If you are someone who has been successful at losing weight and keeping it off, chances are you have addressed the underlying issues that contributed to your weight gain. On the other hand, you may know how to lose weight, but you tend to regain all the weight you lost (plus a few extra pounds). If the latter statement pertains to you, you may be someone who has an unhealthy relationship with food. Why is it so difficult to keep the weight off? You may be overlooking a significant mental component of being overweight and losing weight.
Changing your relationship with food requires an in depth look at long standing patterns of behavior and thinking. Research supports that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a valuable addition to a weight loss strategy and that a combination of CBT and weight loss coaching was more effective then weight loss coaching alone. Health Factor Weight Loss is going to break that cycle in conjunction with the work of Tara Benson and Dustin Kebre. Tara and Dustin are Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists at Boca Raton Counseling Center in Boca Raton, FL.
Food has become linked to our reward center in our unconscious brain. The part of the brain we are not even actively aware of. Have you worked hard all week and said, “I deserve a nice meal tonight” or “I am sad and upset, I need food to help me feel better?” Just like a drug, food provides a immediate gratification for our brain. Once this pattern is created, food becomes our “go to” coping skill for when we are happy or when we are sad. Food becomes the reward for anything we do in our lives. We know some drugs are highly addictive, but for millions of people food is the most addictive drug.
For the people who lose the weight and then gain it back that’s where the true shame starts to set in. After they lose the weight they usually are still in denial of the link between food and pleasure. They rationalize eating the cake, the bagel, or the entire pizza as something they deserve. Our brain uses its neurotransmitters to convince that we need to eat unhealthy things as a reward. Weight loss is a complex issue. By working with a licensed clinician, you will address and uncover issues of body image, self image, confidence, family history, and self respect. We have developed a protocol that will change you old weight loss patterns. In our program you will have weekly therapy sessions that utilize a holistic approach. They include but are not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), behavior modification, and psychodynamic therapies.
What is CBT? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a psychological theory used to treat different problems ranging from anxiety to weight loss. It is used to support lifestyle changes in desentizing unhealthy behaviors , irrational fears and phobias.
Behavior Modification is the alteration of behavioral patterns through the use of positive and negative reinforcement.
Psychodynamic therapy is a form of depth therapy that addresses the unconscious psyche. Clients learn how their past influence and effects current behaviors.
At the Boca Raton Counseling Center, we take a progressive approach to counseling and helping our patients. Our therapists provide individualized support through concierge counseling between sessions as needed. This can be either through teleconferencing (face-time) or text messaging.
We address the feelings related to changing habits and finding new coping skills. Food is no longer working for you and cannot continue to be the coping skill you have used in the past.
As licensed mental health clinicians we have been engulfed in years of inner work. It was time to create our own balance. We have been successful and want to share it with you. The added benefit of working with us during this process separates our diet from anyone else’s. The unhealthy relationship with food must be given the attention it deserves. YOU deserve the attention.
In good health,
Tara Benson, M.A; LMFT
Dustin Kebre, M.A; LMFT;EMDR; Weight Loss Specialist
Book your free weight loss consultation at Health Factor Weight Loss today !!!