Not all eating struggles meet the criteria for an eating disorder, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t painful or serious. Many people experience stress, guilt, or a sense of being “out of control” around food, even if everything looks fine from the outside. If your relationship with food affects your emotional wellbeing, self-esteem, or daily life, support is available.
Do You Recognise Yourself in Any of These?
You might be struggling with your relationship with food if you:
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Feel anxious or tense around eating
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Follow strict rules about what, when, or how much you eat
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Obsess over calories, weight, or “clean eating”
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Feel guilty after meals, or feel like you’ve “failed”
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Avoid certain foods or social events involving food
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Fear losing control when you start eating
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Constantly think about food or your body
These are valid struggles, even if you don’t have a formal diagnosis. You deserve support.
Why Eating Becomes Emotional
Eating difficulties are rarely just about food. They often begin as emotional coping strategies; a way to manage:
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Anxiety and perfectionism
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Stress and emotional overload
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Low self-worth or inner criticism
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Grief or loss
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Childhood emotional neglect
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Trauma or difficult life experiences
Food can become a way to feel in control, numb emotions, or find comfort. Therapy gently explores these patterns and helps you develop healthier emotional tools.
How Therapy Helps
In our work together, we will:
- Understand emotional and behavioural triggers
- Reduce anxiety around food and eating situations
- Build a more confident and peaceful mindset around eating
- Explore body image concerns with compassion
- Strengthen emotional regulation and self-trust
- (Where relevant) process trauma using EMDR therapy
My Approach
My approach is integrative and may include:
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CBT-E (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Difficulties)
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EMDR Therapy for trauma-related eating patterns
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Compassion-focused therapy for shame and self-criticism
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Integrative therapy to explore emotional roots safely
Is This Right for You?
I work with individuals who struggle with eating-related anxiety and emotional eating without requiring hospital or crisis-level care. If you are medically stable and ready to explore your relationship with food, therapy can offer a powerful step toward freedom and self-acceptance.
Book a consultation to begin, or if you’d like to explore whether we might work well together, I offer a free 15-minute telephone chat. It’s a chance to ask questions and get a sense of my approach before deciding.
