Emotional Eating & EMDR

The missing factor in all weight loss programs is addressing the effectively emotional component.  After all, if losing weight or even gaining weight was just a matter of more exercise and eating the right amounts for the right foods then every program out there would work!  But they don’t, overeating is huge problem in the world, and especially the United States.

One of the big difficulties in working with people to lose weight is that there are so many variables.  There are eating choices, times to eat, places to eat and amounts to eat.  There is also the time factor, in that, it takes time to lose weight.  Add to that, you can blow a diet in just one binge eating episode.

The emotional part of eating, while complex, can be addressed with EMDR processing.  That is because we can use EMDR to the way the emotional memory is stored in the limbic brain.  That is what gets triggered when you just have to eat.

There can be several emotionally triggered factors to include childhood abuse, sexual, physical or otherwise that need to be addressed.  Early experiences of being teased or bullied by others, can result in overeating.  Any eating that was done as a child that was used to help ease anger, anxiety and tension can be addressed with EMDR.

 

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Dr. Amber Quaranta-Leech, LPC-S

Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy. 

Dr. Jose Carbajal, LCSW

Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.

Dr. Amanda Martin, LMFT-S, LPC, BCN

Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.

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