Counseling For Eating Disorders
at Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids
Are you or someone you know suffering from an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, orthorexia, binge eating, or another type? If so, therapy and trauma-informed counseling can help the process of recovery. Eating disorders can become lethal if not addressed and working with an experienced counselor along with a medical professional that is trained in helping those suffering from eating disorders–can be life changing and even, life saving. Get help finding an eating disorder counseling near me in Grand Rapids, MI.
Counseling for Eating Disorders
At Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids
First Steps toward Eating Disorder Recovery
Recovering from an eating disorder might seem like an overwhelming and impossible process. And at times it might feel like those descriptions are true, but the most important part to remember is that it is a process. You don’t have to feel ready to accomplish the whole thing today, you only have to take one step at a time. Some days will be better than others, sometimes you will fall back into old patterns, but together we will find a way forward. You can take the first step forward today by calling to set up a consultation to connect with an eating disorder counseling near me.
Eating Disorder Counseling
At Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids
More about the Process
Everyone’s path to recovery will look different. An important first step is understanding where you are in the stages of change. Are you here because the people in your life are telling you that you need to change? Or maybe you have just started to feel like you have to do something different but you aren’t sure of what. Maybe you’re excited about the possibility of change but need some concrete plans to move forward. Wherever you are in your process we can support you and work at your pace.
Another key element of the process is examining your motivations for change. Why do you want to recover? Are there people in your life pushing you to make changes? Maybe you just don’t want each day to feel the way it has been feeling. Regardless of what got you here, we will find internal and external elements to sustain that motivation into recovery.
We will also try to understand what is getting in the way of change right now. Sometimes it can be hard to see our own patterns when we’re in the middle of them. Having an objective outsider to examine your habits can be an important key to identifying what has been keeping you from lasting change.
We are social learners and the patterns we create in relationship to another person are often stronger and more long lasting. If anyone you are in a relationship with is willing to come and be a part of our process, they are more than welcome. These relationships can be an extremely powerful resource when it comes to recovery, but we have to remember they are learning and skill building too. Even if the relationship is very strained, coming to therapy together can help resolve issues, heal traumas, and create new, more direct and effective communication patterns that will be very helpful in your path to recovery. If your relationships aren’t ready or willing, that is okay too, we will still develop strong communication patterns that can help create new healthier relationships or heal current relationship dynamics when they are ready.
One of the most important factors in the process is patience. Changing the behavioral patterns of an eating disorder takes time and practice. Healthy, mindful eating is a skill and just like any other skill, it isn’t learned over night. You have the capacity in you to grow and change. Sometimes you might need some support to keep you going and that is okay, that is what we’re here for.
If you aren’t ready to reach out to us today, a step you can take on your own is beginning to read and learn about the stories of people who have recovered from eating disorders and the process of recovery. An excellent resource for this is “8 Keys to Recovering From an Eating Disorder” by Caryoln Costin.
We also recommend that clients who are struggling with eating disorders also seek the support of a Physician, Nurse Practitioner, or Dietitian who has experience with eating issues–in addition to counseling.
