A different perspective of eating disorders treatment.
provides therapeutic and solution-focused care to adolescents and adults with eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder.
Empathie offers a multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of eating disorders.
The treatment is concrete, step-by-step, solution-oriented and does not just focus on weight. The focus is on regaining inner strength and rediscovering joy in life. This holistic approach guides the patient towards becoming aware of his/her thoughts, emotions and behaviour, which will give him/her the insight and energy to overcome the illness..
You can order the book via email
The ‘Empathie’approach
Learning the language of the eating disorder.
The doctor and therapist help the patient and his/her environment to know, recognise and cope with the thought patterns of the eating disorder. Understanding and “decoding” the language of the eating disorder by the patient and his/her loved ones facilitates the healing process.
Systemic, involving the environment
The persons who are part of the patient’s environment ( family, parents, siblings, school, friends… ) are very closely involved in the treatment. They are also coached intensively so they can better understand and actively support the patient.
Multi-disciplinary
The physician-therapists work closely with people from other disciplines, such as gastro-enterologists, nutritionists, pediatricians, drama therapists, mindfulness coaches, et al. Moreover, there is an ongoing contact with the referring authorities, the already treating physician or/and the medical staff in case of hospitalisation.
The ‘Empathie’ treatment
Individual consultations
Individual consultations with the therapist form the core of the treatment. The therapist assumes the role of coach who helps the patient progress step by step.
Parent or partner counselling
A better understanding of the thought patterns that drive behaviour, helps parents/partners in the daily care of their child/partner. Learning and recognizing the language and mindset of the disease is extremely important, so that the home environment can also be experienced as safe for the patient. This can also be done using webinars (see parenting courses).
The ‘Empathie’ philosophy
Mission
Empathie aims to restore the quality of life of people with eating disorders in a humane and effective way. It wants to do this through patients and their environments:
- giving hope and being able to enjoy life again
- understanding the eating disorder and creating a solution-oriented action plan with them
- providing medical care, therapy and counselling to heal quickly
- raise awareness of the importance of language in communication between the patient and his/her environment
Vision
Empathie aims to address eating disorders effectively in order to increase the chances of better quality of life and recovery.
Testimonies
Parents
The patient’s parents, partner and environment are closely involved in therapy. Parents and partners can also receive individual counselling. Parents and other supporters are then given additional information and tips for understanding the eating disorder.
Publications
VZW Empathie
Dr. Patty Annicq
Kortrijksepoortstraat 132 bus B001
B-9000 Ghent