Is this worth it? One to one binge eating consultant

[Birdtwitcher]

I need help with my binge eating and general poor diet. I had a free consultation with a binge eating therapist. It was brilliant. Lasted over an hour and talked about tricks to retrain your brain and it felt like something I could get on board with that would work. She talked about helping me in all areas of my life to do with exercise, food, self esteem. The free consultation was so promising and I would like to do it.
It's an 8 week programme. You have daily contact via email plus several phone calls with feedback each day too and she teaches strategies to help.
Should I do it? It's quite a lot of money? Interested to know how much others would think is reasonable to pay for this? And if it will work?

[Birdtwitcher]

Or is this something I can do myself? Research the techniques and do it on my own?
I'm quite a lazy person and having someone coaching me would make mr more likely to stick to it

[handslikecowstits]

I don't know if it'll work but I'd be doing as full a background check on her as possible. I'd want to know all her qualifications, where and when she got them, which organisations she is registered with BACP etc.). I'd be checking with Companies' House to see if she's registered as a business, I'd want a contract between you with a proper cooling off period etc.

In short, I'd want everything that I'd get with a face to face professional.

[Ilovesausages]

Honestly I’ve paid money to people like this before. Some, in hindsight, who were not helpful.

The book ‘Brain over Binge’ is good.

I would be wary of signing up for this.

[Ilovesausages]

How much is it?

[Birdtwitcher]

Yeh these were part of my worries. Is it legit. Its 400 pounds which I thought was ridiculous.

[Smelborp]

Leaving aside whether it’s legit or useful, if she contacts you daily (7 days a week), let’s say she spends 20 mins on you daily. That’s over 18 hours of her time over 8 weeks. £400 isn’t ridiculous.

[UpToonGirl]

I would try and do as much research on her as poss to see if she has actually been able to help long term. I don't think £400 is too bad considering the amount of support she is offering...@Birdtwitcher can you PM me her details? I definitely am at the stage of considering help with my eating.

[Birdtwitcher]

Yes I will. Ok thank you that's good to know it doesnt seem a ridiculous price.

I did look online couldnt find much.not much of a presence on fb,instagram or twitter which I found odd. Think this ranf alarm bells for me. But when I spoke to her it was great. Really knows her stuff

[maxelly]

I'd actually say £400 is not a lit for what she's says you'd be getting, as Smelborp says, even at 20 mins input from her a day, 7 days a week for 8 weeks is 18.66 hours, so at £400 she's only charging £21 p/hour which is on the low side for a proper qualified counsellor. If it's actually multiple hour+ phone calls and emails a day she could barely be making minimum wage (bear in mind that proper therapists will spend more time per client than just the time they spend actually talking to them, they will prepare for each session and write up notes etc after).

I also wouldn't expect a proper qualified counsellor to necessarily be all over social media, twitter/insta etc are not always the most appropriate marketing tools for reasons of professionalism, confidentiality etc. But I would expect her to be able to tell you what her qualifications are, what professional bodies she is registered with etc and if that information isn't forthcoming I'd be quite skeptical...

[Birdtwitcher]

Yeh I guess it just seems the sort of thing that would really benefit from being advertised on social media.

[feelingsomewhatlost]

I did something similar but I met with a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist who offered discount weight loss sessions. Each session was £40 so quite pricey but I was desperate after years and years of binge eating and it has been fantastic for me. You have to really, really want it but it was so helpful identifying triggers and coming up with coping mechanisms that work for me personally. I spent roughly £400 on 10 sessions spread out over about 5 months and I have lost 2.5 stone since then and I've stopped binge-eating. Like others have said I would recommend researching this person but if you have the money and the motivation I'd say go for it!

[Birdtwitcher]

Thank you. I've messaged her asking for more info re qualifications etc. I actually thought everyone on here would say it was a rip off and waste of time so feel quite excited now!

[OhioOhioOhio]

Could you try the book first? Would be cheaper.

[Birdtwitcher]

Yes I will do that. Got it on my kindle

[justanotherneighinparadise]

What food are you bingeing on?

[Holdingtherope]

I've done similar in the past but I wasn't ready to stop.

How on earth to be ready is my problem!

[FinallyHere]

Having paid for some help in this area, I would be less worried about qualifications and more interested in the person themselves. I would expect the person to have a book or other materials do that you can get an idea of the approach.

Any suggestion of 'magic' or 'surprise' would put me off.

Hope it goes well would be very interested in finding out more. A DM would be appreciated if you prefer not to post it in public

[AviceCaro]

I saw a psychologist for my binge eating disorder - she was very helpful and I don't binge or want to binge any more.

It was £80 an hour - think I had 8 sessions but absolutely money well spent. I saved money straight away once I stopped bingeing.

I think look into the person a bit more OP it could be great.

[JeanClaudeVanDammit]

I suppose it depends how much disposable income you have too, and what you’d be spending it on instead. That would be too much for me at the moment, but if my disposable income was higher I could probably make a case it for because I’d save that much on food from bingeing over a period of time. Are you able to read any reviews from others who have used her service?

[Birdtwitcher]

There are reviews on her website. Shes linked a reputable looking company who do the same sort of thing. I've got one of their books.
Regarding what food am I binging on it's anything really. Chocolate, sweets, cake, biscuits, cheese, bread, crisps. Mainly sweet stuff though.

[FinallyHere]

The one that worked for me was Gillian Riley https://eatingless.com

Hope you find what works for you.

[Birdtwitcher]

How did that work finallyhere ?

[Batfinklestein]

As a slight aside @Birdtwitcher don’t be put off by her not having a social media presence.
My DH is a counsellor and doesn’t use social media to advertise at all. I don’t think anyone he trained with does, so that’s not odd.

[DaisyDreaming]

To me the things she can teach you would probably be the least beneficial thing, it would be the support and accountability. Do you have any friends who you could check in with to help keep you on track or find some other people online who are starting and can support each other? I knew someone who went to addict meetings, I was surprised to hear it was for binge eating as I think of things like AA for alcoholics or narcotics. For her it was really helpful and she would go to meetings when ever she was struggling to stay on track. Someone I know in Ireland also went to very similar meetings but aimed at mental health in general, it’s a shame they aren’t more common.

[FinallyHere]

@Birdtwitcher

I read the book, did a course, thought I had got the hang of it. I also paid for some 121 time, which meant I could talk/email for individual advice. The feedback on my first email got to the nub of it all. I've been sorted ever since.

I go sometimes find that I'm slipping back. I read read/list to the book and usually find the answer in the chapter on perfectionism,

Powerful still. I've leant out the original paperback to a few friends , all agree it works so long as you stick to it.