Eating Disorders Counseling

OVERCOMING EATING DISORDERS

An eating disorder is a serious condition that disrupts an individual’s regular eating habits. It is characterized by eating too much or too little, accompanied by excessive concerns about one’s weight and body image. It often stems from or co-occurs with depression, anxiety disorders, or substance abuse.

Contrary to popular opinion, eating disorders occur in individuals of all ages and both genders. There are millions of people in the United States with eating disorders and 90% are young adult women. Just 1% of teen girls suffer from anorexia nervosa, while 2-3% of teen girls have bulimia nervosa.

For individuals dealing with eating disorders, the Integrated Counseling and Wellness team is here to help you understand the problem and your treatment options.

  • C. Smith
    open-quote I look forward to each appointment and know that I will be treated with the utmost care, respect, and professionalism. I highly recommend this facility to others. close-quote
    C. Smith
  • E. Morgan
    open-quote I've seen a dramatic change in my life since beginning my treatment at Integrated Counseling, and I will be forever grateful for my time there. close-quote
    E. Morgan
  • Emma
    open-quote I went to integrated counseling for two years for eating disorder recovery. Every week, I loved meeting with my counselor to celebrate my successes and work through the barriers that come with mental health challenges. My counselor thoroughly explained the reasons behind eating disorder behaviors, showed empathy with hard topics, and helped me overcome Issues I had dealt with for years. I looked forward to each session.  I am in a healthier state of mind and in a better place in life because of the thoughtfulness, kindness, and professionalism that my counselor showed me close-quote
    Emma
  • M.S.
    open-quote I am a 56 year old woman who has struggled with disordered eating for the past 42 years of my life. It wasn’t until I found my counselor with Integrated Counseling, that I started to reverse all the ill effects of dieting, issues around controlling all my food and letting go of my fat phobia. The program that my counselor guided me through was an awesome mix of self compassion, intuitive eating and movement, being present in all aspects of life and stopping judgement towards myself and others. I am convinced that I would not be nearly as far along in my healing process were it not for my counselor. She was gentle yet firm, patient and incredibly understanding. I am left with all the tools I need to proceed through life on my continued recovery journey. close-quote
    M.S.
  • E. A.
    open-quote As a young woman who has struggled with body image and a relationship with food for most of my life, receiving counseling for my eating disorder was the only way I could finally see light at the end of my dark tunnel. My anorexia had consumed me to a point where food, exercise, and the way I perceived my body controlled my thoughts and feelings every hour of the day. It wasn't until I sought out counseling and had a desire to recover that I am finally healing. These past three years receiving professional help have truly saved my life. I am now the healthiest I have ever been. Without a shadow of a doubt, I would encourage any person who is struggling with an eating disorder to not be afraid to reach out and trust that you can finally learn to love yourself. close-quote
    E. A.
  • E.G.
    open-quote I went to integrated counseling for two years for eating disorder recovery. Every week, I loved meeting with my counselor to celebrate my successes and work through the barriers that come with mental health challenges. My counselor thoroughly explained the reasons behind eating disorder behaviors, showed empathy with hard topics, and helped me overcome Issues I had dealt with for years. I looked forward to each session.  I am in a healthier state of mind and in a better place in life because of the thoughtfulness, kindness, and professionalism that my counselor showed me. close-quote
    E.G.
  • V.G.
    open-quote I had Annie as my therapist and she’s one of the best therapists I’ve ever had. She’s great at listening to what I need and making sure I’m comfortable no matter what. I love her and it’s because of her I know how to communicate and trust my therapists! Thank you! close-quote
    V.G.
  • Alexandria N.
    open-quote This place changed my life. I haven’t been there in about 4 years now, but I was reflecting over my experience and thought they deserved a good review. I originally went to see Luke back in 2017 to deal with my depression. After visiting with him for a few months we came to the conclusion that I was dealing with undiagnosed ADHD. My life has significantly improved because of Luke and my diagnosis. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. close-quote
    Alexandria N.
  • Kelsey H.
    open-quote I've gone to many Counselor places, but this seems to be the one. Excellent Service! By both the therapists and the staff! Very friendly and professional! The atmosphere is great as well! They don't take Medicaid sadly, but they have multiple kinds of professionals and services to fit your need! They also have an excellent website. They are good at communicating to you and each other, so that nothing goes wrong. close-quote
    Kelsey H.
  • Emma M.
    open-quote I have loved my time with Integrated Counseling and Wellness. The staff made me feel comfortable and well taken care of. My therapist, Liz, was incredible. You can tell she is professionally trained, well qualified, and truly cares for her patients. I've seen a dramatic change in my life since beginning my treatment at Integrated Counseling, and I will be forever grateful for my time there. close-quote
    Emma M.
  • Noah K.
    open-quote I have had nothing but a positive experience in my time receiving counseling at Integrated Counseling and Wellness. The staff is incredibly friendly and professional and the environment is conducive to peace and calm. I have made and continue to make great strides in improving my mental health thanks to my time here. close-quote
    Noah K.
  • Ann O.
    open-quote LouAnn Stermer is an excellent counselor who cares deeply about her clients. In the past, I worked with her at 2 different times over several years. She always acted in a professional manner and with a great deal of integrity. Integrated Counseling is very lucky to have her. close-quote
    Ann O.
  • Jessica E.
    open-quote Luke Einerson is amazing! I always had the hardest time falling asleep, and with one visit, Luke made the perfect herbal mixture that has made all the difference! He was very knowledgeable and caring! Highly recommend him if you are looking for a more natural Herbal alternative! close-quote
    Jessica E.
  • Cody H.
    open-quote I have witnessed Luke's work with clients and can attest to his passion, compassion, and skill at delivering client-specific care. Luke really cares about the people he works with, and he is talented at seeing their potential to creatively help them realize that for themselves. close-quote
    Cody H.
  • Grace C.
    open-quote Luke is an Executive Coach with a solid entrepreneurial experience and deep understanding of the healthcare ecosystem. This combined with his strong listening skills and “out of the box” thinking approach, brings a unique edge to his coaching practice. close-quote
    Grace C.
  • J Waite
    open-quote I have experienced incredible growth with the help of my counselor here. Best counseling I have ever had! close-quote
    J Waite

