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Specializing in Eating and Weight Disorders and Cardiac Psychology We believe in treating the whole person, not just their symptoms or diagnosis. This entails understanding a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors in the context of their family, job, school, social life, spirituality and health status. Situations experienced in the past can affect why various problems exist in the present. As a result, it is important to understand the impact life experiences could be having on a person’s current medical and/or emotional condition. Our expertise with eating disorders underlies our non-diet approach to the treatment of both medical and psychiatric issues. Dieting can exacerbate anxiety and depressive disorders, is a main cause of eating disorders and is shown to increase mortality in those with medical problems. The vast majority of those who try to diet cannot maintain the artificial expectations for eating and exercise that dieting promotes. Repeated episodes of losing and regaining weight usually results in weighing more than before diets were started, thereby negatively affecting both physical and emotional health. We advocate a non-diet approach that focuses on eating based on appetite, hunger and fullness. When dietary intake is normalized based on adequate consumption of protein, carbohydrates and fat and when regular physical activity is based on preference and pleasure, overeating does not occur and there is no need for dieting. Weight will often decrease without dieting when intake and activity levels are adequate. More than 10 years of research shows that physical activity levels and quality of intake are much more predictive of good health than is weight. The clinical staff at Lees Psychological Services are specialists in their fields of expertise. You can be assured that you will receive high quality care from professionals who are dedicated to providing expert treatment. Review our Staff Bios, then click on Request an Appointment on the bio page to schedule with the clinician of your choice. About our Online Assessments:
The online assessments for Eating Disorders, Depression, Anxiety and Heart Disease Risk Factors can help you determine your risk for one or more of these problems.
Eating disorders have the highest death rate among all psychiatric disorders. Depression and anxiety are very common problems among the general population. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. If you are experiencing any of these problems, it is very important to get treatment.
These assessments are not a substitution for the kind of professional evaluation you would receive from a cardiologist, psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist. They will, however, help you identify characteristics commonly experienced by those who have eating disorders, depression, anxiety and/or heart disease and will help you determine whether evaluation by a health professional is advisable.
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