Therapist AMA
Hello! My name is Hannah Caradonna. I'm a therapist on 7 Cups. I'm happy to answer any questions about eating disorders, body image, self esteem or anything else related to the topic. :)
Edited in Thread Guidelines 10.16.23 by KristenHR
This thread's guidelines for participation per @DanielleGonzalesPsyD
- Members agree to support one another by speaking from experience vs advice giving
- Members agree not to discuss weight (vitals, BMI, ideal body weight, weight gain, weight loss, anything related to a metric and measures body composition, size, etc)
- Members agree not to discuss meal plan metrics (Kcals, plate exchanges, safe foods, fear foods, food aversions, etc)
- Members agree not to discuss specific medical procedures related to Eating or Body Image (discussion of tubes, invasive nutrient interventions, etc)
- Members agree not to discuss exercise habits in detail, this may be a behavior others are actively working on reducing or not engaging with. You may refer to any joyful movement you are doing that you find helpful with your recovery
- Members agree not to discuss specific related ED behaviors/urges but are welcome to share emotions that surround those urges/bx. For example instead of saying "I had a difficult night and engaged in [insert ED behavior]". We ask that members just simply say "behavior" and leave it general
- Lastly, even if the intention around body image/composition compliments come from "good place" we ask that members not make comments about each other's bodies and find values, characteristics, qualities to compliment on another on!
Just wanted to start by saying thank you for taking time to do a forum like this!
My question is basically how to get your therapist who doesn't have much experience with eating disorders to understand that it's not 'a diet' and just eating healthy isn't a quick fix?
I have only just recently brought my disordered eating to my therapist's attention, but after every session I leave feeling very invalidated and inadequate. She tries to be helpful and offer up suggestions like eating healthier and that if I just chose a healthy diet to follow all my problems would be solved. It's frustrating but since I'm just a teenager I feel I don't have the right to speak up and confront her about this.
I've developed a great relationship with my therapist though and wouldn't want to switch, but how can I make her understand more and stop feeling so down after sessions?
@beanxbean
You have every right to bring up your feelings with your therapist. If you were my client I would definitely want to know how you have felt after the sessions especially if you left feeling inadequate and invalidated. So, my response is to just go ahead and tell her in your next session. You can pretty much tell her what you've written here. Even if she doesn't know what to do exactly, you need to start with telling her your feelings. Maybe you and her can learn together about disordered eating.
Good luck!
@HannahCaradonnnaMSW. Can you help me please
Hello there, generous 🐢 :) First, I applaud you for reaching out for help! I just wanted you to know that it looks like @HannahCaradonnnaMSW is no longer active here at 7cups. I'm Platy and I'm on adult (old people) side of 7cups; but I'm here and I'm willing to listen/read if you want to post more. I am not a fully trained counselor or therapist, but I have experience and I'm certainly willing to listen :)
I have struggled with an eating disorder myself for a few years now. I am currently seeing a therapist who works with people who have eating disorders. She is good at catching things that the ED 'voice' might be telling me and asking me very pointed questions about food and such. I appreciate that - although it is not easy for me - especially because my regular therapist just doesn't know some of those things or what maybe should be a red flag of eating disorder thoughts or activity. The therapist I work with about ED things, her name is Jen and I am very thankful that I am able to work with her.
Note to self: Tell Jen that I am thankful she is working with me!
@tinyWhisper11 - hey :) same for you. We can talk here in the forum if you like.
Take care! both of you and anyone else who might be reading this! :) Platy
@generousTortoise1534, see note Oct 2023
@HannahCaradonnnaMSW um hi I'm Lola ❤ any tips on how to get past trauma related eating problems?
@Tinywhisper11
I agree. Good query here, Tiny. <3 Platy
@Tinywhisper11 Hi Tiny! see here note, end of page (P.S. Huugggg! )
Hi Hannah,
I got admitted today and I’m on an NG feeding tube. And I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to get out of here. I can’t do it. I researched it and it’s apparently between 1500 and 3000 calories per feed, that’s a lot Hannah. I can’t be here it’s ruining me it’s ruining everything. I don’t know what to do, please tell me what to do.
sorry.
@yellowSea358 Hi there, see here note below. introducing Dani
Hey Hannah,
What's residential treatment like?
How do I stop the spiraling after eating and not purging?
