Food Addiction / Eating Disorders

At Pathways House, we pride ourselves with focusing on the underlying issues behind any addiction. We aim to help the client understand various addiction related behaviours and deliver the tools to handle these behaviours through our range of therapies.

However we do recognise that our clients have specific needs and we aim to address them in order to contribute to a successful and sustainable recovery. Eating disorders can cause a serious physical and emotional damage and this is why treatment is so important.

Food addictions can often be resolved through various therapies but developing the correct attitude towards food as well as a healthy and balanced lifestyle are key aspects of managing eating disorders.

At Pathways House, we proceed with food addictions in the following manner:

• Assess physical signs which are a result of the eating behaviour
• Identify the main eating disorder behaviour
• Identify food allergies
• Identify trigger foods
• Create a healthy balanced diet

These will be assessed as part of the initial assessment, which will be carried out by the individual's personal key worker. Afterwards, a personalised eating plan will be designed with the assistance of the client. Our experience shows that the cooperation of the client in the treatment process is a key factor for motivation and leads to positive outcomes in the treatment process. The food plan will exclude trigger foods and food allergies from the menu. Furthermore, it will consider the appropriate food portion for a particular individual. For example, a client with anorexia is likely to have more meals of a smaller size and a client with overeating behaviours will have larger portions, just few times a day. These menus will be revised regularly in order to adjust them to normal eating patterns.

There are sessions which are especially focused on food and balanced eating

• Interactive Food Preparation - This will consider food hygiene and equip the client with various techniques regarding food preparation
• Nutritions and Dieting - This workshop focuses on the nutritional content of various food and the importance of a well-balanced eating plan. It aims to inform the client of the large varieties of meal combinations that will satisfy their individual needs.

Moreover one-on-one therapies will teach the client how to recognise the body's natural signals for food and differentiate them from the emotional cravings. The programme is also going to create healthy eating habits and to improve the client's own recognition of the body's need for food.

In addition to these, a member of staff will regularly take the clients to OA meetings, where they can connect with like-minded and find the support that they need.

All these are used in conjunction with Pathways House's group therapy, 12-Step Programme, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Massages and Aromatherapy. These successfully assist the client in managing the addiction and continuing on the road to recovery.