Eating Disorder Counseling
In the United States, at least 30 million people suffer from an eating disorder of some type. Many will never seek treatment, and some will actually lose their lives in the fight. Seeking eating disorder counseling may be the most important step you can take in saving a life.
So many people suffer and struggle alone, hoping to either find the “cure” on their own or wishing that no one will ever find out about their secret struggle.
Experiencing an eating disorder, especially when no one else knows, can be extremely isolating. It can foster feelings of fear, shame, abandonment, and extreme emotional pain. You may find yourself comparing yourself to others around you, to images in the media, or to impossible standards of “perfection” in your own mind.
Many who struggle do not realize that help is readily available, if they are willing to be honest about their struggles, seek support, and be accountable to those who care about their healing.
Read on to learn more about eating disorder counseling at Las Vegas Counseling and when you’re ready, please call our office to schedule your first appointment.
In order to help you begin your healing journey, we will review below some key issues in eating disorder counseling, so you know exactly what you can expect when you schedule an appointment to receive help at Las Vegas Counseling.
Three types of healing
Because eating disorders are directly tied to your physical health and because there is a very real threat of physical harm and even mortality associated with continued eating disorder involvement, treatment involve a very specific order of operations.
First, treatment must focus on physical recovery.
We will coordinate care with your primary physician as needed. We will also help you find a dietician who will provide education and accountability regarding an eating plan and weight goals. The most important element of early recovery is ensuring that your physical health is no longer in danger.
Second, eating disorder counseling addresses behavior recovery.
As we coordinate care with medical and nutrition professionals, we will work with you to set behavioral goals, create a recovery network of trusted family and friends, and work toward regular accountability for your behavior changes.
Third, the focus turns to emotional and psychological recovery.
Eating disorders don’t just happen. They happen for a reason–often for many reasons. We will help you address the underlying challenges that have fostered your struggles with food and body image. These may include things like family relationships, depression or anxiety, issues relating to control and fear, and struggles with self-esteem. Working through underlying struggles helps your recovery last a lifetime.
What are some of the most important components of eating disorder counseling?
Dealing with denial
You’ve had to learn to tell yourself many stories to keep engaging in behaviors that were also hurting your health. We will help you confront those stories in healthy ways to help you get unstuck.
Becoming educated
We will help you understand the why behind your struggles. Through counseling, you will work smarter, not harder. We will arm you with the knowledge you need to confront something that may feel like it has become part of you.
Accessing Motivation
Just because you want to get better doesn’t mean you can just do it without serious challenges. We understand the science of human motivation and will help you find what will best motivate you to do the hard work.
Gathering support
We are certain of one thing: real change does not happen in isolation. We will help you identify people in your life that you can trust and who will be willing to provide daily support as you overcome your struggles with food and body image.
Getting personal
Every person is different. Every path to healing is different. We will help you create a personalized recovery plan that works for you and lines up with your values.
Identifying triggers
Triggers are people, places, memories, situations, thoughts, or feelings that put you in danger of relapsing back into your eating disorder. Once we know what your most powerful triggers are, we can create a plan to deal with the in a healthy way.
Preventing relapse
When you’re educated, motivated, connected, and self-aware, your power to prevent relapse back into your eating disorder increases. We will help you hone your abilities so that you can put your last relapse in the rear view mirror.
Settling in for the long haul
We want you to succeed over the course of your entire life. We will help you find a process that allows you to improve your recovery over time so that no matter what life throws at you, you’ll be ready.