Ann Palik, MA, MFT

therapy-conscious.com

helping close the gap between where you are,

and where you want to be.

“And then the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud was

more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ”

--Anais Nin

Overcoming Overeating

Have you been trying for years to lose weight? Welcome to the club! So many responsibilities clamor for our time--work, family, meals, pets, errands--that "weight loss" often slips our minds. When we have a minute to spare, we may visit the gym, take a walk, say no to dessert. But when "life" relentlessly rushes in, like the tide, our still small dream again disappears under the waves.

Exercise is good. It's part of taking care of ourselves. But what we eat-- and WHY--is just as important.

What is your overeating really about? Are you a good girl or boy, taking care of everybody else first and putting yourself last? Is eating is the only treat you give yourself? Is eating your emotional comfort, your "me-time"? Is there a relationship between your favorite foods and the feelings you're trying to "feed" by overeating? If you crave sweets, for example, you might be depressed and trying to "sweeten" your mood. If you crave spicy crunchy snacks, you might be angry inside and trying to express your "fiery" or "loud" side.

I have two questions for you:

(1) Do you really want to change?

(2) Can you do it alone? There are multitudes of diets out there, but if you don't change your eating habits, they probably won't work for you. Luckily there is lots of support available, whether in OA, Weight Watchers, or some other program, or from friends.

To overcome overeating, you need all the support you can get. I know the struggles of overeating; perhaps I can be part of your support team.

• Are you anxious or worried about something--or everything?

• Have you suffered a loss and are struggling to cope?

• Are you in the same relationship again--with a different person?

• Do you feel stuck but aren't sure how to get unstuck?

• Do you struggle with overeating or overspending?

• Are you bashful about your shyness?

• Are you highly intelligent, sensitive, creative, or musical, yet feel dissatisfied?

If so, I may be the right therapist for you. I chose the name "therapy-conscious" for my website because therapy can help you become "conscious" of your inner strength, wisdom, and vision--as well as patterns of behavior that aren't serving you well--to improve your situation now and to craft the future you want.

What to Expect:

If you enter into therapy with me, you will have the opportunity to be understood and receive feedback in a safe and supportive setting. Together we look at what is going on for you and decide how to help it get better. I will believe in you until you believe in yourself. Whether you want to heal from a loss, reduce anxiety or depression, find and keep the love you want, put yourself back on your priority list, or shift your shyness or sensitivity from a liability into an asset, I am committed to helping people just like you.

Long-Term Relational Psychotherapy:

I also specialize in long-term relational psychotherapy. If you feel you're ready to work deeply--even if you've been in therapy before--I am the kind of therapist who can help you get to the bottom of patterns and struggles you may have wondered about for years.

Getting Started:

If you are curious about how therapy may help, or to schedule an appointment, call me at (310) 538-3512, or e-mail me at ann@therapy-conscious.com.

Ann Palik, MA, MFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Individual & Couples Counseling in Torrance, CA

(also serving Gardena, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach,

Redondo Beach, and Palos Verdes)

(310) 538-3512

ann@therapy-conscious.com

NOTE: This website is intended only to provide general information about Ms. Palik's scope of practice
and qualifications as a licensed marriage and family therapist in the State of California. She does not
conduct online therapy at this time. Furthermore, no therapeutic (i.e., therapist/patient or
therapist/client) relationship with any person is created, intended, or implied by the use of this website.