Is food or your body taking up more of your life than it should?

Maybe it's the mirror you can't walk past without checking. Maybe it's the meal you planned, then lost control of, then punished yourself for. Maybe it's a list of "safe" foods that keeps getting shorter. From the outside, nothing may look wrong. On the inside, it can feel like a constant argument.

"I think about food all day." "I can't stand how I look." "Nobody would guess what goes on behind closed doors."

If any of that sounds familiar, you're in the right place. Difficulties with eating and body image come in different forms, and they're more common, and more treatable, than most people realise.

Do you need to look a certain way to have an eating problem?

No. Eating and body image difficulties affect people of every shape, size, age and gender, and many are invisible to everyone but the person living with them. If food or your body is causing distress, that's reason enough to ask for support.

Which of these sounds most like you?

Each of the following has its own page. Start with the one that feels closest and follow the link.

•      Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD): if you're consumed by perceived flaws in your appearance that others don't see.

•      Binge eating and disordered eating: if eating feels out of control and followed by shame, or food and body have become a battle.

•      Bulimia: if you're caught in a cycle of eating, guilt and trying to undo it.

•      Orthorexia: if "eating well" has hardened into rigid rules, fear of the wrong foods and a shrinking list of what feels safe.

What do these difficulties have in common?

Different as they look, they often share the same pattern: powerful thoughts and feelings that fire automatically, a cycle of secrecy and shame, and behaviour that gives short-term relief but keeps the problem going. None of it is about willpower or vanity, and none of it means you're broken.

Can't I just try harder to stop?

If it worked that way, you'd have stopped already. These patterns are driven by automatic responses in the brain, which is why trying harder tends to leave people exhausted and ashamed rather than free. Change usually comes from working with those responses, not against yourself.

How does therapy help with eating and body image?

It gives you a space that's free of judgement, where you can talk honestly, many for the first time, about what's really going on. We look at what's driving the patterns and shift them at a pace that feels safe to you. Support is always tailored, because no two people arrive at these difficulties the same way.

Where does BWRT fit in?

BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT) works directly with the brain's automatic emotional responses: the self-criticism, the urges, the dread and the loops of thought that keep these patterns in place. It doesn't require you to relive painful memories in detail, and many people feel a real shift within a few sessions. I can also combine it with other approaches as your needs change.

Is it safe to get help while I'm still struggling?

Yes, and you don't have to be "bad enough" first. If you have physical symptoms, or your health feels at risk, it's important to see your GP as well, and I'm happy to work alongside that. If you're in distress right now, you can call the Butterfly Foundation National Helpline on 1800 33 4673.

Can I have sessions from home?

Yes. Sessions run online via Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp or Messenger, from anywhere and on any device, in a private space that feels safe.

How do I take the first step?

Email me or call (61) 0409 254 500 to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation. We can talk through what's been happening, answer your questions and look at what support might suit you. There's no pressure and no judgement.