Eating Disorders And Disordered Eating
Eating Disorders And Disordered Eating
We receive cultural and interpersonal messages about eating and our bodies on a continual basis. Some people become obsessed with body image and weight control. Disordered eating can arise through excessive dieting, fasting, exercising, calorie-counting, laxatives and purging. Disordered eating can also be viewed as a way for individual to gain control in their lives; by controlling the food/caloric intake the person is experiencing a sense of control. Disordered eating and body image issues can be signs and symptoms of a broader issue which needs to be addressed.
It has been estimated that 1 million Australians are affected by an eating disorder (NEDC, 2012). There is an increase in eating disorders among younger and older populations and a noted increase in prevalence with boys and men (NEDC, 2012). Disordered eating can affect anybody.
There a different forms of eating disorders. These can be grouped as (click on each one to find out more information – you will be redirected to the National Eating Disorders Collaboration):
- Anorexia nervosa,
- Bullimia nervosa,
- Binge-eating disorder,
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder,
- Eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS).
Eating disorders can be influenced by many different factors including:
- Psychological factors – low self-esteem, negative body image, or perfectionism
- Social factors – mixed messages about food, weight and eating, cultural messages about bodies, pressures to be a top-achiever or performer
- Interpersonal factors – family dynamics, fears of responsibilities (of adulthood), belief that for love one must be a high achiever
- Biological factors – bodily changes (incuding puberty, and ageing)
WHAT IS EATING DISORDER COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Counselling and psychotherapy can help to identify the underlying causes of disordered eating and other food-related problems such as comfort eating, pre-occupation with weight, extreme or binge-dieting, negative body image and eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.
At Sex Life Therapy, we will work with you to identify and address the causes of the issue/s and assist you to develop new healthy skills and techniques to better manage your eating. I use an integrative approach to working with disordered eating/eating disorder and draw on cognitive-behavioural, solution-focused, psychodynamic and creative therapies. Some of the cogntive-behavioural techniques I use include goal setting, food diaries and thought monitoring. I also draw on cognitive and emotional eating techniques.
Anorexia and bullimia can be very difficult to treat and often requires medical support, therefore I will work with your treating GP and/or psychiatrist. I do not treat severe cases of anorexia or bullimia for counselling without medical and psychiatric supports in place.
ISSUES FOR EATING DISORDER COUNSELLING
- Anorexia
- Bulimia
- Dieting
- Binge Eating
- Over-Eating
- Over-exercise
- Weight Obsession
- Emotional Eating
- Body Image
WHAT BENEFITS AND OUTCOMES CAN I EXPECT FROM EATING DISORDER COUNSELLING/THERAPY?
Through counselling and/or therapy for eating disorder issues, you may achieve:
- Develop an understand the causes of your eating issues
- Identify the thoughts, feelings and behaviours which maintain the cycle
- Develop an awareness of triggers to disordered and/or comfort eating
- Develop new eating habits
- Address psychological and interpersonal issues (including self-esteem, body-esteem, and interpersonal dynamics)
- Develop personalised coping strategies and new skills to replace compensatory behaviours such as vomiting, laxatives, over-exercise and emotional eating
EATING DISORDER COUNSELLING SERVICES IN MELBOURNE
Please call our tehrapists to arrange a consultation about eating disorders or emotional/comfort eating in East Melbourne or Frankston clinics.
EMOTIONAL/COMFORT EATING GROUP PROGRAM
Dr Christopher Fox facilitates various groups on emotional or comfort eating and weight loss. Each year he runs women only, men only and mixed gender groups. For more information on the next Emotional Eating Program, contact Dr Christopher today.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON EATING DISORDERS
Eating Disorders Victoria
COLLINGWOOD OFFICE LOCATION
SYDNEY OFFICE LOCATION
Suite 201, Level 2/1 Erskineville Rd, Newtown NSW 2042
Telephone (02) 9188 4838
FOR PROFESSIONALS
Dr Christopher Fox – Clinical Supervision Opportunities 2026
For Pricing See Bottom Of Page.Â
Clinical supervision is an essential part of working therapeutically with clients. Clinical supervision is a professional requirement of all counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, social work and occupational therapy bodies. All people working in the helping professionals also benefit from clinical supervision (or practise mentoring).
