Getting Control Over Our Eating Habits

February and March were very busy months for us with lots of people seeking help for eating problems.

As you would expect a considerable proportion of these clients wanted to lose some weight. However, others have wanted to tackle cravings, obsessive thinking about food, bulimia and unhealthy eating.

Our programme of treatment for weight differs from some more conventional programmes in being diet free and not reliant upon will-power.

The amount of weight people want to lose can vary greatly. Sometimes it is a case of just wanting to get back into last summer’s outfit. Other people are looking to achieve more radical change.

The ultimate goal for most clients is simply to feel better about themselves and just stop thinking so much about food.

Our weight loss programme is tailored to the individual needs of the client but always begins with an initial consultation which is used to build a picture of the full nature of the problem and to set the goals for therapy.

This is then followed by a session in which we establish the ground rules for changing the client’s eating habits and their attitude towards food.

Progress

The third session deals with issues arising as the client begins to implement the rules. At this point techniques may be introduced to address particular cravings that can interfere with their progress. In this and future sessions self-help methods are learnt which can be used to supplement the basic approach.

In a fourth session deep relaxation or hypnosis is used to reinforce the client’s new attitude towards food and eating. The client takes away a CD from this session which they then use daily to reinforce the good work they are already doing.

Support

One or two more session then follow over a longer period of time to provide on-going support and to address any further issues which may arise.

Sometimes clients will need to deal with more deep-seated emotional problems which are affecting their eating and in these cases more in depth work may be needed to change embedded attitudes and beliefs.

To find out more about the approaches which might be used in these cases look at other articles on this website.