Disordered Eating

Understanding Disordered Eating

Disordered eating exists on a broad spectrum and does not always fit neatly into diagnostic categories. It can include restrictive eating, bingeing, emotional eating, rigid food rules, chronic dieting, or persistent preoccupation with food, weight, and body shape. Many people live with disordered eating for years without realizing that support is available—or that their experience “counts” as something worth addressing.

At Lodestone Psychology, we understand disordered eating as a coping strategy, not a failure of willpower. Eating patterns often develop in response to stress, trauma, control needs, identity pressures, or attempts to manage difficult emotions. Therapy focuses on understanding what food has come to represent in your life and helping you build a safer, more flexible relationship with eating and your body.

How Disordered Eating Can Show Up

Disordered eating looks different for everyone. Common experiences include:

• Restricting food intake or skipping meals

• Binge eating or feeling out of control around food

• Emotional eating tied to stress, sadness, or loneliness

• Rigid food rules or fear foods

• Cycles of dieting and regain

• Preoccupation with weight, body image, or appearance

• Guilt, shame, or anxiety related to eating

Many people alternate between patterns over time, especially during periods of increased stress or life transitions.

The Emotional and Relational Impact

Disordered eating rarely exists in isolation. It can affect mood, self‑esteem, relationships, and daily functioning. People often describe feeling trapped in their own thoughts about food or their body, or disconnected from hunger, fullness, and enjoyment.

Shame is common and can make it difficult to seek help. Therapy provides a confidential, non‑judgmental space where these patterns can be explored safely and at your pace.

Our Therapeutic Approach

Disordered eating therapy at Lodestone Psychology is compassionate, collaborative, and weight‑inclusive. We do not focus on diets, meal plans, or appearance goals. Instead, therapy centres on understanding the emotional, relational, and nervous‑system factors that influence eating behaviours.

Therapy may include:

• Exploring the role food plays in emotional regulation

• Identifying triggers and patterns around eating

• Rebuilding trust in hunger and fullness cues

• Addressing body image distress and self‑criticism

• Developing alternative coping strategies

• Processing trauma, control needs, or perfectionism when relevant

We draw from evidence‑based approaches including CBT‑E, ACT, trauma‑informed care, and self‑compassion practices.

Disordered Eating, Control, and Safety

For many people, disordered eating offers a sense of control or predictability during times of uncertainty. While these strategies may have been protective at one point, they often become restrictive or distressing over time.

Therapy helps you understand these patterns with respect—recognizing their purpose while supporting change that prioritizes safety, flexibility, and wellbeing.

Disordered Eating Summary

We support adults across Calgary and Alberta who are struggling with disordered eating, body image concerns, or food‑related distress. Therapy is available in person and virtually, allowing for flexibility and accessibility.

You do not need to meet criteria for an eating disorder diagnosis to benefit from therapy. If your relationship with food or your body feels stressful, therapy can help.

You deserve a relationship with food and your body that feels steadier and less consuming. Therapy can offer support as you work toward greater ease, trust, and self‑compassion.