A post came in from a reader, a man in his senior years with a a curiosity about my work and an ability to ask questions that make me ponder.  Recently he asked, " When you say 'healing work' is that primarily counseling that you're thinking of?"

I've been thinking about his question.

Westside Los Angeles Treasure and Co-Therapist

The Westside of Los Angeles, where I live and have my psychotherapy private practice, holds a treasure trove of resources that can be helpful in the eating disorder recovery of my clients.  I consider many of these places to be "co-therapists" in our work.

Women I work with are often surprised, reluctant, wary and then eager and happily surprised to when they explore and discover what will nourish their bodies, hearts, minds and souls out in our nearby world.

UCLA

For example, UCLA is a gift that keeps on giving.

*pix Marilyn Monroe

Sex, Understanding, Confusion, False Messages and Eating Disorders

If you have an eating disorder, you most likely know that human sexuality is flagrantly advertised and photographed, exploited and both demonized and idealized in our culture.  Yet  your actual experience is rarely reflected back to you in ways that help you feel understood or understand yourself. Worse, the bomardment of sexual behavior and sexual etiquette definitions may overwhelm you before you can develop your own appreciation for what's important to you.

Here's an example of the pressure on you to fit into a predetermined and callous sexually desireable straightjacket.

If you are watching your calories and nutritional intake, be careful in restaurants.  Be sure to use your common sense as you evaluate the information on the menu next to your favorite foods.  Tufts University researchers are helping us keep track of what's right and what's not.