Eating disorders
Eating Disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia, Compulsive Overeating and Binge Eating Disorder are all psychological illnesses, and they all have physical dangers and complications. They all present themselves through an array of disordered eating patterns and some stem from emotional turmoil, a need to forget feelings, a need to block pain or anger and most of all, a need to cope. There is little doubt that a predisposition to use controlled eating as a way to block out feelings is encouraged by the media and the attitudes of society today.
Progress has counsellors affiliated to the National Centre for Eating Disorders (NCfED) which has the only national network of trained eating disorders therapists. Under the guidance of the NCfED we provide qualified primary care for eating disorders and also offer motivational weight loss counselling and nutritional guidance.
Our counsellors work to help clients gain an understanding of why they have a pattern of disordered eating and to change their eating behaviours and their attitude about the role of food in their lives.
If the client is extremely undernourished and experiencing physical discomfort, we work, with their permission, alongside their general practitioner and a dietician in order to formulate the best plan for recovery, and where necessary in-patient hospital treatment can be arranged.
However, at Progress we understand that no amount of behavioural change will be long lasting if we do not address the underlying issues, the pain and suppressed feelings experienced by the client. Once our client is strong enough to cope with emotional change we will work with them towards a better understanding of their issues so that they can live a contented life. Paradoxically, it is by giving up the rigid control of their eating that they can once again gain control of their lives.
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