All foods cause anxiety except pizza!

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Permalink Reply by Tranzkey on April 28, 2009 at 6:08pm

In all honesty, with what you just said, I would refer to a psychologist in such a way, that he could examine the person, AND WORK WITH YOU as his/her hypnotist assistant.

It is not such a "little" situation, if the person has no memory of ever being thin.

You should try to keep your client, but success for the person would probably take a psychologist in the leadership role.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Barsky on April 28, 2009 at 6:28pm

I had success with a young lady who only ate about 10 foods, mostly white. My 19 year old female client was in first year in college, and away from home for the first time, so this behavior was quite challenging to maintain. I also thought/intuition she was attached to not growing up on some level. I used the allegory of how a caterpillar is born and spends it's life on only one plant/one food...I got out some science books to show her. But then she goes into a cocoon (our hypnosis session) and changes/emerges grows up into a Butterfly, which has freedom and flies around to many flowers of different colors. And is far more beautiful.
There are social motivations as well. My client also had a number of friends, however her old behavior kept her from hanging out with them, going to a restaurant, etc.
We also took it slow. She really wanted baby steps.
Since she had trouble keeping food down, I listened to how she would taste something new (say at a restaurant/hangout) with encouraging friends. Then, if the taste was OK, they got her to down, say a strawberry (pink, not white) milkshake. Well, it didn't stay down, uncomfort. etc. In some of the first sessions, I had her go for just the tastes, but absolutely NOT eat more of the colored food. On her hypnotherapist's orders! So for a couple of weeks, she got used to tasting and not being forced to go further. It put her in control.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on April 29, 2009 at 2:08am

Hi JM-

I agree with Edward, the Amazing Mr Barsky and Cynthia

I think a comprehensive approach is the best way to help people with "eating disorders" and I have found that recommending your client seek additional help creates the possibility of future professional collaborations -- I know several MDs who are hypno friendly and I would recommend my client consider working with them as I help her develop healtheir habits--

I love the lowly caterpillar/Beautiful butterly allegory and find that it helps to focus my clients attention on tasting all of the benefits and advantages of eating a more flexible diet -- LIfe will be soooooo much easier and more fun--Blah, blah, blah...

Cynthia's time frame for helping her client take charge of what she eats is consistent with my own experience in helping this type of client-- It usually takes several sessions over a 6 months period.

My advice is to relax into this - Make it an adventure instead of a challenge -- How exciting and fun it is going to be to open yourself to the joy of flexible eating -- Just imagine all the fun you will have discovering all the new foods that you enjoy-- blah, blah, blah...

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