What brings you to therapy?
Major Life Changes
The most exciting changes in our lives can also be the most overwhelming. During these transitions we can feel an abundance of feelings. Perhaps your transition is related to changes in your family, changes in your health, or financial pressures, just to name a few. Therapy can help to create a sense of clarity and understanding during a new transition.
If you would like to discuss your concerns further, please feel free to contact me at fosterkothcounseling@gmail.com
Living with Chronic Illness
Receiving a new diagnosis can be scary and overwhelming. In therapy, individuals learn to cope with chronic illness, as well as develop strategies and techniques for dealing with the unexpected. I have worked within healthcare systems for over 25 years and have developed a deep understanding and compassion for living with illness, and how medical diagnoses can affect both individuals and families.
If you would like to discuss your concerns further, please feel free to contact me at fosterkothcounseling@gmail.com
Weight and Eating Concerns
You may be seeking therapy because you are feeling frustrated with your body image, your weight or your relationship with food. You may be wishing you could get out of a cycle of overeating, guilt, and shame. You might even be avoiding doing things you have always wanted to do because of your weight and over concern for your body shape. Whether this is a new issue or a long-standing issue, therapy can help you feel better and improve your relationship with food and your body.
One of the things you will experience when we work together, is that there are no good or bad foods. Having a diet mentality can increase feelings of failure and displeasure in our bodies. For this reason, the approach I take is not about weight loss but about improving eating, health, and self care behaviors. Typically, we will work to understand your current beliefs about eating and your body and develop ways to change unhealthy patterns of thinking and behaving. We may also work toward resolving ambivalence you have about changing your undesirable behaviors and help you find the internal motivation to make positive changes.
I have served as a mental health clinician within the Weight Management Center at University of Washington Medical Center and Northwest Hospital for close to two decades. If you would like to discuss your concerns further, please feel free to contact me at fosterkothcounseling@gmail.com
Please note: If you are currently experiencing extreme behaviors with food such as intentionally purging after eating, not eating for more than 24 hours other than preparing for medical testing, or eating more than others would think is an usual amount of food with a sense of not being able to stop or control what you are eating, you might be better served by working with a clinic that specializes in eating disorders. There are several agencies, both locally and nationally, to help you if you are experiencing these behaviors.
Foster-Koth Counseling 