Addiction and recovery specialists ACORN have launched a brand new programme aimed at tackling the underlying causes of unhealthy eating habits.
The Healthy Eating and Responsible Thinking (HEART) programme supports people to understand and address the psychological factors of obesity and weight management, such as poor self-image, trauma, both past and present, lack of emotional intelligence, low self-esteem, confidence and stress. HEART is a six week rolling programme meaning clients can start at any time, and the support does not stop following the six week programme, with cost effective ‘Mutual Aid’ groups helping to ensure clients continue to build confidence and self-concept.
Through group workshops, counselling and the potential of residential treatment, the programme covers issues not only in the here and now, but also discusses and looks into past behaviours and events which could also be now affecting the present.
The aim is to progress into a healthy life style and create a positive relationship with food. The programme can also be used to check someone’s motivation before being referred for expensive and radical treatments like gastric bands.
In a recent survey conducted by Public Health England, 64.7% of the adult population in Lancashire are now classed as being overweight or obese. Nationally, two thirds of adults and a quarter of children between two and ten years old are overweight or obese.
The programme is the brainchild of Stephen Pattinson, Head of Treatment at ACORN Recovery Projects, who boasts decades of experience in treating clients with severe addiction disorders.
Stephen says, “Traditionally when exploring weight issues people tend to look at what they eat and force themselves into calorie reduction diets, yet one of the biggest barriers people come up against when trying to lose weight is their thoughts and beliefs about themselves.
Create the right safe, therapeutic environment with personal development and weight loss can flourish, this is what we want to do with HEART.”
For more information please contact Stephen Pattinson at spattinson@acornrecovery.org.uk
