There is much debate around the subject of food cravings. Some say it is a sign of a nutritional deficiency or excess, a need for comfort, and/or a lack of willpower.

In my work with patients that had food cravings and resolved them, it became clear that they were operating from an old coping skill. In other words, they had outgrown this pattern long ago, but were still operating on some level as if they could get what they wanted. Lack of willpower was not the issue.

You’ve heard the saying that insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result? In the case of food cravings, this is often what happens. A triggering event occurs, and by default, we return to an old coping skill as a way to deal with it. We’re not always conscious of this, but it happens nonetheless. It may have worked when we were five years old, but not now.

The work I do helps patients quickly identify this outdated coping skill and resolve it. New neural pathways are created and the outdated neural pathways are ‘retired.’ Then and only then, can we develop, new, current and up to date behaviors that serve us in the present tense.

As an example, I recently worked with a patient that had very strong cravings for chocolate and bakery items. Before booking our session, she told me that she remembered feeling the most loved when her mother took her to the bakery and encouraged her to eat because she was so skinny. She didn’t even really like pastries, but she loved the whole experience. The key here, is that she knew about this old memory, but the knowledge of it had not changed her behavior. The session however, changed her behavior and did so immediately. She was now free to walk by the chocolates and pastries around her house, and not be tempted. Before, she would not only have been tempted, but indulged and then felt bad about herself, as she knew better! She didn’t need more willpower, she just needed to let go of her old coping skills.

The great thing about this work, is that the stronger the food craving, the quicker it is resolved.