Life Coaching For Emotional Eaters

Testimonials

Emotional Eating Self Test

Therapy
(In Cincinnati only)

Free Newsletter

FAQ

Ellen Shuman
Director/Life Coach

A WEIGH OUT
WellCentered, Inc.
Acoria Center
3444 Aultwoods Ln.
Cincinnati, OH 45208

(513) 321-4242
info@aweighout.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Q - Does A Weigh Out offer any FREE services?

Q - How do I know if I'm an "emotional eater"?

Q - Who is appropriate for A Weigh Out services?

Q - Is A Weigh Out a DIET or Weight Loss Program?

Q - What's it like to participate in a telephone class...or in
      the "Overcoming Emotional Eating" Telephone Group?

Q - "Can you give me advice or help me with____________?"

Q - What's the difference between individual "Coaching" and
       "Therapy"?

Q - How would I know if I'd benefit from one of your Telephone
       Education Groups, or Coaching, or if I really need Therapy
       Services?

Q - Will my insurance cover your services?

Q - If I live in Cincinnati, can I participate in your Emotional
       Eating Treatment program without doing therapy?

Q - Can I do just individual therapy with you in Cincinnati, and not
       the entire program?

Q - In Cincinnati, what services may I participate in if I'm not
       interested in or in need of therapy services?

Q - If I live too far from your Center to come in for services,
       in person, what can you offer me?

Q - How can I find a therapist in the city where I live?

Q - Who would not be appropriate for A Weigh Out Services?

Q - Do you have groups for people who have had or are going to
       have Weight Loss Surgery?

Q - I see the names Acoria and A Weigh Out on your website.
       What's the difference?

Q - What changes might I see if I participate in an A Weigh Out
       or Acoria Program?

Q - I have a friend or family member struggling with an eating
       disorder. How do I talk with them about my concerns? Can you
       send me any information?

Q - Do you offer inpatient eating disorder treatment?

Q - Does A Weigh Out offer any free services?
A - Yes, we offer a one-hour teleconference about emotional
      eating. Participants will learn where they fall on the "Emotional
      Eating Continuum" and about the important connection between mood
      regulation and the use of food. They'll gain insight and explore
      effective strategies for change. For more information, or to
      register, visit our Tele-Class page.

Q - How do I know if I'm an "emotional eater"?
A - Emotional eaters use food and food thoughts as a way to
      distract themselves from any feeling they'd rather not feel. When
      we fill our head with a food (or diet) thought, we temporarily
      push all other thoughts or feelings from our present
      consciousness. (We may be conscious or unconscious of why we're
      obsessing about food) Emotional eating happens on a continuum.
      Some people do it a little. Some people do it a lot. When
      emotional eating becomes a person's primary coping strategy, when
      eating becomes a person's only way to self-soothe and
      self-regulate mood, then it becomes a significant problem.

Q - Who is appropriate for A Weigh Out services?
A - In general, our services are appropriate for people who
      struggle with emotional overeating and body dissatisfaction.
      We offer educational groups (by telephone and in person), and
      individual coaching to people who are functioning relatively well.
      In Cincinnati, we also offer in-person therapy and treatment
      programs for those who struggle to a greater degree or those
      who have a binge eating disorder.

Q - Are you a diet or weight loss program?
A - We're neither. We know diets don't work..and so do you.
      A diet never addresses the underlying reasons why people
      "overuse" food. We "Coach" people about how to remove the
      barriers that keep them from achieving their healthy goals. We
      believe people can be emotionally and physical healthy and fit
      and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes-HEALTHY and FIT
      being the operative words here. We reject the outdated society
      belief that says everyone has to fit into a very narrow range of
      size to be healthy and attractive.

Q - What's it like to participate in a telephone class or in your
      "Overcoming Emotional Eating" Telephone Group?
A - Learning by phone is not as weird as it might sound. You
      already have experience communicating by phone...and we've become
      experts at using this familiar device to teach people what we
      know about overcoming emotional eating. Individuals get to
      participate from the comfort of their own home. The FREE Class is
      1-hour longand the 8-week Telephone Group meets for 1-hour each
      week. The 8-week group (maximum 8 participants) includes a great
      deal of written material that's emailed in advance. See our
      Tele-Class page for more information.

Q - "Can you give me advice or help me with____________?"
A - When we get an email asking us for advice or help, the
      problem is often too complex for us to responsibly (and
      ethically) address in an email. If you're ready for professional
      help, and you're wondering if we might be the right group to
      provide it, call us, (513) 321-4242, and we'll do an initial
      phone assessment.

Q - What's the difference between individual "Coaching" and       "Therapy" For Emotional Eaters?
A - Coaching is appropriate for people who are ready and able to
      focus on the "here and the now". A coach helps a person explore
      and discover new possibilities, identify new goals, set up action
      plans and eliminate barriers to success. All the while, the Coach
      supports the person as he or she follows through.

