Counseling for weight loss?
Need a therapist in Chicago to help you lose weight? Hoping to drop a few pounds but lack motivation? Do you want someone to help you stay on track with your wellness goals?
Believe it or not, seeing a therapist for your weight challenge issues may be one of the smartest moves you’ll ever make. That’s right – therapy may help you create a healthier physique.
For decades, the research has confirmed that the process of counseling can have a positive effect on a person’s health. What most people tend to think about with psychotherapy is mental health.
This makes sense when one considers a primary function of counseling is the obtainment of a better mood.
But what many people fail to recognize is that therapy can also help a person physically. When you think about it, the relationship between the psychological and physiological is fairly close. Consider, for example, the tangible benefits of pain management psychotherapy.
Weight Loss Therapy
So, how does counseling for weight loss work? Well, the process is multi-factorial in nature but essentially, here are the nuts and bolts:
- An assessment is conducted of your historical relationship with food.
- A strength-based approach to counseling whereby the counselor helps you to identify things that have worked well for you in the past.
- A discussion of challenge areas and roadblocks.
- Short and long-term goal identification.
- An accountability program whereby your counselor helps coach you to wellness goals.
Sadly, many people think that losing weight is simply a matter of willpower. If only that were true. The reality is that trying to drop pounds – and keep them off – isn’t easy.
And let’s face it – some environments are more conducive to healthier living than others. For example, people in Chicago, Illinois (on average) struggle with weight management issues more than other cities, according to the research.
A major reason relates to cold weather; an issue that makes it difficult for many in places like Lakeview and Uptown to get outdoors during winter.
Throw in ongoing mental health challenges, like depression and anxiety, and it is not hard to see how geography and personal issues combine to make weight loss difficult.
Self-Esteem Counseling
A major aspect of weight loss counseling relates to self-esteem. Specifically, we’re talking about low self-esteem. If you’ve ever looked at yourself in the mirror and come to the realization that you don’t like what’s staring at you back, you know exactly what we’re talking about.
Counseling for weight loss can be helpful in this way because the process of psychotherapy (in part) helps you to re-think your self-view and avoid unhealthy thinking patterns.
This means focusing on things like body positivity and health.
If you live in Chicago and are trying to get rid of pounds and keep them off, counseling could be a helpful tool for you to consider.
Obviously, other wellness components need to be in place, including physical activity and a proper diet. If you have a preexisting medical condition, this also needs to be factored into the dynamic.
That said, many people have found that seeing a therapist for weight loss can be extremely helpful.
If you would like to know more, give us a call at 773.528.1777 or send us a confidential email.
