Am I the right person for a group like this?

If you have issues around emotional overeating or how you feel about your weight you're probably a good fit for this group. If you're interested in exploring and improving in a safe, supportive environment you're an even better fit. And if you're willing to grow and share with other women who are working on similar challenges, you're a perfect fit.

What will we do in meeting?

Meeting content rotates between education (e.g. how common this problem is; different ways people tend to learn it; what research and counseling theories can teach us about addressing it successfully), skills (e.g. mindfulness, stress management, communication) and perspectives (what are your strengths? what do you tell yourself about yourself and is it helpful? how can you bring your life and relationship with food more into balance?).

What's the advantage of a group?

I'm a proponent of individual sessions for someone struggling with long-term emotional overeating, but also believe that things happen in groups that can't happen one-on-one. Community, normalization, support, and resource sharing happen best in groups.

Is this a weight loss group?

Not specifically, although Weight Works could probably be very helpful if you are trying to lose weight. We're not going to focus on the "what" of your eating. There's plenty of good programs offering that out there. Our focus is the "why" of your eating. And long-term success.

Do I have to attend every session?

Everyone will need to miss sometimes. No judgement. That being said, you will get more out of it if you come regularily. And you're paying anyway, so why not get your money's worth? :)

How do I pay?

Cash, check or credit card at the beginning of every month. Months will not be split into weeks for payment: full months only.

Why do you request an individual session before I start Weight Works?

As a counselor, one of my top priorities is being effective. I believe it's important to get to know you as a whole person and hear your personal history. People come to struggle with food and eating issues from many different paths - if I know yours I can help point out your best direction much more easily.

Sometimes some of the paths that have lead to emotional overeating are emotional, physical or sexual abuse. If this is part of your past then I want to be aware of and sensitive to how conversations and experiences might effect you. If you've been through abuse then you've been through enough, and it's important that group be a safe and healing place.