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Eating Disorders

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Insights into Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating: Online Counseling in Georgia

Do you wake up each day feeling like you need to “earn your food” through exercise or restriction? Maybe you track the calories, carbs, fat, or sugar content of each item you eat, desperately trying to control your body.
Each decision about what to eat, when you can eat, and even how you can eat feels overwhelming, causing increasing anxiety and impacting your relationships and social life. You feel tired and worn out, but unable to stop the anxious thoughts about food.
Maybe you feel dependent on food for everything — you eat when you’re sad, lonely, angry, tired, happy, or bored. When you start eating, sometimes it feels like you can’t stop. You may feel guilty, ashamed, or disgusted with yourself afterward, but no matter how many times you say, “This is the last time,” it never is. Maybe your feelings of shame or physical discomfort lead you to make yourself throw up, exercise excessively, or dissociate afterward. 
The Daily Impact: Eating Disorders Can Cause
  • Anxiety, irritability, depression, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies
  • Physical symptoms, such as hair loss, cold intolerance, loss of menstrual period (amenorrhea), GI problems, fainting/dizziness, sleep problems, dental problems, abnormal lab results, and more
  • Withdrawal from friends, family, and previously enjoyed activities
  • Obsessive preoccupation with thoughts of food, body image, weight, calories, and dieting
Finding Healing: What Recovery from an Eating Disorder Can Look Like
  • Decreased preoccupation and eventually peace in your relationship with food
  • Feelings of neutrality and acceptance toward your body
  • Improved self-esteem
  • Improved emotion regulation and/or ability to feel your emotions
  • Improved social relationships 

     

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    What Can I Expect in Session?
    • Because diagnoses may inform how we conduct sessions and what your treatment plan consists of, your therapist will gather information about your specific symptoms and may have you complete assessments to form an accurate picture of your eating disorder
    • Psychoeducation on different aspects, symptoms, or side effects of eating disorders and behaviors if appropriate.
    • Evidence-based interventions, strategies, and coping skills to assist you on your path to recovery
    • Possible referrals to and collaboration with a registered dietitian, psychiatric provider, or medical provider when appropriate
    • Potential for meal support sessions 

    What Comes Next

    Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with the therapist you would like to work with or fill out our potential client form here. From there, you will set up your first session, also known as an intake session. With your chosen therapist, let them know a bit about your concern, your history with past treatment, ask about our fees, and the best days and times to attend therapy sessions. 

    Fees

    Each therapist at Sage Counseling and Wellness has their own fee structure. When you have the initial consultation call with your therapist, you will discuss your fee with them. 

    Our therapists do not participate in-network with any insurance companies. Clients pay their therapist each time they come to a session and are then emailed an insurance-compatible statement at the end of each month to send to their insurance companies for out-of-network reimbursement called a superbill. Each insurance company varies on what reimbursement they give for psychotherapy out of network. You may want to check with your insurance company to find out what they offer for psychotherapy with a therapist with your therapist’s particular licensure in Georgia.

     

    What Can I Expect at My First Therapy Appointment?

    Many people have fears, assumptions, and at times, no idea at all about what therapy will be like the first time they come in for a first session. We would also encourage you to reach out and ask your therapist any questions you have about what therapy will be like with them.

    Each therapist has their own way of approaching their work. But here are some things that may happen in your first session here at Sage Counseling and Wellness:

    • When you start your first online appointment, you’ll be in the virtual waiting room. 
    • While you wait for your appointment, take a moment to breathe, look over any thoughts or items you’d like to share in the session, and perhaps take a restroom break beforehand so you can be fully present.
    • As sessions are virtual, you can sit however you want to sit comfortably. Some clients prefer to sit at a desk, others in a comfy chair with a laptop or tablet, and some others sit on the floor on a yoga mat to stretch while in session. It’s completely up to you. 
    • In your first session, your therapist will likely remind you that what you talk about in session is completely confidential with a few legal and ethical exceptions, which will be explained to you (and which are outlined in our consent to treatment document). If you have any questions about those policies, you’re encouraged to ask!
    • Your therapist might discuss any other policies they have (cancellation, payment, session length, scheduling, or other ‘frequently asked questions’). This all only takes a few minutes.
    • Then, depending on the level of crisis that you’re currently experiencing, your therapist might review their particular style of therapy, discuss your intake form with you, begin a more thorough assessment of your history, or just ask you what brings you in at that particular time. From there on, it’s a conversation and there are no right or wrong things for you to say — the only thing you can do ‘wrong’ at that point is to be dishonest, and in doing so you would only slow down your progress. If there is something about your therapist that seems like it would get in the way of you feeling comfortable being honest, you can say so, and your therapist may be able to help you feel more comfortable. We want you to feel comfortable and confident with your therapist. If at any time you don’t, please let them know or let the director know.
    • Your therapist may or may not take notes, depending on their treatment style. These notes are also confidential unless you consent to their release, and they are kept safely in our electronic health record system.
    • Therapy is a safe space to show your vulnerability so crying is perfectly acceptable.
    • You’ll pay for your session at the end, generally, via your credit card on file.
    • You can discuss a regular meeting time with your therapist so that this time becomes your reserved time. This helps in accountability for you to work on your progress as well.

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