Eating Disorders

Counselling for Eating Disorders in Bridgend, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Newport, and Porthcawl

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect a person’s relationship with food, body image, and self-worth. They can involve restricting food intake, binge eating, purging behaviours, or obsessing over weight and shape. Eating disorders can have a significant emotional and physical impact and often stem from complex psychological factors. Counselling provides a safe, supportive environment to explore these difficulties, understand their causes, and develop healthier coping strategies and eating patterns.

Common Types of Eating Disorders

• Anorexia nervosa – restricting food intake and obsessive focus on weight
• Bulimia nervosa – cycles of binge eating followed by purging
• Binge eating disorder – eating large amounts of food with loss of control
• ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
• Body dysmorphia and appearance-related anxiety
• Compulsive exercise linked to weight control

Common Symptoms of Eating Disorders

• Obsessive thoughts about food, body shape, or weight
• Restricting, bingeing, or purging behaviours
• Feeling out of control around food
• Low self-esteem or distorted body image
• Withdrawing from social situations involving food
• Fatigue, low mood, or anxiety
• Physical symptoms such as dizziness, stomach issues, or weight changes

Causes of Eating Disorders

• Low self-esteem or negative body image
• Emotional distress, trauma, or past experiences
• High expectations, perfectionism, or pressure to achieve
• Genetic, biological, or hormonal factors
• Social pressures, comparison, or bullying
• Stress, anxiety, or depression

Treatments for Eating Disorders

Counselling plays an essential role in supporting recovery from eating disorders. Therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed therapy, compassion-focused therapy, and emotion regulation techniques help individuals understand the emotional and psychological factors behind their eating patterns. At iTT, our counsellors provide a safe, confidential space to explore these issues, rebuild self-esteem, and develop healthier relationships with food and body image.

A typical counselling treatment plan for eating disorders includes:

• An initial assessment to explore symptoms, patterns, and emotional factors
• Challenging unhelpful thoughts around food, weight, and self-worth
• Developing healthier coping mechanisms
• Exploring emotional triggers and trauma where relevant
• Rebuilding confidence, body acceptance, and emotional resilience