In response to Covid-19, like many others I have fully transitioned my practice over to telehealth. It was a bit bumpy in the beginning, but overall it seems to have gone well. I feel very grateful for the tools that have enabled me to be able to continue to stay connected with clients and other providers, and to provide nutrition counseling. While telehealth isn’t the same as in-person therapy, I will continue to offer telehealth even after stay-at-home orders are lifted. It is nice for clients to be able to receive the services they need in their own home, and for transportation to be a non-issue. And I sure don’t mind going to work in my slippers!
That said, I’ll still be eager to get back to seeing clients out of my Newberg office, once that becomes possible again. In the meantime, all my work and client sessions will be from my tiny home office.
We are living in a time of uncertainty and worry about the future. These feelings on their own can exacerbate disordered eating behaviors. However, I am concerned that this pandemic is creating the perfect storm for those struggling with an eating disorder. All of us are spending more time on social media, where diet culture, not missing a beat, runs rampant. Talk of weight gain fears, “good” foods and “bad” foods to keep in the house, and seeing a high BMI be listed as a risk factor for coronavirus are all examples of diet culture. Moreover, food scarcity and the disruption of our normal routines can also contribute to disordered eating behaviors. I’ve seen several good news articles highlighting the challenges of living with an eating disorder (and other mental health disorders) during this time – check out this TIME article.
This is an “unprecedented time” as they say, and many are struggling. It may be tempting to minimize disordered eating symptoms that may be popping up – but ignoring them will only lead to more disruption down the road. There are many online resources out there, and many providers who are stepping up to provide care during this time. Don’t hesitate to contact me, or call the National Eating Disorders Helpline at 1-800-931-2237 to find the services you need.
