talk therapy for
disordered eating/body image
Recovery from disordered eating is not simply about behavior—it must include healing your relationship with yourself. If you tend to deprive yourself; struggle with limits; or feel numb, unworthy, or afraid; therapy can help you learn to transcend your struggles with food and move toward making peace with yourself and your body.
I accept clients living in Florida and Quebec, where I am a licensed psychologist.
Located elsewhere? Stephanie can work with you in a coaching or consulting capacity.
MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLE with eating disorder behavior, and some may not even realize they have a problem because in our current society, being preoccupied with food and/or your body seems to be the norm, rather than the exception. And let’s not forget the inescapable influence of social media! In a culture where appearance is overvalued and thinness is glorified, it’s no wonder disordered eating is so prevalent.
does any of this sound like you?
YOU ARE preoccupied with food and/or body
YOU RESTRICT eating and/or count calories
YOU ARE rigid about eating and/or limit the variety of foods you eat
YOU ARE afraid of gaining weight
YOU ARE preoccupied with food quality/composition (orthorexia)
YOU BINGE or feel out of control around food
YOU PURGE and/or take diet pills or abuse laxatives
YOU SHIFT between periods of dieting and periods of over-eating
YOU ENGAGE in emotional over-eating and/or mindless eating
YOU EXERCISE compulsively and/or to compensate for caloric intake
YOU ARE considering bariatric surgery or are experiencing post-surgery challenges
IF YOU FIND yourself constantly dissatisfied with your weight/shape, preoccupied with food, caught in a cycle of yo-yo dieting, or finding that your self-worth is tied to your physical appearance, I want you to know you are not alone. We’ll work together so you can break free from the obsessive thoughts, unhealthy behaviors, and deep fears that are keeping you stuck.
talk therapy:
what to expect
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The first session(s) will consist of an evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, you will come away with some early impressions of what your work in therapy might look like. There will also be a collaborative discussion of your goals for treatment. You will always be in the position to determine whether to continue with therapy.
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The course of treatment varies considerably, based on your particular situation, symptoms, and goals. Many different therapeutic methods may be applied in order to help you move toward positive and meaningful change. Usually a blend of insight-oriented approaches (like psychodynamic psychotherapy, existential psychotherapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy) and concrete skill development techniques (pulled from modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [CBT], Dialectical Behavior Therapy [DBT], and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [ACT]) will be used.
I value a collaborative approach. Together, we will identify the patterns that are keeping you stuck, and work to change them. That process involves evaluating what is working and what isn't, bringing into conscious awareness some of your unconscious conflicts, and building new ways of managing life demands so that you may freely discard the old, less adaptive ways of coping.
TOGETHER, WE WILL WORK TOWARD:
Becoming curious about what is driving your symptoms/distress and reducing those negative experiences.
Developing increased self-awareness.
Determining your personal strengths and assets, and using them to reach your full potential.
Practicing new perspectives, ways of managing emotions, communicating, and being in the world.
Working toward deeper connection and positive change in your most important relationships. -
It's important to note that in order to have the best possible outcome, you will have to invest time and energy, not only in your sessions, but also in the time between sessions, thinking about and working on the themes that have been identified in therapy. As your therapist, I’m here to match your commitment at each step. The ultimate goal of therapy is to be able to end your work, and for you to move forward in your life from a position of increased strength, stability, happiness, authenticity, and trust in yourself.