Are you an adult struggling with an eating disorder or eating issues who is ready to work on your relationships as part of your recovery process?
Are you feeling frustrated, worried and helpless in loving someone who is struggling with an eating disorder?
Couples and family therapy makes a crucial difference in helping adults recover from eating disorders AND in fostering the well-being of their partners and family members.
Having an eating disorder is a profoundly painful experience. You feel alone, misunderstood and unable to talk about your pain. The eating disorder has helped you to distract, numb out and feel safe. You long to feel supported in your relationships, but feel too scared, ashamed, disconnected and lost about how to reach out for that support. You may feel stuck in not knowing how to talk about your feelings and needs with your partner or your family.
Eating disorders impact everyone in the family. The experience of trying to support your loved one is a profoundly emotional experience for you too – worry, fear, frustration, anger, sadness, helplessness. You may feel like you are “walking on eggshells” and lost about how to help. You may feel that your own health and well-being are being negatively affected. You may feel that your relationship and family life has become consumed with trying to cope with your loved one’s eating disorder.
Are you concerned about …
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge Eating
- Emotional Eating
Regarding yourself or a loved one?
I can help you and your family.
I have been a couples and family therapist for over 12 years with the Eating Disorders Program at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. My extensive training and experience gives me the specialized expertise needed to help individuals, couples and families who are coping with the complex challenges of eating disorders, relationships, treatment and recovery. My style is non-judgemental, compassionate and patient. I know how hard change can be and that ambivalence is part of the process. I also have a deep appreciation for the experience of partners/families and their need for counselling and guidance.
I can help you, your partner and your family members to:
- Stop the fighting and power struggles
- End the stress of secrecy and the pain of isolation
- Reconnect in your relationship
- Learn how to support recovery instead of enabling the eating disorder
- Build trust, understanding and compassion
- Find ways to safely face and work through unresolved hurts and problems