      Psychotherapy is appropriate for people who need to do more
      in-depth, insight-oriented therapeutic work, to get to the root
      of the problems that keep them from being able to set and attain
      healthy goals.

Q - How would I know if I'd benefit from participation in one of
      your 8-Week Telephone Groups, or Individual Coaching, or if I
      really need Therapy Services?
A - First, spend some time reading about our different Services.
      Then, if you'd like to explore further, give us a call, (513) 321-4242,
      and we'll do an initial assessment by phone.

Q - Will my insurance cover your services?
A - Insurance is only applicable for individual psychotherapy
      services. (We provide individual outpatient psychotherapy,
      in-person, in Greater Cincinnati, only.) Clients pay for all
      other services (i.e., tele-groups, in-person groups, coaching,
      dietitian consultation, etc...) If you'd like us to determine
      insurance coverage for therapy services in Cincinnati, call
      Ellen at (513) 321-4242 and she'll do an insurance check for
      you. Please have your insurance card in hand when you call.

Q - If I live in Cincinnati, can I participate in your Emotional
      Eating Treatment program without doing therapy?
A - No. After ten years of providing services to emotional
      eaters, we've learned that people who need a treatment program
      benefit significantly from coordinated care...which includes
      individual therapy, educational seminars, and a community of
      people who support their effort. This combination helps people
      change lifelong patterns in a timely fashion.

Q - Can I do individual therapy with you in Cincinnati, and not
      the entire program?
A - Yes, but we highly recommend a comprehensive approach, for
      the reason stated immediately above. Obviously, you must live
      within driving distance to our Center to participate in our
      in-person services.

Q - In Cincinnati, what services may I participate in if I'm not
      interested in, or in need of therapy services?
A - You may choose Individual Coaching...and/or our "Overcoming
      Emotional Eating" Tele-Group. You may also choose to participate
      in some of our Personal Growth Groups, Yoga, or Exercise Groups
      that are held at the Hyde Park Wellness Center. Call Michelle,
      our Health Educator/Services Coordinator, at (513) 321-4242,
      to discuss options and to determine the appropriate level
      of service for you.

Q - If I live too far from your Center to come in for services,
      in person, what can you offer to me?
A - If appropriate, the "Overcoming Emotional Eating Tele-Group"
      and/or Individual Coaching Services. Call to discuss,
      (513) 321-4242.

Q - How can I find a therapist in the city where I live?
A - Contact one of the Treatment Referral Services listed on our
      Other Resources Page. Be specific about what issues you want to
      explore. Once you've gotten names, interview therapists by phone.
      Ask a lot of questions. When you feel like you've found someone
      "who gets it", and with whom you could feel comfortable, schedule
      an appointment. See how it goes.

Q - Who would not be appropriate for A Weigh Out Services?
A - Our telephone groups and individual coaching services are
      not designed for people struggling with anorexia or bulimia, or
      anyone struggling with any severe psychiatric disorder.
      Note...In Cincinnati, based on the level of therapeutic care that
      is appropriate, we offer, in-person treatment for people who
      struggle with anorexia and bulimia, but only if they are
      medically stable.

Q - Do you have groups for people who have had or are going to
      have Weight Loss Surgery?
A - Yes. We know Weight Loss Surgery changes the body physically,
      but surgery does not give people insight into the reasons why they
      still may have the desire to overeat...nor does surgery teach
      them alternative coping strategies. So, we've designed programs
      to address the emotional eating issues, pre and/or post surgery.
      See our "Mood, Food and Weight Loss Surgery" program information.

Q - I see the names Acoria and A Weigh Out on your website.
      What's the difference?
A - Acoria ("which means moderation in eating") is the original
      name of our Treatment Center in Cincinnati. A Weigh Out is our
      division that offers wellness programming to people, no matter
      where they live. Both are divisions of WellCentered, Inc., an
      Ohio based company founded by Ellen Shuman.

Q - What kind of changes might I see if I participate in an
      A Weigh Out or Acoria Program?
A - Click here to read what our clients have to say.

Q - I have a friend or family member struggling with an eating
      disorder. How do I talk with them about my concerns? Can you
      send me any information?
A - For information about how to talk with a friend or family
      member, visit the National Eating Disorders Association's
      website. All of our written information is available on our
      website, www.aweighout.com. Our site was developed as a resource
      to provide information about emotional eating, binge eating
      disorder, other types of eating disorders, and details about the
      different services we offer. Please feel free to browse through
      the website and print any pertinent information.

Q - Do you offer inpatient eating disorder treatment?
A - No, we do not provide inpatient treatment. To locate inpatient
      programs, please visit the National Eating Disorders Association's
      website www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

      If you have a question we have not answered here, please call us
      at (513) 321-4242.