Karen Ergas

I am a registered psychologist with over 25 years experience working with individuals who struggle with all types of disordered eating and related conditions. My background includes individual and group therapy, assessment, supervision and teaching in the field.

I also have extensive experience helping individuals who struggle with depression, anxiety, PTSD, complex trauma, perfectionism, self esteem issues, abuse-sexual, physical and emotional, personal growth, relationship difficulties and life transitions.

Making the commitment to seek therapy is a courageous step. Just the thought of discussing your experiences can seem overwhelming. Feelings of shame and secrecy are common. Creating a safe, supportive and non-judgmental place to explore your symptoms and underlying issues is vital. I try to create a relaxed atmosphere that progresses at a pace that is comfortable for you but at the same time making sure that you are challenged to heal and grow.

Symptoms such as restricting, bingeing, purging or weight preoccupation are usually ways of coping with emotional issues. People who are struggling are usually doing the best they can with what they know. Perhaps they were never exposed or taught healthier coping skills. As a result, symptoms can be used to:

• Manage anxiety.
• Focus on something that is measurable (weight loss) when other life difficulties are harder to resolve.
• Numb difficult feelings such as shame,sadness, anger, self-hatred etc.
• Exert control over something when life feels overwhelming or out of control.
• Feel "good enough".
• Feel comfort or pleasure
• Give ourselves a focus when we lack meaning or purpose.

My approach to treatment is dependent on what a client needs at any given time and their readiness to make changes. We work together to understand what your symptoms are helping you with. Then we aim to address those issues directly and learn alternate coping strategies that are not related to food/shape or weight.

In therapy we may work together to:

• Learn to identify triggers to eating disorder behaviors.
• Learn to identify and express feelings.
• Learn to regulate intense emotions.
• Learn to work with triggers so we do not feel "hijacked" by them.
• Learn assertiveness skills.
• Work on self compassion
• Explore relationship behaviors
• Explore trauma in the context of current life.
• Work on negative and self defeating thoughts about oneself.
• Understand the reasons for self destructive behavior patterns (such as a tendency to enter into destructive relationships) and break these patterns.

My theoretical orientations include Internal Family Systems (completed an intensive full year training), Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment, Emotion Focused Therapy, Attachment Theory, Psychodynamic Therapy and some Cognitive Behavior Therapy when needed.