One of the many areas of
specialisation offered at the offices of Philippe Jacquet & Associates is
the treatment of clients with eating disorders. This is a very important type
of therapeutic support as Mr. Jacquet himself experienced struggles with eating
disorders as a young man. This personal experience, combined with a focus in
his education and professional training on the subject, allows a truly
compassionate and highly effective holistic treatment for clients with a
diagnosis of an eating disorder.
Types of Eating Disorders
There are several types of
eating disorders, and a general category of NOS or Not Otherwise Specified
types of eating disorders. Understanding the specific signs of an eating
disorder can be very helpful for both the individual and the family and
friends.
Anorexia
Of the diagnosed eating
disorders, anorexia is the most common. Whilst anorexia is often associated
specifically with teenage girls and young women; it is also found in young men
and teenage boys. The most common signs of anorexia include extreme limitation
of food intake, often coupled with intensive and unhealthy levels of exercise.
Individuals with this eating disorder have a distorted view of their body, and
are obsessed with weight, body fat, clothing size, and their overall
appearance. Often, they will insist they are "fat" or overweight when
they are extremely underweight. Anorexia can be fatal if not treated, and it is
usually progressive in natural. Extreme caloric restriction coupled with body
systems shutting down from literal self-imposed starvation can lead to
life-threatening health conditions.
Bulimia
Individuals with bulimia are
not always underweight, and it is very likely they may actually be above
average weight. They also have body distortion issues but, unlike the anorexic,
they engage in periods of extreme eating, known as binges, coupled with purging
behaviours.
Both of these components of
bulimia are hidden from those around them. They may appear to be on a diet only
to eat thousands of calories in secret, often in high fat, high sugar, and high
carbohydrate foods. The purging component may include the use of diuretics,
extreme exercise, laxatives, induced vomiting, or a combination of all purging
activities.
Compulsive Overeating
Individuals who have
challenges with controlling their eating may have binge eating disorder, also
known as compulsive overeating. With this condition, specific events, which may
be emotional or psychological, trigger the extreme consumption of food.
While engaging in this
behaviour, which is virtually always hidden from others, the individual will
eat without seeming to be able to stop. He or she will be aware they are
overeating and will often feel out of control and unable to stop despite
realising the behaviour they are engaging in is unhealthy and dangerous. Often
people with binge eating disorder diet in extreme ways between binges. However,
once the trigger happens they are unable to control the urges to eat or to
limit the amount of food they consume.
All types of eating
disorders can be treated through counselling, psychotherapy, education, and
nutritional and lifestyle support. Holistic and comprehensive long term
treatment plans can be highly effective in the ongoing management of these very
serious issues.
We work with patients that
have anorexia, bulimia, overeating concerns or with compulsive or binge eating
complaints. Our staff is experienced, trained and, more importantly,
compassionate, providing the optimum therapeutic environment to make the
changes you need in your thinking and coping to live a healthy, happy and
addiction free life.
Holistic Planning
To assist our clients in
Central London, we use a very unique approach to eating disorder counselling.
First, we see our clients as the heart and soul of our sessions, so therapists
work closely with the individual goals of the client to create a holistic and
integrated treatment plan. It is essential that treatment is providing the
changes that the client wants and desires in order to be effective and meaningful
to continue.
We don’t use one specific
method in our eating disorder counselling; rather each client will have a
unique, bespoke type of treatment experience. Our counsellors will draw from a
range of therapeutic techniques that are carefully selected to match the
client’s preferred communication and interaction styles as well as his or her
goals.
Getting the most of your
eating disorder counselling means attending all sessions and being an active
participant. When these two things occur the results are amazing and lifelong,
truly making a positive change for the better.
Posted by : Philippe Jacquet
