Counseling for Weight Management in Westborough, MA—Therapists
Jaclyn took a deep breath and then took a step onto the scale. She had fought her body since she was a child, and she was tired. The names that she had been called still lingered in her head, even though Jaclyn had tried. She had tried to eat well. She had tried to live an active life. A few times, she had tried the latest, greatest diet that was highly restrictive, and she lost weight. However, Jaclyn never felt good about herself while on the diet, and she inevitably gained the weight back. Jaclyn did not expect to become a model—she just wanted to like herself and her body. Jaclyn is just like many others. A lot of people are not just struggling to manage their weight, but they are also struggling to feel secure in their own body. Weight management certainly has a physical component to it—what to eat, how to exercise, and more. But it is also emotional—learning self-acceptance and healthy coping skills. Many people are supplementing their physical efforts with counseling for weight management.
“I keep telling myself that I’m a human being, an imperfect human being who’s not made to look like a doll, and that who I am as a person is more important than whether at that moment I have a nice figure.” —Emma Watson
People’s minds and their bodies contribute to their overall well-being. What people eat can undermine their health, but what people think can also undermine their health. Physical skills, like how to perform certain exercises or which foods work with which body types, need to be learned. Emotional skills, like self-care, resiliency, and self-awareness, also need to be learned. Therapy for weight management leaves the exercise and food plans to the trainers and nutritionists, and it focuses upon building a strong foundation of overall well-being.
The weight management counselors at Thriveworks Counseling in Westborough offer appointments for weight management, and more and more of our clients are learning how to approach their health in a holistic way.
Body Image in America
The Centers for Disease Control studied America’s problem with weight management and body image and found…
- Nine percent of children ages 2-5 are considered obese.
- Seventeen percent of children ages 6-11 are considered obese.
- Twenty percent of children ages 12-19 are considered obese.
- Twenty percent of adults (ages 20 and older) in the US are considered overweight.
- Twenty percent of adults in American are considered obese.
This study shows the extent of how many people are struggling, but numbers cannot outline the details. The numbers do not tell about the personal challenges. Often, these personal stories are just as important as the medical ones.
Therapy for Weight Management
When therapists work with their clients on weight management, they often have to primary emotional focuses that can greatly help people physically. The first is identifying and treating any mental illnesses, if present. The second is teaching foundational skills.
Mental Illnesses. Not all people who struggle with their weight have a mental illness, but some do. Eating disorders are often associated with people who are severely underweight, but they can occur in people of all sizes and shapes. They often cause people to have a contentious and destructive relationship with their body. Depressive disorders and anxiety disorders can alter people’s appetite—either decreasing it or increasing it. These mental illnesses are not always present, but if they are, treating them is a top priority.
Foundational Skills. Trendy health fads can leave people yo-yoing with their weight, and they do little to help people cultivate a healthy relationship with their own body. Instead of focusing on strict rules, therapy focuses upon building the emotional skills it takes to manage one’s weight. For example, self-awareness is an important emotional skill that can aid physical health. Without even knowing it, many people have thoughts that undermine a healthy weight maintenance. People may think…
- “I have been so good today, I get a treat!” (food as a reward)
- “I overate today. I should skip dinner because I do not deserve to eat.” (food as a punishment)
- “I will never like this body!” (self-sabotage)
When people grow in their self-awareness, they can recognize these thoughts and work on changing them to positive, true thoughts. Therapy may teach people healthier responses such as…
- How to use goals to motivate themselves (instead of punishments and rewards).
- Coping skills to handle life’s ups and downs without turning to food (like self-care, journaling, and more).
- Resiliency for bouncing back after setbacks (because everyone experiences obstacles).
Scheduling Appointments at Thriveworks Counseling in Westborough for Weight Management
As you read about weight management, did anything resonate with your experiences? If you are ready to meet with a counselor and if you are ready to take a more holistic approach to your health, the mental health professionals at Thriveworks in Westborough are ready to meet with you. When you call our office, a scheduling specialist (that is, a real person) will answer your call and help you make an appointment. Weekend and evening appointments are offered. New clients frequently meet with their counselor within 24 hours of their first call, but we do not keep a waitlist (we want our clients to get help with they need it!). We work with many insurance companies and accept many different plans. Let’s work together for your overall health. Call today.
