Binge Eating Disorder Treatment & Bariatric Therapy in Pasadena, CA

Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

Bren M. Chasse, LMFT is a Psychotherapist specializing in treating patients with binge eating disorders. Obesity is one of the most highly stigmatized conditions a person can experience in this day and age.  It is one of the few populations where it is still considered socially acceptable to overtly discriminate against. Or even mock those that fall short of the socially prescribed ideal. 

Binge Eating Disorders and Obesity in a Hypercritical World

The world we live in is hypercritical about our bodies. Eating disorder research suggests these messages contribute to the endorsement of a negative belief system that our individual worth is directly determined by the numbers on our scale.  

Every day, we are inundated with messages that suggest that, regardless of our weight, those who resemble anything shy of a stick figure fall grossly short of being “good enough”. And social structures co-sign this belief every single day. Restaurant booths in many restaurants are not adequate for people of size, airplane seats are incredibly small, and people in the general public may point, stare, or make derogatory comments. 

Biases Towards Individuals Struggling with Obesity

Often, well-meaning doctors shame their patients, provide inadequate assessments, and disregard their patient’s medical concerns. Assuming their obesity is the only reasonable explanation for their presenting symptoms. Even our friends and family may contribute to the bias we experience with implicit messages of judgment. For example, “are you sure you really want that?” or, “are you really still hungry enough for seconds.”

Unlike other issues, it seems that all bets are off when it comes to an individual’s food, body, and just how an overweight individual moves through the world. 

The Impact of Negative Experiences

Regardless of how comfortable one may be in their body, these experiences impact us deeply—and only serve to further perpetuate the collateral damage resulting from past trauma.  The truth is, some trauma is so severe that we wear our scars on the outside so that others know where we stand and to create a feeling of safety in a world that we haven’t always experienced as safe.  Obesity is one way to create a barrier between the self and a world that feels uncertain, unpredictable, and potentially a threat to our survival.

My Clincial Approach to Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

As a clinician, I’m unique in that I believe obesity, and binge eating in particular, is the symptom of a greater underlying problem. This means that in order to adequately address the problem, it’s important I work closely with my clients to address, not only the overt assaults from the public regarding their weight but also drill down to the deeper work to discover the negative beliefs they hold about themselves. The beliefs they hold that tell the story of their history and their relationship with food.

By healing your relationship with food and your body, the weight will begin to stabilize on its own. In other words, the weight is serving as a protective barrier against a perceived threat and a belief that we are not worthy. So, the work isn’t just in changing the behavior. But it is actually in changing your relationship with yourself. We do this by walking through the pain, reclaiming our voice, and discovering through our growth and healing that we, too, deserve to take up space in this world.

• Develop new coping skills

• Process trauma from your past

• Learn to love yourself and your body

Chasse, B. M. (2020). The importance of collaborative mental health care in weight loss surgery. GoodTherapy. https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/the-importance-of-collaborative-mental-health-care-in-weight-loss-surgery-0106204