of shame, guilt, or fear often arise. During counselling sessions, you are met with unconditional positive regard, meaning your therapist accepts you without judgment, regardless of your struggles. This safe space allows you to open up about your relationship with food, eating habits, and body image, knowing that you will be heard and understood.
Evidence-based research found that women with a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa reported highly valuing being listened to and having had a directive yet warm and respectful counsellor [1]. Similarly, congruence (genuineness) from the therapist has been seen as instrumental in the clients' progress, with this trust, openness and curiosity from the counsellor that enables clients to feel understood [2].
Deepening your Self-Awareness
Encouraging Emotional Exploration and Healing
Building a Positive Self-Image
Alleviating your Eating Disorder Symptoms
What Counselling Cannot Do
While counselling can be an invaluable resource in addressing eating issues, it's important to understand its limitations.
Counsellors and therapists are not medical professionals, so they cannot monitor or manage the physiological aspects of eating disorders or other medical conditions related to food. This means they cannot diagnose medical conditions, prescribe medication, or monitor changes in your physical health, such as weight, nutritional deficiencies, or other medical complications. If you require medical supervision, it's crucial to work with a healthcare provider, such as a doctor and/or a nutritionist, alongside your counselling sessions [1].
The therapist’s role is to provide emotional and psychological support, helping you explore and resolve the underlying issues contributing to your eating behaviours, but they should work in collaboration with medical professionals to ensure a comprehensive approach to your well-being.
Where can I find further help (UK)?
BEAT Eating Disorders
Helplines open Monday to Friday from 3pm to 8pm.
England: 0808 801 0677
Scotland: 0808 801 0432
Wales: 0808 801 0433
Northern Ireland: 0808 801 0434
Local support: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/beat-support-in-my-area/
Talk ED
Samaritans
If you are in need of urgent help for yourself or someone else, please contact 999 or 111 option 2.
I am open to new clients!
I specialise in eating issues. Get in touch to book a free phone consultation or an initial session.
References
[1] Marchant, L., & Payne, H. (2002). The experience of counselling for female clients with anorexia nervosa: A person- centred perspective. Counselling and Psychotheraphy Research, 2(2), 127–132.
[2] Lefebvre, D. B. (2016). Client perspectives of psychotherapy for eating disorders in community practice settings (Doctoral dissertation,Université d'Ottawa/University of Ottawa).
[3] Schützmann, K., Schützmann, M., & Eckert, J. (2010). Wirksamkeitvon ambulanter Gesprächs psychotherapie bei Bulimia nervosa: Ergebnisse einer randomisiert- kontrollierten Studie. Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, Medizinische Psychologie, 60, 52–63.
[4] Ward, S., Daughtrey, N., Constable, C. and Bel, J., (2024). Exploring young people with eating difficulties and their caregivers' experiences of person-centred counselling. Couns Psychother Res., 24, 1120–1132.
[5] Heruc, G., Hurst, K., Casey, A., Fleming, K., et al. (2020). ANZAED eating disorder treatment principles and general clinical practice and training standards. J Eat Disord., 8(1), 63.
[6] Hay, P. (2013). A systematic review of evidence for psychological treatments in eating disorders: 2005–2012. Int J Eat Disord., 46(5), 462–9
[7] Hilbert, A., Petrof, D., Herpertz, S., Pietrowsky, R., et al. (2019). Meta-analysis of the efcacy of psychological and medical treatments for binge-eating disorder. J Consult Clin Psychol., 87(1), 91–105.
[8] Pisetsky, E. M., Schaefer, L. M., Wonderlich, S. A., Peterson, C. B., (2019). Emerging psychological treatments in eating disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am., 42(2), 219–29.
[9] Linardon, J., Fairburn, C. G., Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., Wilfey, D. E., Brennan, L., (2017). The empirical status of the third-wave behaviour therapies for the treatment of eating disorders: a systematic review. Clin Psychol Rev., 58,125–40.
[10] Fogelkvist, M., Gustafsson, S. A., Kjellin, L. and Parling, T., (2020). Acceptance and commitment therapy to reduce eating disorder symptoms and body image problems in patients with residual eating disorder symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. Body Image, 32, 156–66.
[11] von Ranson, K. M., Wallace, L. M. and Stevenson, A., (2013). Psychotherapies provided for eating disorders by community clinicians: Infrequent use of evidence-based treatment. Psychother Res., 23(3), 333–43.
[12] Tone, J., Chelius, B. and Miller, Y. D., (2022). The effectiveness of a feminist-informed, individualised counselling intervention for the treatment of eating disorders: A case series study. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10:70.
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