Therapy for Emotional Eating in Chester, Wirral & Online

Counselling For Emotional Eating

Emotional eating happens when food becomes a way to cope with feelings rather than a response to physical hunger.

Physical hunger typically develops over a longer period and can be fulfilled by eating wholesome, nourishing meals. In contrast, emotional hunger often comes on quickly, leading to cravings for specific comfort foods.  

While it’s normal to experience emotional eating once in a while, it can become a concern if it turns into a regular way of dealing with emotions, potentially affecting your health and overall well-being.

What is Emotional Eating?

Emotional eating is when you turn to food in response to emotions like stress, sadness, boredom, loneliness, or even happiness.

While food might provide temporary relief, it often creates a cycle that can feel impossible to break without support.

This cycle, known as the emotional eating cycle, can leave you feeling stuck and unsure of how to move forward.

Signs You May Benefit From Therapy

If emotional eating is something you’re struggling with, it might be time to consider reaching out for support. Here are some signs that therapy could help: 

Do you notice any of these eating habits? 

  • Eating when you’re not physically hungry  

  • Eating quickly and past the point of feeling full  

  • Feeling out of control around certain foods  

  • Hiding your eating habits from others  

  • Using food as a reward or to celebrate  

  • Struggling to tell the difference between physical and emotional hunger 

 How do you feel after eating? 

  • Feeling guilty or ashamed after eating  

  • Using food to cope with stress or difficult emotions  

  • Relying on food as your main source of comfort  

  • Noticing mood changes connected to eating  

  • Spending a lot of time thinking about food and eating 

Are your eating patterns affecting your health? 

  • Weight changes that seem tied to emotional rather than physical factors 

  • Digestive issues caused by eating too quickly or too much 

  • Feeling physically uncomfortable after emotional eating episodes 

  • Experiencing energy fluctuations or feeling sluggish most of the time 

If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone. Emotional eating can feel overwhelming, but with the right support, it’s possible to make positive changes. 

 Frequently Asked Questions

  • I have many years of experience helping people with emotional eating and related issues. During our sessions I provide a safe and confidential space so that you are comfortable to work towards the changes you would like to make. 

    I am a Accredited Member of BACP (No. 380481), which stands for British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. This means that I have undergone rigorous assessment and evaluation to meet the BACP's strict standards for professional practice, so you can rest assured that you are choosing a qualified and ethical counsellor.  

    I understand how overwhelming it can feel to take that first step toward getting help. My approach is warm, supportive, and tailored to your unique needs.

    Whether your emotional eating has been a long-term struggle or is linked to recent challenges, I’m here to help you regain control and develop a healthier relationship with food and yourself. 

  • Counselling for emotional eating focuses on understanding the reasons behind your eating habits and finding healthier ways to cope. Unlike diet plans that only focus on what you eat, therapy looks at why you eat and helps you address the root causes of emotional eating.  

    This is especially important because diets often fail for those struggling with emotional eating, as they don't address the underlying emotional triggers that drive the behaviour. 

  • As counsellor with experience of helping people with emotional eating, I will work with you to explore the triggers that lead to emotional eating and help you develop tools to manage these triggers in a healthier way.   

    Together, we’ll look at your relationship with food, past experiences that may have shaped your eating habits, and set realistic goals to help you move forward. 

    Sessions are tailored to your needs, and we’ll work at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Whether you’re looking for emotional eating therapy to better understand your behaviours or want practical tools to help you feel more in control, counselling can provide the support you need. 

  • Counselling is a talking therapy that can go a long way in helping people come to terms with problems they are facing. The sessions give you time to talk about anything that is going on for you in a safe and confidential way.  

    This might be because you want to change things, there might be something you are struggling to come to terms with - whatever the reason counselling could well be the answer for you. 

    By talking about the things that are going on for you, you will be able to get a better understanding of your thoughts and feelings, while at the same time I will help empower you to identify new solutions, allowing you to facilitate change and have the life you would like/deserve.

  • I work with young people aged 16+ and adults.

  • I provide face-to-face counselling in Chester and Heswall. I also provide online therapy.

  • Yes, I provide online counselling sessions via Zoom, or sessions by phone.

  • Yes, I am a Registered Member of BACP (No. 380481), which stands for British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. This means that I have undergone rigorous assessment and evaluation to meet the BACP's strict standards for professional practice, so you can rest assured that you are choosing a qualified and ethical counsellor. 

    Find out more about my and my experience.

  • I have a special interest and further training in: 

    Anxiety

    Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

    All forms of historic child abuse and trauma including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, neglect 

    Emotional eating

    PTSD

    I also have experience of helping people with: 

    Anger management 

    Attachment issues 

    Bereavement and grief, including pet bereavement 

    Bullying (School and workplace) 

    Depression 

    Gender identity 

    Family relationships 

    Self-harm 

    Self-esteem tress 

    Suicidal thoughts 

    Trauma 

    Additionally, I am a Rewind Practitioner which means that I have been trained to use the Rewind Technique to treat trauma and phobias. 

