The Latest Science Combined with Human Connection
We don't offer another diet or set of restrictions. Instead, we provide a supportive, judgment-free space coupled with digested scientific information that will teach you new ways to look at yourself. FoodWise Psychology is designed to support lifestyle and wellbeing, not to provide clinical or medical treatment. During the initial consultation (the assessment session) we will discuss your difficulties and food history in depth, to help make sense of your experiences and how it may be affecting you now.
We will then set some meaningful for you goals and agree on a number of sessions in which we can work, to reset your relationship with food. We will do this with the help of evidence-based psychoeducational interventions. We will help you let go of the burden of food-related guilt and shame. We will support you to develop sustainable, gentle ways of caring for yourself, because we think your body has an in-built wisdom and you should reconnect with it.
The service is grounded in principles of positive psychology and the Altered Eating Framework (Burges Watson; 2018)[1]. Informed by tools and techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) , Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Compassion-Focused Therapy, our interventions support clients in navigating the emotional, cognitive, social, and behavioural aspects of eating. We work holistically, recognising that food is intertwined with wellbeing, identity, and life experiences, rather than focusing narrowly on weight or diet rules.
The service is drawing on the latest insights from health psychology and behaviour change science. This integrated model helps people understand the roots of their eating behaviours, gently challenging unhelpful patterns while nurturing new, sustainable ways of relating to food. Sessions offer evidence-based tools and reflective exercises, empowering clients to cultivate acceptance, resilience, and a deeper sense of self-compassion throughout their journey.
At its core, our approach prioritises wellbeing and psychological flexibility over rigid outcomes. We honour each individual’s unique story and provide a safe, non-judgmental space where growth can unfold naturally. Whether someone is struggling with emotional eating, restrictive patterns, or simply wants to rediscover the pleasure and nourishment that food can offer, our service offers a warm, research-led pathway to meaningful, lasting change.
[1]Burges Watson DL, Lewis S, Bryant V, Patterson J, Kelly C, Edwards-Stuart R, Murtagh MJ, Deary V. Altered eating: a definition and framework for assessment and intervention. BMC nutrition. 2018 Dec;4:1-0.
You will gain new and
effective skills
You might currently find yourself caught in a maze of rigid food rules that feel confusing, overly harsh, and sometimes don’t even make sense. When these rules fail to support your well-being, it’s no surprise if you end up abandoning them altogether, feeling frustrated and lost.
We will help you to change that using everything we know from actual scientific studies. You will gain resilience and put in place kinder, healthier habits.
You will communicate your needs better
Other people often have strong opinions about how you should look, what you should eat, or how you should live—and even when these views come from a place of care, they can still be deeply damaging and unhelpful. Well-intentioned advice can quietly undermine your confidence and disconnect you from your own needs, choices, and intuitions.
We will teach you how to be assertive and communicate your needs and choices clearly and confidently. You’ll learn how to handle others with calm strength, setting boundaries and expressing yourself without guilt or fear.
You will recognise and
challenge stigma
Society often stigmatises people on the grounds of their appearance and labels them as unhealthy or undesirable. This widespread judgment not only normalises shaming but also overlooks how common and normal body struggles are, making many people feel flawed for experiences that are entirely human. Importantly, this is almost entirely contrary to what is known from science.
Together we will examine and challenge this, using information from the latest studies. We will slowly begin to eliminate feelings of failure, shame, guilt, isolation, and self-criticism.
You will understand yourself
better
Our relationship to food and to our bodies is very individual and very complex and it's easy to get lost in the cacophony of conflicting information out there.
We will help you wade through the complexity of your experience and provide you with the most up to date scientific studies to help you make sense of it all. We will help you build awareness of harmful ways of relating to food and your body so you can break the cycle and avoid passing them on to the next generation.
You will feel empowered
Sometimes we spend so much of our lives meeting others’ expectations that we lose touch with our own desires, values, and needs. Over time, this can leave us feeling directionless, disconnected, and unsure of what we truly want for ourselves.
In these sessions we will think about what YOU value in life and what YOU want to do when it comes to your weight, diet, and wellbeing. We will support you in acting and moving in the direction of those values with confidence and without undue anxiety.
You will know how to manage relapses
Years of battling with your own food instincts make it very hard to trust your body’s signals. Old habits and patterns can become so ingrained, that when faced with stress or uncertainty, it’s all too easy to slip back, relying on familiar but damaging ways of thinking and behaving around food.
With the help of the latest science, we will teach you recognise potential triggers and warning signs. With practical tools and ongoing support, you’ll learn how to maintain progress over time—without feeling like you have to start over or “get back on the wagon.”