Wilson Counseling: The Armchair Chronicles

With my Houston clients who are coming in to deal with disordered eating, I always do a body image and weight history.  This helps us get to the root of what may have caused their disorder. When I asked one of my anorexic clients, Claire, about her earliest memories of her body, she recalls being 10 years old when her mom took her to a weight loss clinic. Claire's mom wanted to lose weight, and felt that Claire could stand to lose a few pounds as well. So, they both went on diets. Claire commented that this is the first time she realized something was wrong with her body, and that her mom would be happier if she was thin. For her, being thin meant being beautiful, and being accepted. Claire became hyper health conscious. Nine years later, she is at a point in her life where she feels guilty if she even eats something like fruit, because "it has too much sugar." She thinks about food, exercise, and weight obsessively. People who know her would probably describe he...

Houston Eating Disorder Specialists is hosting an eating disorder conference which will focus on realizing recovery. This is a great opportunity for  family members, those struggling with eating disorders or eating disorder professionals to learn more from some of the foremost experts in the field. The conference is right around the corner on February 28, 2015 from 8 am - 5pm. It is for both professionals and the public. Speakers will discuss the importance of nourishing the self for both client and clinician. What are the principles of healing and how do we incorporate them? How do we help our clients stay connected to a deeper meaning and purpose and how do we do that for ourselves? How do we bring ourselves into our work with clients and how does our work help us to heal and to grow. I am particularly excited about our keynote speakers, Carolyn Costin and Anita Johnston. Carolyn is one of the pioneers in the treatment of eating disorders and has a wealth of practical inf...