WHAT‘S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANOREXIA, BULIMIA AND OTHER EATING DISORDERS?

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by intentionally starving yourself due to the overwhelming belief that you are overweight, despite all signs pointing to the contrary. Sufferers typically develop an obsession with losing weight, creating their own food restrictions and strenuous exercise routines.

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by the consumption of excessive amounts of food followed by cleansing the body. This is done via induced vomiting, diuretic or laxative abuse, as well as compulsive exercise. Studies show that 50% of anorexia sufferers will eventually develop bulimia. Other eating disorders may include some characteristics of anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa, but not all.

Common symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:

  • Emaciation
  • Constantly striving toward low body weight
  • Fear of weight gain
  • Distorted body image
  • Possible loss of menstrual periods in females
  • Impotence in males

Common symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:

  • Early osteoporosis, i.e., loss of bone mass
  • Muscle loss and weakness
  • Brittle hair and nails
  • Severe constipation
  • Racing heart
  • Erosion of dental enamel

Common complaints associated with an eating disorder include: stomach distress, diarrhea, constipation, headaches/migraines, thinning hair/hair loss, dry skin and lightheadedness.

HOW TO TREAT AN EATING DISORDER

The first step to recovering from an eating disorder is admitting to yourself that you indeed have a problem. Despite clinging to the belief that controlling food is the answer to all of life’s problems, you might be starting to realize that this belief is negatively affecting your health.

It is also important to remember that recovering from an eating disorder is not a one-person task. No matter how embarrassing it may be to voice your concerns to another person, reaching out to someone you trust – such as a family member, close friend, and a professional – is a critical step toward recovery. Common steps for treating an eating disorder are:

-Assemble a treatment team to address every aspect of the problem.

-Address any health problems caused by binge eating or excessive dieting.

-Develop a long-term treatment plan, which may include talk therapy, nutritional counseling, nutritional interventions, medications and more.

-Establish self-help strategies to ensure that you understand the cause of the eating disorder and learn healthier coping skills.

EMOTIONAL DO’S AND DON’TS OF COPING WITH EATING DISORDERS

Do:

-Be open-minded about every emotion you experience.

-Experience your emotions without fear or the need for control.

-Let yourself open up to the people you trust most.

-Allow interaction with others rather than food to comfort you.

Don’t:

-Avoid or control your emotions because they scare you.

-Worry that your emotions will make you fall apart.

-Allow others to shame you for expressing your feelings.

-Use food as a coping mechanism for negative emotions.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING EATING DISORDER RELAPSE

The first thing to remember about effectively treating an eating disorder is that you must be ready for a potential relapse. Relapse is a natural part of the recovery process, which is why you must know the common eating disorder relapse signs to ensure that you are able to seek help in a timely manner. These signs include:

  • You find your thoughts returning to eating and weight loss
  • You have feelings of shame or guilt after eating
  • You feel the need to hide information from your treatment team
  • You continue to focus on looking good rather than being healthy
  • You believe that being slim is the key to happiness
  • You continually have negative thoughts when looking in the mirror
  • People close to you believe that your self-image is inaccurate

If you wish to avoid relapse at the outset, there are a few precautionary steps that you can take:

  • Develop a healthy relationship with food by listening to your body, letting go of rigid eating rules, and regaining a sense of hunger and fullness
  • Accept and love yourself just the way you are, which may include dressing for yourself and not for others, keeping your body active and strong, focusing on your positive qualities, and always being ready to challenge your own self-criticism
  • Discuss your concerns with a professional
  • Obtain treatment for accompanying problems: depression, anxiety or excessive weight loss
  • Establish a relapse correction plan

EATING DISORDER SUPPORT GROUPS

When dealing with an eating disorder, remember that you are not alone: There are support groups near you. Find more information: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org or speak with your therapist from Integrated Counseling and Wellness about finding the right support group for you. If you, a friend or a loved one suffer from an eating disorder, please call or email us today. We want to help you.

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