Eating Disorders

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="125785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Gautami" ><B>Creative Transitions</B></FONT><B>|   </B><B>  </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Creative Transitions"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B> </B><A HREF="pageproperties.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Services"><U>Services</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Counsellor Qualifications"><U>Counsellor Qualifications</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Therapy Approach"><U>Therapy Approach</U></A>   |   <B>Eating Disorders</B>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gay, Lesbian and Transgender"><U>Gay, Lesbian and Transgender</U></A>   |   <A HREF="pageproperties1e.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Career Counselling"><U>Career Counselling</U></A>   |   <A HREF="page_properties.htm" TARGET="_top" 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alt="Shirley Katz Leon, Ph.D., C.C.C." title="Shirley Katz Leon, Ph.D., C.C.C." coords="0,0,160,58" href="http://www.goodtherapy.org/shirley-katz-leon-therapist.php" /> <area shape="rect" alt="Therapist in Toronto" title="Therapist in Toronto" coords="161,0,168,58" href="http://www.goodtherapy.org/Toronto-Therapy.htm" /> <area shape="rect" alt="Therapist" title="Therapist" coords="69,0,175,58" href="http://www.goodtherapy.org" /> </map>  </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="pageproperties17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eating Disorders"><U>My Approach</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="pageproperties17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eating Disorders"><U>Reluctance</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="pageproperties17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eating Disorders"><U>Information for Parents and Partners</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="pageproperties17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eating Disorders"><U>Limitations</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>   <script language='javascript' type='text/javascript'> function EGf15355ff90cc4c89b2c76c2d156d7379() { this.EG_profileMode='SingleExpertSelection'; this.EG_url='http://wizard.liveperson.com'; this.EG_LP_Url='http://www.liveperson.com'; this.EG_imageUrl='http://www.liveperson.com'; this.EG_height=125; this.EG_width=125; this.EG_params = 'BanID=18787'; this.EG_CatID=10452; this.EG_MainCatID=10341; this.EG_SubCatID=10452; this.EG_ViewAllUrl=''; this.EG_imageSpecialOffer='' } </script> <div id='EGf15355ff90cc4c89b2c76c2d156d7379'> <a href='http://www.liveperson.com/experts/professional-counseling/eating-disorders/' onclick='setHref("http://www.liveperson.com/experts/professional-counseling/eating-disorders/")'>Text for Header</a><br/> <a href='http://counseling.liveperson.com' onclick='setHref("http://counseling.liveperson.com")'>Powered by LivePerson</a> </div> <script type='text/javascript' language='javascript' src='http://wizard.liveperson.com/Affiliates/ShowExpertGrid.aspx?CatID=10452&PageSize=1&SortBy=9&ParamID=3&ExpertIDs=1027618&Obj=EGf15355ff90cc4c89b2c76c2d156d7379'></script>   </div> <bR> <div> Eating Disorders and Body Image Treatment</div> <div> Clients who have worked with me have been highly successful in dealing with disordered eating and body image.  While eating disorders are common problems, they are not well understood by many people, and while clients may know a lot about their disorder, they are unable to help themselves.</div> <div> Clients appreciate my ability to embrace the complexity of their issues.  They know that I am familiar with research on eating disorders and on effective treatments, and am able to draw on this knowledge while using creative approaches in helping them.  Many of my clients with eating disorders have tried other therapies and self-help without much success and are greatly relieved to find themselves making changes early in our work together.  They feel understood, validated and supported from the beginning.  They also appreciate my openness to working with other professionals and with family members when they want me to.  While it may be uncomfortable for them, clients recognize the importance of the need for me to work with their medical professional when their eating issues put them at medical risk.  </div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="my_approach_to_eating_disorders"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>My Approach to Eating Disorders</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Encourages readiness for change when fear or hesitation is present.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Builds trust for safe exploration of past and present factors that may be related to unhealthy eating or body image.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Facilitates self exploration to identify key issues and obstacles.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Helps identify cognitive, behavioral, biological or emotional challenges to eating and feeling well, and living well.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Guides clients to greater awareness, better boundaries and effective assertiveness.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Helps clients lessen existing stress and learn to better cope with stressors.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Empowers clients to make better choices, to build and act on a supported plan for a more satisfying future where the importance of food and food related issues are minimized.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="reluctance"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Reluctance</B></div> <bR> <div> Often clients who live with disordered relationships to food find it hard to enter into a counselling relationship and continue going to therapy.  They are usually highly intelligent people with exceptional ability and awareness, but all their thinking hasn't helped them enough.  They want someone to help but don't believe things can change.  Some describe this as "ambivalence" or "reluctance".  I don't see it in such a negative way.</div> <bR> <div> I believe clients can be helped to feel both safe and challenged, to feel trust and hope.  In fact I see it as my responsibility to facilitate those things.  I draw from my extensive knowledge of the felt aspects of living with disordered eating in addition to my broad knowledge on research and theories of effective helping.  I encourage clients to enter into therapy and challenge themselves to trust the process (which I "de-mystify" and explain).  I have a very clear sense of what my role is in the helping relationship and what I am doing in that role in order to help clients progress.  I also encourage clients to assert themselves by communicating what is and isn't working for them about the counselling sessions.   If a client doesn't feel ready or wants to discontinue counselling, I encourage them to do what feels right for them.  While I believe consistent attendence in sessions is important, I am happy to negotiate in order to support a person's preference for any frequency and duration of service that is requested.</div> <bR> <div> I must comply with ethical and professional standards in working with clients and this means I need to work collaboratively with medical professionals if clients' eating behaviors are putting them at medical risk.  Most clients understand this because when they come to me for help, they know that they have not been able to fix thing themselves. They know their eating disorder is harming them and making it difficult to make good decisions regarding self-care.  For example, when a person is significantly below weight and is not nourishing their body, their emotions and thoughts may not be functioning well.  While it may feel intrusive, they may need medical and nutrition professionals to help them get back to a healthy place.  This is discussed in more detail with clients before they consent to working with me.  </div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="parents_and_partners"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Parents and Partners</B></div> <bR> <div> I receive many inquiries from loved ones about someone they are concerned about.  From time to time I am able to speak to parents and others in caring relationships with a person who struggles with disordered eating who is refusing treatment.  These consultations are usually one-time-only information sessions, conducted at my office, and are billed the same as a counselling session.  If the person who struggles with disordered eating is already a client of mine, I can not discuss any details of their case without their request and written consent.  <B> It is always best to encourage the potential client to call and speak to me on their own in order to protect their rights and confidentiality</B>.  The person who sought me out may have different needs and preferences than the person they believe needs the help.  </div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="limitations"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Limitations</B></div> <div> Those diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa who are not weight-recovered are seen only in consultation with medical professionals.  As is explained above, consent needs to be provided for me to work with the client's doctor if they are at medical risk.  I also reserve the right to refer clients whose problems are assessed as out of the range of my abilities.</div> <bR> <div> Clients who are seen by me under their extended health benefits or other insurance may be supervised by another practitioner, a registered psychologist in Ontario and as such would need to consent to this supervision.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>