Counselling and Eating Disorders

In a general sense, eating disorders are experienced as disturbances in eating habits and are accompanied by physical and emotional distress. They lead to a deterioration of physical and psychological well-being, and ultimately can cause death. To understand what an eating disorder means for the person experiencing these difficulties, it is more helpful to think of the eating disorder as something that a person has developed in order to feel that they can cope with their lives. However, the more the person relies on the eating disorder to cope, the more they need the eating disorder to cope. Very quickly, they spiral into a situation where they feel they will only be able to cope and live if they hold onto the eating disorder. The person’s sense of who they are comes to depend on them holding onto the eating disorder, and this is why it is so complex and terrifying for a person to think about letting go of the eating disorder. Therefore, while it is clear to everyone else that the person is harming his / herself, the only way the person with the eating disorder feels they can survive is by maintaining the eating disorder.

The counsellor you are working with is trained to listen in a non-judgemental, genuine, and accepting way. The key aim is to allow the space and the freedom to express your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs that you may feel unable to express to your family, friends, or partner. It can be difficult and sometimes distressing to bring unexpressed emotions out into the open. It is the counsellor’s job to create a space that allows you to feel safe enough to express what you’re feeling and to accept them as part of who you are. Through the exploration of underlying feelings and emotions you can often gain an understanding of your present behaviour and in turn, get to the root of your problems. This process of learning about yourself and accepting the aspects that make you who you are can help provide you with a send of control over your life. This sense of control can also often lead to a feeling of empowerment, especially as you make choices that enhance your life and move forward.

Counselling and psychotherapy can with the psychological causes of food-related issues such as preoccupation with weight, comfort eating, binge eating, negative body image and eating disorders.

Overcoming an eating disorder can require both medical and psychological help as both the psychological and the physical health of the person are intricately linked. The treatment of an eating disorder should not focus solely on eating or weight issues and at the same time should not ignore these aspects. The following are frequently asked questions are taken from BodyWhys (2013) and might help in your understanding of Eating Disorders