Anorexia Counseling
Learn how working with an anorexia counselor can help
You live your life according to a set of self-subscribed rules around food, limiting what you take in. They can make it hard to eat with other people. You worry they may notice how little you are actually eating.
Your days are consumed with thoughts of food, calories, and serving sizes.
There’s a certain amount of satisfaction that comes from feeling hungry or empty. Sometimes, it feels like an accomplishment.
When you look into the mirror, your eyes go straight to your “flaws.” Other people don’t see what you see. You KNOW that they are wrong.
If these thoughts are familiar, it's time to consider anorexia counseling.
Symptoms of Anorexia
Anorexia can invade your thoughts, take over your life, and leave you feeling so alone. It can be sneaky and may look like dieting or “being disciplined” with food, but this is more than that. In reality, the thoughts are invasive and debilitating. Some signs that you may be struggling with anorexia may be:
Not eating enough food throughout the day to fuel your body
Feeling lethargic and maybe even having brain fog
Being preoccupied with food rules, calories, and/or the number on the scale
Passionate hate for your body, a strong desire to change it, or a fear of gaining weight
Always feeling cold
Experiencing dry skin, brittle nails, or a missing period.
Anorexia Counseling Can Help
Life doesn’t always have to look like this though, as much as it feels like it will right now. A healthy relationship with both food and your body is not out of the realm of possibilities. Additionally, anorexia counseling with an eating disorder professional can help get you there. Ditch those anxieties around food and food rules and get your life back.
Reasons To Start Anorexia Counseling
If this were only about the food, you could just go get a hamburger and this would all be over. Sigh, don’t we wish it were that simple? But that’s the thing, there is so much more involved in this but the food. Food is just what we see on the surface. However, there’s all of the stuff underneath that has driven the eating disorder to where it is today. This is where anorexia counseling can help. Furthermore, it is when you show up and do this work, despite how hard or scary it is, that long-term recovery can happen.
My Approach To Anorexia Counseling in St. Louis, MO
My work with eating disorders is strongly rooted in both HAES and Anti-Diet thinking. I believe in the power of an authentic therapeutic relationship and its ability to heal. This is something that I work hard to build over the course of our work together. It is through that relationship and through the development of skills and awareness. This is where we can begin to find relief from rigidity around food and find body acceptance.
What Makes Anorexia Counseling with Embodied Self Counseling Unique
Anorexia counseling isn't about stopping the behaviors, eating more, or the number on the scale. Of course, those are important. But, so is the stuff underneath all of that. The body image, perfectionism, black and white thinking, and critical internal voice. Eating disorders do not just affect the body. Particularly, they affect the way we think and how we see ourselves - our mental health. This is why I believe in a treatment team approach to working with eating disorders. I happily dive into the stuff underneath driving those thoughts and behaviors. And, I maintain communication with dietitians, doctors, and psychiatrists. They each can play a critical role in treating the whole self - mind, and body.
Starting Anorexia Counseling in St. Louis, MO
You don’t have to live this way….controlled by food fears and hating your body. You deserve to go out to eat with your friends again and not have to stress about what to order. In addition, what others see when they look at you. Therapy with a skilled HAES therapist in St. Louis, MO can help get you there. In fact, I can help you wherever you are in the state with online therapy in Missouri. To start your recovery journey follow these three steps:
2. Get to know me as your new HAES therapist.
3. No longer feel controlled by your inner bully.
Other Mental Health Services Offered in Missouri
Listen, I get it. Life is madness and the world is on fire. Times are weird and starting counseling probably isn't a bad idea. And I can help with that! Currently, my services are offered through online therapy in Missouri and online therapy in Wisconsin as my St. Louis based counseling clinic is closed. Regardless, I can still help you get through your 'stuff.' I have years of experience providing eating disorder treatment. This includes therapy for atypical anorexia, compulsive exercise, and binge eating disorder. In addition, I see many clients struggling with perfectionism and body image. I am a HAES therapist and use this lens with all of my clients. Furthermore, I am trained and well-versed in working with athletes and members of the LGBTQ+ community. I also specialize in eating disorder treatment for men.