All ethical and professional therapists have on-going formal clinical supervision to support their work in accordance with professional codes of practice requirements. Clinical supervisors are experienced therapists and maintain a responsibility for the good practice of supervisees and to protect clients from harm and unethical practice. Clinical supervisors also have supervision.
Clinical supervision is a space for the supervisee to engage reflexively with the content and process of their client work. Through clinical supervision topics such as therapeutic techniques, therapeutic relationships, difficult problems, ethical dilemmas or issues which impact on the therapist personally as a result of the therapeutic process.
The focus in supervision is three-fold:
Introducing your Supervisor – Dr Christopher Fox
As a clinical supervisor I work from a collaborative and supportive framework to facilitate the growth of the therapist. I draw on critical reflexive practice where the supervisee moves beyond reflection to engagement in self-in-therapy/therapy-in-self/therapeutic self, self-care and development as a professional. A focus on the praxis issues of practice-to-theory/theory-to-practice encourages the therapist to maintain a best-practice model drawing on evidence-based and practice-based evidence informed approaches.
My professional focus is in the areas of psychosexual therapy, sexuality, and gender diversity, as well psychological wellbeing. My theoretical orientation draws on an integrative model of psychodynamic, Berne, Adler, humanism existentialism, Rogerian and solution-focussed approaches to therapy in the main. My practice is also heavily influenced by systems (Satir, Bowen)/family and relationship therapy. I also utilise creative therapeutic approaches including storytelling, therapeutic photography, and clay/play dough. As a public health specialist and experienced community practitioner I also supervise health promotion, welfare and community development workers.
I have worked with sexual and gender diversity, as well as sexual health and wellbeing for over thirty years. I am an European Certified Psycho-Sexologist with the European Federation of Sexology and European Society of Sexual Medicine. I am Director of Sex Life Therapy – a specialist psychosexual and relationship therapy practice in Melbourne, and one of Australia’s oldest and largest psychosexual therapy services.Â
I work as a Senior Lecturer in Sexual Health (Sexology) in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney where I am the Co-Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs and Pathway Coordinator for the Psychosexual Therapy Pathway in the Postgraduate Program in Sexual and Reproductive Health.  I hold an adjunct Research Professor in Sexual and Reproductive Health at the Fiji National University. I am the President of the Asia-Oceania Federation of Sexology and have held executive positions on the governing councils of the World Association for Sexual Health, the Asia-Oceania Federation of Sexology and the Society of Australian Sexologists, including National Chairperson.
Indiviual and group sessions availableÂ
Individual Clinical Supervision is bookable through Chris Fox and available to general counselling and psychotherapy (psychologists, social workers, OTs, counsellors, mental health practitioners) or psychosexual therapy (psychosexual/sex therapists, sexologists, sexual health counsellors) on a regular or ad-hoc basis.
Psychosexual Therapy Group Supervision held on 1st Tuesday of the Month 16.00-17.30.
This group supervision is open to existing psychosexual/sex therapists/sexologists. Groups are limited to six participants.
Emerging Therapist Group Supervision held on 3rd Tuesday of the Month 16.00-17.30.
This emerging group supervision is aimed at recently graduate therapists (psychologists, social workers, OTs, counsellors, mental health practitioners) and therapist with less than five years practise experience. Groups are limited to six participants.
CostÂ
Ad Hoc = $125
6-Pack = $635.00 ($105.83 per session).
12-Pack = $1,145.00 ($95.42 per sessions)
Outer Barcoo:Â Rural and Remote Supervision held on 2nd Tuesday of the Month 15.30-17.30.
This is a general supervision group for practitioners in rural and remotes areas of Australia. The group will focus on practise issues and practice issues with a rural and remote lens.The two-hour groups will focus on traditional supervision and add a professional development aspect as well. This is an online group. (3rd Wednesday of the month at 1430-1630). The group is limited to six participants.
My career started in rural practice and I have always maintained an interest and a connection with these areas. Practising in rural and remote Australia has unique experiences which many urban-based therapists and supervisors do not grasp.
Cost
Ad Hoc = $170
6-Pack = $865.00 ($144.50 per session).
12-Pack = $1,470.00 ($122.50 per sessions)
If you are interested in individual or group supervision, please contact the office on (03) 9005 5213 or email [email protected]