HAPIFED ( for when binge eating is a problem )

After launching the Don't Go Hungry Diet, users often told me that their biggest challenge in eating to hunger was binge eating, compelling them to eat regardless of whether they felt physically hungry or not. 

The Don't Go Hungry Diet  is a relatively gentle approach to weight loss that may be suitable for some people with binge eating disorders, but it does not specifically address binge eating behaviors. Left untreated, binge eating disorders are major contributors to weight regain.

While  the Don't Go Hungry Diet  does not address binge eating, current treatments for binge eating disorders do not address excess weight. For example, enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for binge eating disorders, and has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate binge eating behaviors (including purging). However, people carrying excess weight have expressed dissatisfaction about their outcomes from enhanced CBT, because - while they were able to reduce binge eating behaviors - they did not lose weight during therapy. 

To bridge these gaps, I teamed up with leading international psychiatrists and psychologists specialized in the treatment of eating disorders, and together we developed a new therapy for the simultaneous treatment of excess weight and binge eating disorders.

This new therapy is called  HAPIFED, which stands for a  Healthy  APproach to WeIght Management and  Food in  Eating  Disorders. 

HAPIFED takes the principles of weight loss using  the Don't Go Hungry Diet, and combines them with the clinically proven benefits of enhanced CBT for the treatment of binge eating disorders.

We have now published and undertaken preliminary testing of the HAPIFED therapy manual, with encouraging results. 

HAPIFED therapy now available in Sydney

I am delighted to let you know that HAPIFED therapy is now available in Sydney, led by my colleague Ginette Lenham.

Ginette is an experienced counsellor with a Bachelor of Applied Social Science, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Counselling, Psychotherapy and Coaching. She is also a member of the Australian Counselling Association.

Ginette has extensive experience as a therapist for groups of people seeking to improve their lives, notably addressing weight loss, mood disorders such as depression or anxiety, addiction, grief, trauma, relationship conflicts and other existential life concerns.

If you are interested in joining Ginette's HAPIFED therapy group, or finding out if it may be suitable for you or someone you know, please contact the medical clinic from which this therapy will be provided (details below).

Total Health Care 
Suite 1902, Level 19, Tower One 
520 Oxford Street 
Bondi Junction NSW 2022 
Telephone: 02 8021 12 60 
E-mail:  reception@totalhealthcare.net.au  
Web:  www.totalhealthcare.net.au  

HAPIFED therapy in other cities

My team and I are currently in discussion with other healthcare professionals for provision of HAPIFED therapy in Perth, Canberra and Salvador (Brazil).

If you are a licensed healthcare professional with an interest in providing HAPIFED therapy groups for your clients, please contact me.