005⎯EATING DISORDERS

      A typical feature of eating disorders is the difficulty for the patient to realize he/she is suffering from problems with food even when it is often very disabling. The fluctuating relationship with one’s own image in the mirror and the mood swings typical of these disorders can make focusing on the problem extremely complex, compromising or greatly postponing the moment of seeking treatment.

Although the treatment of eating disorders is outside the range of my current competencies, the intervention I propose takes place precisely at this first moment of the request for help, when the patient interfaces with the doubt about their relationship to food and with their own image. Examining these questions together represents the first step towards the request for treatment, which will eventually be taken over by a licensed psychotherapist. In this case, I offer a short counseling service (4-12 sessions) to listen to the stories, analyze the doubts and understand if a more specific intervention is advisable to regain a peaceful relationship with one’s own reflection in the mirror.

At the same time I offer a counseling service for parents of patients suffering from eating disorders, or who are also wondering if their child has a problem in this direction. Eating disorders are widespread even among very young patients, and the support and understanding of the family is extremely important in these cases