How do you know if you have a problematic relationship with alcohol?

This is a great question. An individualized discussion is the best way to determine where you are at. However, even to ask this question is a red flag of a problematic relationship with alcohol, even though you may not have Addiction. Wondering, doubting, and worrying about alcohol consumption indicates it may be problematic. If you or a loved one are expressing concerns, it would be a good time to seek out a professional opinion on where you are at. If alcohol is creating or contributing to problems in your life; is something you use frequently (even in low quantities); is a routine part of your celebration and/or stress management then I would recommend you talk to someone about your relationship with alcohol.

Will I have to quit alcohol completely?

This may be a recommendation for those who are evidencing clear signs of Addiction. I do support an abstinence-based approach to treatment. However, I also recognize that this may not be possible or something that everyone is open to so we can talk further about your goals and how to get there, and how much a part of that alcohol will be.

Does alcohol counselling only focus on alcohol?

No. In fact, usually, alcohol counselling pulls in many other parts of the person and life, including an exploration of relationships, self-worth/esteem, work, stressors, and coping. The thing I love about Addiction counselling is that you get to look at everything!

What kinds of tools will be recommended for addressing my concerns about alcohol?

I like to encourage people to look at all aspects of themselves and use tools that address physical, psychological, cognitive, spiritual, relational, cultural, and financial health. Recommendations and suggestions will be provided and you will decide what you are open to trying and we can develop a collaborative, realistic plan of how you will go about incorporating these changes into your life.

What if I am concerned about a loved one’s drinking and they’re not willing to get help?

I would encourage you to seek out support for yourself. Learning about Addiction, boundaries, healthy communication, and engaging in your own self-care and recovery can be tremendously impactful in helping you deal with a stressful situation. It can also provide healthy role modelling that can have a spillover effect on those around you. It’s a win-win!

Do I have to go to groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as part of counselling?

There is nothing that you will ever “have” to do in your counselling journey. Any recommendations and strategies are completely optional and up to you to decide what is a fit and what is not. I do encourage people to consider peer support groups like AA as a component of their recovery plan, but there is no expectation that you go in this direction.

What if I relapse during Alcohol Addiction counselling? Can I come back?

Of course! Relapses are often a part of the journey with Addiction and are something that we will explore to see what information can be learned from them. While unfortunate, frustrating and upsetting, they are certainly not something that would exclude you from further engagement and participation in counselling. Please come back and talk about what happened so we can both learn from it.

Eating Disorder Counselling

Eating Disorder Therapist Service in Calgary

Tired of feeling out of control with food, body image or related behaviours?

We are here to help.

What is Disordered Eating?

It can be difficult to sort out what exactly is going on in one’s relationship with food and how unhealthy or problematic it has become. Typically if people are starting to question their relationship with food and body, this is a red flag that it has become problematic and may be disordered.

Here is an informal checklist to help you get a general idea of the extent of your food-related issues. Read through the following list and see how many have applied to you within the past 3 months:

Read through the following list and see how many have applied to you within the past 3 months:

Overeating
Restricting
Binge eating
Purging
Anorexia
Bulimia
Over-exercising
Body distortion
Body image challenges

Self-esteem issues
Suicidal ideation and/or self-harm
Depression
Feeling hopeless
Isolation
Obsessive thoughts about food and related behaviours
Anxiety and/or depressive symptoms

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it would be a good time to start exploring eating disorder therapist Calgary for counselling. These behavioural signs tend to appear as issues with food and food-related behaviours progress and rarely present themselves when people have a healthy relationship with themselves, food, and body.

Types of Eating Disorders

There are many different types of eating disorders. Below are descriptions of the most common forms that eating disorders can take.

Food Challenges

This is when somebody’s relationship with food feels obsessive, compulsive, that it has taken over life, and is creating unwanted consequences. Food issues can take many different forms but feels the same: unmanageable. This manifestation of the impulsive and compulsive part of the brain may be in isolation or connected to other symptoms, including substance use or other problem behaviours. Sana Psychological can help you to explore and take action on personal goals with your recovery and health.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is when people experience episodes of eating more than they intended and/or feel physically comfortable within one sitting. Individuals who binge eat may also have compensatory behaviours like purging/self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or substances.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is when people are severely limiting and restricting caloric and food intake and may or may not be accompanied by other compulsive behaviours like excessive exercise, calorie obsession, substance use, preoccupation with body/weight, and/or body image dysmorphia. Anorexia nervosa often leads to significantly low body weight which can be life-threatening if left untreated. While not all necessary treatment services are provided at Sana Psychological, we can support you in establishing next steps and offer transitional and/or continuing care support.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a condition that can involve restricting, binging, and/or purging. Sana Psychological can help you explore your goals and eating habits with food and body and start working on taking steps in this direction.

