Something you may want to consider.

IsMollyReallyHungry

Considering a Therapist?

If you've never considered working with a therapist on your food and weight issues, perhaps now is the time to think about it. Understanding the complex emotions behind overeating, binge eating, or other unhealthy habits — and then changing those habits — can be difficult to accomplish on your own. And simply following a "diet" may not help you "unlearn" some old habits or unhealthy emotional coping strategies.

Behavioral health professionals who specialize in eating and weight problems are trained to help you uncover these connections and support you in breaking old patterns. A therapist can also help you clarify your goals, identify possible barriers and come up with ways to overcome them, and provide a constructive sounding board for your concerns.

Therapists are also trained to identify behavioral health problems — like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders — that may be contributing to your weight-loss struggle.

If you'd like to give therapy a try, be sure to call several potential therapists and ask about their experience dealing with food and eating issues. Once you have found someone you think you will feel comfortable with, schedule an appointment or consultation and give it a try.

Remember, when you're trying to make positive life changes, you need all the support you can get. Working with trained professionals can help you meet that need in a professional, confidential, safe, and constructive setting.

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christina1109

Don't forget about Social Workers. A lot of people don't think about that as an option and they often get over looked and under used. People hear mental health and automatically think psychiatrist or psychologist. Social workers are cheaper too.

nikki91950

Yay for advocating for Social Workers! I'm in college working towards my BSW

Mindful_Trent

I've been seeing a licensed clinical social worker for over a year now - I started going for a particular reason and it's morphed into something else over the time I've been seeing her. It's been a really good experience and I highly recommend seeing a professional to almost anyone. It's great having someone outside of your day-to-day life to talk to, who can give you a different perspective and help you to think about things differently that you might otherwise.

If you have a bad experience with one mental health professional - don't assume all experiences will be like that! Keep trying until you find someone that works well with you. There are a wide variety of techniques and focuses in the mental health profession - It may take a couple misses before you find someone you want to keep working with.

IsMollyReallyHungry

I've been seeing a licensed clinical social worker for over a year now - I started going for a particular reason and it's morphed into something else over the time I've been seeing her. It's been a really good experience and I highly recommend seeing a professional to almost anyone. It's great having someone outside of your day-to-day life to talk to, who can give you a different perspective and help you to think about things differently that you might otherwise.

If you have a bad experience with one mental health professional - don't assume all experiences will be like that! Keep trying until you find someone that works well with you. There are a wide variety of techniques and focuses in the mental health profession - It may take a couple misses before you find someone you want to keep working with.

This is very true. I hate looking for a good therpist and it has to be a good fit. If not a good fit it will not benefit you. I can't tell you how you will know but you will know and I guess since I have had a few very good ones, I know a bad one right away. I should not say bad one. I will say I know when it is not a good fit.