Eating Disorders and Body Image

Some private health funds in Australia provide coverage for hypnotherapy as part of their complementary therapies options. We recommend contacting your provider directly to check your level of coverage and any specific requirements they might have. M

Unlike standard approaches that often focus primarily on symptoms or behaviour modification, hypnotherapy addresses the subconscious patterns driving your eating disorder. Many traditional treatments work at the conscious level, which is why you might still struggle despite understanding what you "should" do.

Hypnotherapy gently accesses the deeper emotional drivers and belief systems that maintain disordered eating patterns. Think of it as addressing the root system rather than just trimming the branches. Where cognitive approaches might eventually exhaust your mental resources, hypnotherapy creates lasting change by resolving the underlying conflicts between your conscious desires and subconscious patterns.

Our clients often say, "For the first time, I'm not constantly battling with myself - I can finally experience peace around food and my body."

Every journey is unique, but most clients with eating disorders and body image concerns begin experiencing meaningful shifts within 3-6 sessions.  

Recovery from eating disorders is a process, and hypnotherapy provides powerful support along that path. We'll assess your specific situation during your initial consultation and create a personalised plan for your recovery journey. For some clients with more complex or longstanding issues, a longer-term approach might be beneficial, but we'll always be transparent about our recommendations.

If you can focus your attention and use your imagination, you can experience hypnosis. The hypnotic state is a natural state we all experience daily, like when you're absorbed in a book or film and temporarily forget your surroundings. It's not about "going under" or losing control - it's about accessing a focused state of attention where therapeutic change can occur more readily.

Most people respond well to hypnotherapy, though individual experiences vary. At Norwest Wellbeing, we'll work together to find the approach that resonates with you. Rebecca has extensive experience adapting techniques to suit different clients, ensuring the process feels comfortable and effective for your specific needs.

Many clients notice shifts after their very first or second session - perhaps a reduction in anxiety around mealtimes, less intense body criticism, or simply feeling more peaceful around food. Claire's experience is quite common: "After my second session, I realised I'd eaten lunch without the usual mental calculations and guilt. I was present with my food rather than battling with myself the entire time."

Different aspects of recovery tend to unfold at different rates. Some changes might happen quite quickly, while deeper shifts in body image and self-identity typically develop progressively over several sessions. What's important is that these changes come from within rather than through forced control, creating a sustainable new relationship with food and your body.

At Norwest Wellbeing, Rebecca combines clinical hypnotherapy with evidence-informed therapeutic approaches to address eating disorders and body image concerns at their root. As an experienced healthcare professional specialising in women's health, Rebecca understands that sustainable recovery requires more than just changing behaviours or following meal plans.

Her holistic approach works by addressing the underlying psychological patterns, emotional triggers, and belief systems that maintain disordered eating. During your personalised sessions, she'll help you process difficult emotions safely, develop new thought patterns, and create a healthier relationship with both food and your body.

Hypnotherapy supports recovery by allowing access to the subconscious patterns that often resist conventional treatment approaches. This can help reduce anxiety around food, improve body image, process past experiences that may have contributed to the disorder, and develop more self-compassion.

If you'd like to learn more about how hypnotherapy can support your recovery journey, we invite you to book a complimentary 15-minute consultation with Rebecca to discuss your specific situation.