Amy Boyers, PH.D.
Adolescent and Adult Psychotherapy
IN-HOME MEAL SUPPORT
Our trained meal support coaches can work with you or your family in the privacy of your own home to help you meet your nutritional goals, which can be challenging to those struggling with disordered eating behaviors. Coaching parents identify and address problem behaviors as they are happening in “real time” helps them develop the confidence and skills needed to support their child in his or her recovery.
FEAR FOOD EXPOSURES
For all clients who struggle with disordered eating, there are certain foods that will consistently elicit a higher level of fear or anxiety. Our coaches are specifically trained in working systematically with clients to re-introduce these fear foods in a way that is therapeutic and helps them to achieve their goals of greater ease and flexibility during meals.
RESTAURANT OUTINGS
All clients in recovery for an eating disorder report difficulty in going to restaurants. Our coaches will go with you to a variety of restaurants to help you feel more at ease and work through challenges that come up when eating in public, eating food prepared by others, or anxiety related to ordering off a menu. Get the eating disorder help you need in public restaurants.
GROCERY STORE OUTINGS
Many clients find going to a grocery store to be overwhelming, especially in the first few weeks after stepping down to a lower level of care. This is very common and our coaches can help you manage any feelings that may come up and also help adhere to your treatment goals. Get the eating disorder help you need at the grocery store.
IN-HOME PARENT COACHING FOR MEAL PREPARATION
For many families, especially those who are doing Family Based Treatment, preparing meals that meet the nutritional recommendations or needs of your child can be confusing. Our meal support coaches have years of experience with meal preparation and portioning to help parents build the confidence that they are properly following the meal plan for their child.
IN-HOME PARENT COACHING FOR REDUCING ED BEHAVIORS
Learning to “speak E.D.” takes time and practice. Our Coaches can help family members more readily identify and appropriately address those moments when their loved one is struggling with eating disorder thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. By being in the home, this training can happen “in vivo” and help the family feel more secure in their ability to care for their loved one.
“BOOSTER” SESSIONS
For those in recovery for an eating disorder, there can be times where symptoms creep back into your daily routine or even just as increased thoughts. Our Coaches can give you eating disorder help to assist you in creating a personalized plan to help you challenge yourself, raise your awareness, and hold you more accountable so that you don’t give in to these old patterns.
MINDFUL EATING
For those who are in the later phases of recovery, it can be challenging to move from a more structured meal plan to more mindful eating. Our Coaches understand this challenge and can help you feel more confident in your own bodily experiences and your judgement about how to appropriately nourish yourself. Get the eating disorder help you need to eat mindfully.
MINDFUL MOVEMENT
Incorporating movement or exercise can be difficult for those in recovery. For some, it is because of a history of exercising in a compulsive, rigid way. For others, it is because of feelings of self-consciousness when engaging in physical activity with others. In either scenario, the individual focuses more on the exercise rather than the pleasure of moving one’s body in a positive way. Our coaches will work with our clients to move in a more “embodied” way and to release themselves from rules and judgements about exercise and weight.
FULL-TIME MEAL SUPPORT
In certain circumstances, a client may require full time meal support. This would involve the Meal Support Coaches attending all meals and snacks throughout the day. Our coaches may also help clients with shopping, meal preparation, and even light cooking in these situations. This service can be helpful when a client is waiting for a bed at a treatment center, recently came out of the hospital, or recently left residential care.
COOKING INSTRUCTION
For clients who struggle with food (whether it be overeating or undereating), they often develop a pattern of avoidance of cooking, meal planning, or preparing their meals. Our coaches can help you organize your meals, go to the grocery store with you, show you how to cook meals that you enjoy, and help you break some old habits related to cooking. Get the eating disorder help you need in the kitchen.