Thanks,
Nova
@NovaIsNB Hi NovalsNB, Please see new post below. ED General support form introducing Dani :D
@7cupscommunity @ASilentObserver @Heather225 @Hope @GlenM
just trying to get some attention for this post. Does anyone know if therapist Hannah is still around? Or is there another therapist that might be willing to kind of 'take over' this thread?
Also, someone please from Eating Disorders Support community - can we edit this thread for EDsupport guidelines? like not mentioning numbers (especially of weight - pounds OR kilos, calories, or # of minutes exercised...)
Someone to guide this thread here please??? ~ Platy @bookshugstea6370
tagging @LisaMeighanMScGMBPsS in for the first query
tagging @CheeryMango or @Tommy in for the second. thank you!
@Heather225 thanks for the tag!
specifically to the EDSupport community, yes
@CheeryMango
@cyanPlatypus6370
Guidelines have been added to the post.
@Heather225
Thank you H! I have asked our wonderful therapists if they are able to respond to the questions in the thread. Unfortunately, Hannah is no longer able to answer the questions but hopefully, we will be able to have another therapist(s) answer the questions.
@cyanPlatypus6370
Hi Platy!
We have found a therapist who can respond to the questions and she will be in touch very soon to provide answers to the questions that have been posted. Thank you for letting us know! 🌻
Thank you so much! I am at war with an Eating Disorder myself. And so, I have learned more about EDs generally and ED thought processes (perhaps especially more than the average person), but I am by no means an expert or trained to be best able to answer an entire AMA! Thank you for your work on this, Lisa. ~ Platy
@LisaMeighanMScGMBPsS
@cyanPlatypus6370
Hi there my name is Dani, I specialize in EDs and Body Image concerns.
How can I assist?
Hi Folx,
My name is Dani, I am am eating disorder specialist and will attempt to answer this thread Monday-Friday (daily if possible). I love the support that I am observing here in the thread and do want to set some limits to create a safe, non-triggering, place of support for ALL MEMBERS who struggle with ANY form of Eating or Body Image Concerns. This is not an exhaustive list and is meant to welcome folx to reach out for help/support but also not create difficult comments to be read. Should you members need more support please do not hesitate to reach out to me one-on-one if we need to revise these thread agreements. The agreements are listed below:
- Members agree to support one another by speaking from experience vs advice giving
- Members agree not to discuss weight (vitals, BMI, ideal body weight, weight gain, weight loss, anything related to a metric and measures body composition, size, etc)
- Members agree not to discuss meal plan metrics (Kcals, plate exchanges, safe foods, fear foods, food aversions, etc)
- Members agree not to discuss specific medical procedures related to Eating or Body Image (discussion of tubes, invasive nutrient interventions, etc)
- Members agree not to discuss exercise habits in detail, this may be a behavior others are actively working on reducing or not engaging with. You may refer to any joyful movement you are doing that you find helpful with your recovery
- Members agree not to discuss specific related ED behaviors/urges but are welcome to share emotions that surround those urges/bx. For example instead of saying "I had a difficult night and engaged in [insert ED behavior]". We ask that members just simply say "behavior" and leave it general
- Lastly, even if the intention around body image/composition compliments come from "good place" we ask that members not make comments about each other's bodies and find values, characteristics, qualities to compliment on another on!
Happy thriving and wishing you all the best support on this thread!
@DanielleGonzalesPsyD Hi Dani, welcome!!!
After reading about a third of your post here, I went back to the top to see "folx" again. I first read it as ? someone's username perhaps. Then I realized you meant "folks" as in: Hi y'all, all you peoples, greetings everyone, ... is that right? Maybe I am merely showing my age in not getting the folx in the first place! Yikes. Either way, anyway, or in all ways... welcome :) and ahead of time, Thank you for your time in reading and providing wise answers in this here section of the forum of 7cups. ~ Platy
Hi!
Yes, Folx is an inclusive term I like to use that welcomes non binary bodies of all gender expressions. Thanks for reaching out and looking forward to supporting the thread!
@DanielleGonzalesPsyD I've never seen it spelled that way. no problem, I was just checking to see if I understood you correctly. ~Platy
@HannahCaradonnnaMSW
Hi Hanna 👋, it's really so nice of you that you are providing help and support to those who need it.
