What to Expect in Eating Disorder Counselling

A gentle look at how therapy can support your relationship with food

If you are thinking about reaching out for eating disorder counselling, you might be carrying a lot of questions.

Am I “sick enough”?
Will I be judged?
Will someone make me eat?
What if part of me doesn’t want to let this go?
How long will this take?

If any of those questions feel familiar, you’re not alone.

Eating disorders are complex. They are real mental health conditions that often begin as ways of coping — even if they are now causing harm. And you don’t have to have everything figured out before asking for support.

Let me walk you through what this work can actually look like.

You Don’t Have to Be “Sick Enough”

One of the most common things I hear is:
“I don’t think I’m sick enough to deserve help.”

The truth is, eating disorders don’t have a look.

People of all body sizes, genders, and backgrounds struggle. Many people delay reaching out because they don’t fit the stereotype of what an eating disorder “should” look like.

If food feels stressful, rigid, secretive, chaotic, or constantly on your mind — that matters. If your relationship with your body feels heavy or consuming — that matters.

Distress is enough.

What Eating Disorder Counselling Looks Like at Nutbrown Counselling

In my Kelowna practice, this work is:

  • Trauma-informed

  • Collaborative

  • Evidence-based

  • Rooted in safety and stabilization

We move at a pace that respects your nervous system. When appropriate, I collaborate with local dietitians and medical providers to support both physical and emotional safety.

You don’t have to prove anything.
You don’t have to be perfectly ready.
You don’t have to do this alone.

If You’re Thinking About Reaching Out

If your relationship with food feels exhausting, heavy, or confusing — that’s enough reason to explore support.

  • The first few sessions aren’t about fixing you.

    They’re about understanding you.

    We’ll gently explore:

    • What your eating patterns look like right now

    • How food and body image show up in your daily life

    • What the eating disorder might be doing for you

    • What feels scary about change

    • What you hope could feel different

    We move at a pace that prioritizes safety. Feeling understood and respected is one of the most important parts of recovery. So we build that first.

    You don’t need perfect motivation. You don’t need a detailed plan. You just need to show up.

  • This is one of the most common fears.

    Eating disorder counselling does include working toward more consistent nourishment. That’s because when your body isn’t getting enough fuel, your brain can’t function the way it’s meant to. Restriction, bingeing, and purging affect mood, anxiety, focus, and emotional regulation.

    But this isn’t about force.

    It’s about helping your body and brain feel steadier again.

    If nutritional support is needed, we approach it collaboratively and gradually. When helpful, I may suggest working alongside a registered dietitian. In therapy, we focus on the fears, the perfectionism, the trauma, the anxiety, and the patterns underneath the food behaviours.

    You are part of every decision.

  • The short answer: no.

    Food is part of it — but often the eating disorder is connected to:

    • Anxiety

    • Perfectionism

    • Control

    • Shame

    • Trauma

    • Identity

    • Relationships

    • Emotional regulation

    For many people, the eating disorder has been trying to protect them in some way — by creating structure, numbing emotion, or offering a sense of control.

    Therapy isn’t just about changing what you eat. It’s about helping you feel less trapped by it.

  • That makes sense.

    Most people feel torn. Part of you may want relief. Another part may feel attached to the safety or predictability the eating disorder provides.

    We don’t shame that here.

    Ambivalence is normal. We explore it gently. You don’t have to commit to full recovery on day one. We work with the part of you that’s even a little bit curious about something different.

  • There isn’t one answer.

    Recovery is rarely quick — and it’s rarely linear. There are steps forward and steps back. Some people notice changes in weeks. For others, this is longer-term work.

    What matters most is building change that feels sustainable, not rushed.

    We focus on progress. We focus on safety. We focus on helping your life get bigger again.

  • You are welcome here.

    Eating disorder treatment is not about shrinking you. It’s not about weight loss. It’s about your relationship with food, your thoughts, your behaviours, and your well-being.

    Your body is not the problem.

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