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Eating Disorder Counselling Calgary

Eating Disorder Counselling In Calgary

An eating disorder is a serious condition that affects people of all ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Eating disorders often co-occur with other mental health concerns such as depression or anxiety. When someone has an eating disorder, it means that their relationship with food is distorted and unhealthy. 

The main types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and food addiction. There are many different causes for these conditions including genetics, biology, environment, personality traits, and life events.

The consequences for individuals with an eating disorder can be severe. Many people living with an eating disorder silently suffer in isolation, leading to suicidal thoughts and attempts. The effects of eating disorders can include physical health problems such as: 

  • Heart disease; 
  • Respiratory problems; 
  • Kidney failure; 
  • Tooth decay; 
  • Osteoporosis; and 
  • Death.


Eating disorders are never a choice. They are serious mental illnesses that cause great harm to those who suffer from them. If you or a friend are struggling with an eating disorder, please seek help immediately. Eating disorder counselling in Calgary can begin the process of healing and restoring hope for a better future. Call Virtuous Circle Counselling today for help and answers.

Our Psychologists

Nicole Hartfeld Calgary Psychologist
Nicole Hartfeld
MC, MSc
Registered Psychologist/Therapist
Holly Tilden Calgary Psychologist
Holly Tilden
MC
Registered Provisional Psychologist/Therapist
Beatrice Valmana-Crocker Calgary Psychologist
Beatrice Valmana
MC
Registered Provisional Psychologist/Therapist

Eating Disorder Treatment Options

Eating disorder treatment is a process of working with a professional to overcome an eating disorder. Eating disorders are more than just a problem with food – they are mental health issues that affect how you think and feel about yourself, your body and your relationships. 

Eating disorders are serious health conditions that can be fatal if left untreated. The good news is that eating disorders are treatable, and recovery is possible. But it’s also true that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness—not just because of the potential health consequences, but also because people with eating disorders sometimes don’t seek treatment for fear of being stigmatized or judged. 

It’s important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder, so you can reach out to someone who might need help and support them in getting the help they need. Eating disorder symptoms can include:

  • Restricting food to avoid weight gain;
  • Excessive exercising or fasting to lose weight;
  • Frequent dieting or binge eating;
  • Use of laxatives or diuretics to control weight; and/or
  • Purging after eating (e.g., self-induced vomiting), use of enemas or other methods of inducing bowel movements.

 

At Virtuous Circle Counselling, we will work with you to develop a personal recovery plan that meets your specific needs. Our treatment programs are designed to address both the physical and mental aspects of your eating disorder. We offer individualized therapy sessions. We also provide consultation services for families and loved ones who wish to help support their loved one’s recovery process.

There are many types of eating disorders and each kind requires different types of treatment in order to best help the client. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder and do not know what to do, contact Virtuous Circle Counselling today for information on how to get help as soon as possible.

Eating Disorder Therapy Calgary

Why You Need An Eating Disorder Psychologist

You’ve likely heard over the years that eating habits play a vital role in overall health, wellness and happiness. Considering how much time and energy many of us spend thinking about food, preparing food, and consuming food — a healthy relationship with food is crucial to living a happy and productive life.

At Virtuous Circle Counselling, we understand eating disorders and the challenges they can pose to both physical and mental health. Our team of licensed psychologists in Calgary offers evidence-based treatment for various types of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED).

Our eating disorder psychologists specialize in helping clients who have been diagnosed with one or more types of eating disorder work toward recovery. They also work with family members and loved ones who want to learn more about these conditions so that they can better support their loved ones during treatment and beyond.

In addition to providing individual therapy for eating disorders, we help families struggling with these challenging conditions through family therapy sessions. We also offer online counselling for those who prefer to connect remotely via phone or video chat sessions.

Eating Disorder Therapy in Calgary

Find An Eating Disorder Therapist In Calgary

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, it is important for you to seek professional help. When you work with an eating disorder therapist in Calgary, you will have the opportunity to explore your thoughts and feelings about food, your body, and other aspects of life related to your eating disorder. You will also learn coping strategies so that you can manage your symptoms and concerns.

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can have a devastating impact on your health. The good news is that they are also treatable. Eating disorder treatment involves working with a team of skilled professionals to create an individualized treatment plan. To find the right eating disorder therapist in Calgary, contact us today!

Eating Disorder Counselling

It’s important to note that eating disorders can take on many forms, and the way that they manifest themselves in each individual can differ wildly. Some of the signs and symptoms below might not apply to a particular person, and others could be very obvious. The best thing to do is to look at all of them as a whole—if any of them seem relevant, it might be time to consider getting help. These signs include a preoccupation with body image, drastic weight fluctuations, disrupted eating patterns and changes in exercise routines.

Eating disorders are often treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which is a form of talk therapy. CBT has been shown to be effective in treating this disorder, therefore CBT-E (Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) was designed as an adjunct or alternative to traditional CBT. Researchers found that when eating disordered patients received treatment from therapists who were specifically trained in CBT-E, the patients showed the best success rates and lowest rates of relapse.

Telling someone you care about them is the most effective way of showing someone support. Giving someone space to talk about how they’re feeling and what’s going on for them means they’re less likely to feel isolated, rejected, or misunderstood and are more likely to turn to you if they need advice or support.

Book Your Appointment Online

We are currently accepting new clients however being a good fit is everything in a therapeutic alliance. When you’re ready, please contact us for a free 30-minute phone consultation to see if we match your needs and goals.

We at Virtuous Circle Counselling acknowledge Moh’kinstsis, the lands where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet, in what we currently call Calgary. We acknowledge that we are visitors on Moh’kinsstis and acknowledge the Blackfoot are those who named this area as Moh’kinsstis. In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, we recognize the ancestral territories, cultures, and oral practices of the Blackfoot people, the Îyarhe Nakoda Nations, the Dene people of the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.