Orthorexia Nervosa

This is a disordered eating condition where a person is preoccupied, obsessive, and controlling about living life extremely “healthy” and clean, to the point that it becomes unmanageable and no longer health focused.

Common Symptoms of Eating Disorders

What eating disorders of all manifestations have in common are symptoms of:

Emotional distress
Preoccupation
Obsession
Compulsion
Unmanageability
External consequences

People may think they are hiding their eating disorder but typically friends, family, loved ones, and others will often become concerned far before the person is willing to get help. This is an important reason why loved ones seek out support for themselves too as waiting for someone you care about to accept that they need help is a very stressful and trying time.

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Causes of Eating Disorders

Several types of eating disorders are shaped by a complex combination of genetic/hereditary and environmental influences. These may include:

Trauma
Adverse childhood events (ACE’s)
Modeling from authority figures
Peer pressure
Societal messages
Stress
Perceived lack of control over one’s life and environment, and/or high external pressure

It is important to note that eating disorders cut across all demographic lines and do not discriminate.

Our Treatment Approach for Eating Disorders

Our clinicians have been trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities including: Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Twelve Step Facilitation and trauma treatment. Treatment is holistic and focuses on all aspects of health.

Treatment for Those Suffering from an Eating Disorder

During the initial appointments, information is gathered to know about all parts of you, including relationships, feelings processing, physical health, self-esteem, and more.

Eating disorder therapist calgary counselling services can be short or long-term, depending on your needs. We prefer to meet with people over a longer period of time (6+ months) to ensure sustainability and maintenance of progress as eating disorder recovery tends to ebb and flow. If this does not work for your needs, that is okay too. We will customize services within your boundaries and needs.

Support for Loved Ones

If you are a family member reading this and hoping your loved one will change but you are not sure if they are ready, I would encourage you to come in for yourself to look at your own health and recovery plan. Change in any member of a relational unit creates change for the whole unit, so perhaps change can start with you. Sessions will provide you with the strength, resources, and ability to cope with an extremely challenging situation.

Why Choose Sana Psychological?

It is an honor and a privilege to support you at any point in your journey. Sana Psychological offers an experienced perspective with an eating disorder therapist who is informed on the nature of compulsive and problem behaviours, which many people have found useful in helping them understand what is happening within them. Sana Psychological aims to help people understand the full context in which their eating disorder exists and to provide healthy ways and strategies to address this.

Appointments can be scheduled online at anytime.

If you have questions about the services offered, do not hesitate to reach out. Email will be the quickest way to get in touch. We aim to respond to emails and phone calls within 1 business day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who should I contact if I have an eating disorder?

A: A great place to start with eating disorder treatment is your family physician. They can monitor your physical health, suggest appropriate providers and interventions, and/or be a regular point of contact and accountability. If you do not have a family doctor, you may also want to contact Access Mental Health through 811 for resources.

Q: How do you get someone to eat when they don't want to?

A: Trying to force feed someone dealing with an eating disorder is not a recommended intervention strategy as the increased pressure may further drive the eating disorder behaviour. Instead, showing up with compassion, respect, and empathy as well as meeting the person where they are at and drawing appropriate boundaries is a much more helpful way to go.

Q: What is the most effective anorexia treatment?

A: Cognitive-behavioural therapy, emotion-focused, and family systems treatments all offer value to those struggling with anorexia. The best interventions meet the individual where they are at and address the underlying drivers of the behaviour.

Q: How do you talk to someone with anorexia?

A: As you would to any other human being! Offer empathy, compassion, and support. Share your concerns without being pushy or controlling and allow them to go through their own process of recognition, willingness and action to make change. This healing cannot be forced.

Q: How effective is therapy in curing eating disorders?

A: Sana Psychological takes the approach that an eating disorder cannot be “cured.” It is best to think of an eating disorder as a chronic condition that can enter periods of remission. Therapy helps people learn about the triggers and underlying drivers for the behaviour and offer strategies to help them manage these so that they do not lead to recurrent episodes down the road.