Can therapy help with weight loss?
Weight loss challenges can make a big impact on our lives. In fact, 2 in 3 adults in Australia are overweight or living with obesity. Whether you’re struggling with lowered self-esteem and confidence, or hoping to address physical health concerns, working towards our weight loss goals can be a great step towards a healthier future – both physically and mentally.
Therapists understand that weight loss is much more complex than simply wanting to lose weight. Well-intentioned diet plans and restrictive lifestyle changes may provide short-term results, but many studies have proven these to be unsustainable and detrimental in the long run. Therapy can be a great solution for those who are struggling with weight loss and are looking for support and guidance.
In this guide, we’ll explore how therapy services like My Mirror online psychology are helping address weight loss and take a closer look at the different therapy methods psychologists use in weight loss therapy.
Why does therapy help with weight loss?
Before we dive into the different types of therapy treatments, it can be helpful to understand why therapy can be so effective with weight loss.
While weight loss can be seen as a physical struggle, our mind touches every part of our lives. From unhealthy views of ‘good foods’ versus ‘bad foods’ to feelings of disempowerment and worry, therapists can help clients change their mindset about dieting and weight loss.
Weight loss therapy can help clients:
- Improve their body image
- Regain their self-esteem and confidence
- Recover from emotional damage caused by dieting
- Learn how to change their eating habits
- Understand the root cause of weight loss issues
Research by Bacon & Aphramor shows that this non-dieting approach is much more effective in improving our health. By switching the focus from our body size to our overall mental and physical health, we can see sustainable results that leave us with improved physical health and higher self-esteem.
Types of therapy for weight loss
The mental challenges we face around weight loss can be far-reaching, and so are the different types of therapy used to address them. Because we all have different experiences with weight loss, your therapist will tailor your therapy to best suit your needs.
Below are four of the most common treatments psychologists use in weight loss therapy:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) gives clients the tools to recognise their unhelpful thoughts, so they can understand how they are impacting their lives. It’s based on the principle that our thoughts, feelings and behaviours are all connected, and we can improve our overall health by redirecting negative thoughts.
Therapists equip their weight loss clients with coping skills, so they can stop unhelpful thoughts from turning into harmful actions. For example, a client may have negative thoughts about their body image, which can be recognised as just that: a thought that doesn’t need to be acted on or result in unhelpful choices.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic therapy looks at our subconscious emotions and suggests that our thoughts and past experiences influence us in the present. Sometimes, we have unhelpful weight loss beliefs that are subconscious, and we unknowingly fall into a pattern of negativity and emotional distress.
During psychodynamic psychotherapy, clients learn how to break the cycle of negative subconscious thoughts, leaving them with a happier wellbeing and understanding of themselves.
Intensive Behaviour Therapy
This type of therapy is often used to treat clients with obesity and is an evidence-based technique. Intensive behavioural therapy (IBT) works to change behaviours to adopt healthier lifestyles and eating habits.
This could look like: working exercise into your schedule, setting realistic and achievable weight loss goals and recording your food intake so you can track your habits. This helps clients learn how to make small changes that make a big difference over time.
Relaxation Techniques
Stress and tension are common side effects of weight loss issues. Sometimes high stress can lead to overeating and emotional distress, and relaxation techniques can be great at reducing this.
Mindfulness techniques like being present in the moment can help clients become more aware of their thoughts and actions, and let unhelpful thoughts pass without shame. This can target stress or guilt-related eating too.
Is weight loss therapy right for me?
Learn how to lose weight effectively
Weight loss therapy can be a useful tool for clients who have tried to lose weight on their own but struggle to see results. It may be that you need guidance creating realistic or measurable goals, and therapist can help with that. From suggesting diet and exercise plans to educating clients on healthier lifestyle choices, weight loss therapists equip clients with the tools they need.
Making yourself accountable for your actions by having a therapist actively involved in the process can be a great motivator too. You can check up on your progress in a judgement-free space that’s confidential and supportive.
Get the emotional support you need
If you want to get to the root cause of your weight loss challenges, then it sounds like weight loss therapy is right for you. Emotional distress, trauma, anxiety or depression all play huge roles in our lives and may be negatively impacting or exacerbating the personal health journey.
It’s very hard to work on your weight loss goals if you don’t have a clear headspace to do so. Addressing your mental health with a therapist will not only improve your overall health, it can give you a greater understanding of yourself and your actions.
Change your way of thinking
Weight loss therapy places a big importance on our thoughts and habits. If you’re stuck in a cycle of overeating, or consumed by negative and unhelpful thoughts then it’s time to break the mould and change up old ways of thinking.
Both cognitive and behavioural therapies show us how to address and recognise our thoughts. Weight loss therapy can help foster new ways of thinking and feeling, so you can create habits and behaviours that align with your weight loss goals.
Find a weight loss therapist online
Weight loss is a journey that can’t always be taken alone. If you think it’s time to speak with a therapist about weight loss you can connect with a range of professional psychologists online at My Mirror.
Their matching tool means you can enter your preferences to find a psychologist that has experience working with eating disorders and weight loss issues. Take the hassle out of weight loss therapy with online sessions held from the comfort of your own home and discover how therapy might work for you.
Get talking with reduced-cost psychology sessions
With a Mental Health Care Plan, you can access reduced-cost psychology sessions through Medicare rebates. Getting a Mental Health Care Plan has never been easier with InstantScripts. Simply request a Mental Health Care Plan consultation to get talking to an online GP, with an average call back time within 24 hours.
Even better, this consultation can be bulk billed meaning you can get your mental health diagnosis with zero out-of-pocket expenses. Once you have your Mental Health Care Plan, you’re ready to book your first psychology session. Don’t let high fees get in the way of your health journey. Unlock Medicare-rebated therapy that works for you and your weight loss goals.
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