What Weight Counseling Is and Isn’t

When people hear weight counseling, they seem to automatically process it as “weight loss counseling”. While it is true, most people contact me because they are concerned about their weight, weight loss isn’t really what I do. This might be confusing. Weight loss deals with a lot of factors that are mostly focused on physical changes.

Every single person who works with me has a pretty good idea of the latest and greatest diet and weight loss scheme. They have usually tried most of them. The physical components aren’t usually what gets in the way. Sure, it can be hard to prioritize physical activity, adequate sleep and balanced nutrition. Change is hard and it usually isn’t simply due to the physical components.

My focus is on the emotional pieces around weight management. I help clients look at the why….
Why is it difficult to eat the way you intend?
Why is it hard to motivate yourself to be active?
Why do you obsess about food?
Why do you eat until you are uncomfortable?
Why do you keep sabotaging yourself every time you start to get close to accomplishing your goals?

The emotional component of food and weight is so immense and yet, very few diets or weight loss programs fully address it. Using a house as an example, this is like trying to paint walls and hang curtains on a crumbling foundation. There is so much that can be accomplished when we get to the root and change the wiring in the brain.

By addressing the underlying experiences that create these patterns of self-sabotage, we can change the course of behavior. We all run an unconscious program that keeps behavior in play even when we consciously want to change. There are so many experiences that have shaped our behavior patterns and by looking closely at those experiences, we are better equipped to change. Using a variety of powerful therapies, we can identify the root of behavior quickly.

Michelle Lewis

Michelle Lewis

Michelle Lewis has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Weber State University and a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Utah. She has been working in the mental health field since 2001.

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