    I am also a Survivor to Thriver Practitioner which means that I can help individuals who have experienced trauma to move beyond simply ‘surviving’. 

    In my time as a counsellor, I have worked with so many different issues.

    Whatever it is, please just reach out so I can give you the support you deserve. Find out more about my experience and qualifications. 

  • I provide a confidential and safe space so that you are comfortable to work towards the changes you would like to make. 

    Everything you share with me is confidential unless you mention anything which means you or someone you know is likely to come to serious harm, you mention anything to do with the drug trafficking act, the children’s act or money laundering. 

    View my privacy policy to understand more about how your personal data is processed and kept safe. 

  • Our first session together will include an assessment so that I understand more about the challenges you are facing, and at the same time it gives you the opportunity to see if I am the right counsellor for you. At the end of the first session you can decide if you would like to continue working with me and we can arrange further appointments. 

  • The number of sessions you will need will very much depend on your individual circumstances. For example, someone who needs help with anxiety might not need as many sessions as someone who has experienced years of childhood trauma. I can however say that I will be open and honest with you throughout and we can look at this together. Regular reviews are done to see how well things are going and what the next steps will be. Remember the choice is always yours.

  • Before you first session I will send you information by email that hopefully covers everything you need to know before we meet.

    During your first session we will spend some time going through the counselling agreement together. This gives us a chance to look at what I can offer you as a therapist and gives me an idea what it is you are hoping to get from our time together.

    I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation by video or phone whichever suits, giving us a chance to have a chat before our first session.

  • The main difference between a counsellor, therapist, and psychotherapist lies in their focus and depth of work.  

    Counsellors typically provide short-term, solution-focused support for specific issues like stress or grief, using practical tools and coping strategies. 

    Therapist is a broad term that can refer to anyone providing therapy, including counsellors and psychotherapists, and their approach varies depending on their training. 

    Psychotherapists, however, focus on deeper, long-term emotional work, exploring the root causes of issues such as trauma or chronic mental health conditions. They often have more extensive training and work with both mild and severe psychological challenges. 

  • Yes, of course. You are not locked into any contracts and the choice is always yours.

  • For full details visit my pricing page.

  • For cancellations 24 hours’ notice is required. 

  • Get in touch to arrange a free informal 15-minute chat about what you are looking for and to see if we are happy to work together.

Take the First Step Towards Feeling Better

If you’re ready to explore how counselling could help, get in touch. We’ll have a chat about what’s going on for you and how I can support you. There’s no pressure — just a chance to see if this feels like the right fit for you.

You don’t have to face this alone. Let’s take that first step together. 

Annabelle

  • "Annabelle is a truly amazing Counsellor. She is friendly, easy to talk to and very down to earth."

    “Amongst other things, Annabelle has helped me to overcome emotional eating and as a result I’m on track to lose 3 stone, and most importantly, keep it off! I never thought I would find anyone who would understand or be able to help me with this. I had failed so many times to lose weight on various diets, but I was never going to succeed without support to address the underlying issues. We’ve been working together for over 12 months and it has without doubt been the best investment in myself I have ever made. I am forever grateful.”

    - Chris (Google Review)

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  • "I had the privilege of working with Anabelle for 12 weeks; she has been a blessing".

    “Her expertise in cognitive behavioural therapy helped me overcome dependencies on my twin brother and tackle additional challenges in my life. Annabelle was incredibly friendly; I always felt at ease during our sessions. She was very receptive which made it easy to open up and share my thoughts. Her guidance has significantly improved my relationship with my twin and myself. I still use the strategies we developed in my day-to-life. ’m immensely grateful to have had Annabelle as a therapist.”

    - Ben (Google Review)

    See my reviews on Google

  • "Annabelle made me feel at ease right from my first session with her".

    “My weekly visits were very relaxed, Annabelle was very easy to talk to and she subtlety taught me strategies which I have continued to use. As the weeks went by, I could feel my confidence growing, I looked forward to my sessions with Annabelle and always left with a positive attitude. I would highly recommend Annabelle. She is so supportive and I am very grateful to her for the help she gave me.”

    - Roz (Google Review)

    See my reviews on Google

  • "I am beyond grateful for the support and guidance Annabelle has given me over the years"

    “Annabelle is compassionate and every session was tailored to my needs, she made me feel valued and heard, helping me to navigate through some of the hardest parts of my life. Annabelle provided me with the skills to cope with life’s ups and downs, and I cannot thank her enough for everything she has done for me.”

    - Maisy (Google Review)

    See my reviews on Google

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