Specializations
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious, complex illnesses that can have devastating (and potentially life-threatening) consequences. They are characterized by disturbances in a persons thoughts and behaviours related to food and body weight or shape. Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of age, weight, size, sexuality, gender identity, or socioeconomic or cultural background. Eating disorders are not a choice, and are caused by multiple biological, psychological and sociocultural factors. Common eating disorder diagnoses include: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder.
Disordered Eating &
Body-Image
Disordered eating and body-image issues refer to preoccupations with weight, shape or appearance, and abnormal eating patterns, that do not meet criteria for eating disorder diagnoses.
Common symptoms can include:
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Frequent, negative thoughts or talk about ones appearance or weight
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Eating to deal with stress or boredom
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Skipping meals, fasting, or chronic/extreme dieting
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Labeling foods as 'good' or 'bad' and/or avoiding certain food groups
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Feeling guilty for eating, or for eating certain foods
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Excessive exercise, use of diet pills or supplements to lose weight
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Calorie restriction, bingeing, or purging irregularly or on a limited basis
While these issues may not occur with the same level of intensity or frequency as clinical eating disorders, they can still disrupt daily life and be detrimental to a person's physical and emotional well-being. It is important to recognize the signs and to seek help before the problem gets worse.
Anxiety
We all experience anxiety at some point. Feeling nervous about writing an important test, having a job interview, or public speaking is normal.
Anxiety can range in severity from mild worry to clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders (such as Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Panic Disorder). Anxiety becomes problematic when it begins to interfere in a person's everyday life. Examples might include when anxiety contributes to:
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Problems with sleep or appetite/eating
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Problems with concentration
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Avoidance behaviour
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Physical issues such as headaches, stomach aches or muscle tension
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Panic symptoms
Anxiety is very treatable. Psychotherapy can help to reduce or eliminate symptoms by teaching skills to recognize and alter unhelpful thought patterns, and developing strategies for self-soothing.