The Binge Eating Therapist

29/01/2026

Dopamine and overeating often get talked about in very narrow ways.
Usually in terms of impulsivity, self-control, or bad habits.

What gets missed is how much of this is about regulation.

Many people with dopamine dysregulation live in systems that are either overstimulated, under-stimulated, chronically stressed, or burned out. Food can quietly become a way to shift state — to focus, to calm, to activate, to feel okay for a moment.

When we only focus on behaviour, we miss the nervous system underneath it.
And that’s where so many people end up feeling stuck, ashamed, or like they’re “doing it wrong”.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this intersection lately — ADHD, dopamine, stress, relief, and food — and how much kinder (and more effective) change can be when we start there.

If this resonates and ADHD is part of your picture (diagnosed or suspected), I’m hosting a small, in-person ADHD & binge eating weekend on February 21st & 22nd. It’s slow, relational, and very human — not about fixing you, but understanding what your system actually needs.

Details are in my bio if you want to take a look 💛

24/01/2026

🧠 Dopamine isn’t just about “reward” or enjoyment. It’s also involved in motivation, focus, anticipation and nervous system regulation. So when you’re stressed, overwhelmed, flat, agitated, or burned out, eating can become a fast and reliable way to change how you feel — even if you’re not enjoying the food.

In this video, I talk about:
🙅🏻‍♀️why control and restriction often backfire
🌈 how dopamine-driven eating differs from hunger-driven eating
❤️‍🩹 why shame makes the whole cycle worse
⚖️ and why regulation matters more than willpower

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not even enjoying this, so why can’t I stop?” — this might help make sense of that.

💫 And if ADHD is part of your picture (diagnosed or suspected), I’m also running a small, in-person ADHD & binge eating weekend at my home on February 21st & 22nd. We explore this dopamine–regulation piece gently, in a relational, nervous-system-led way.

Details are here if you want a look: https://thebingeeatingtherapist.com/adhd-group-experience/

🎥 You can watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/xvGE72M3GeY?si=gzHsS4HLl7i-PGlA

ADHD and Binge Eating Group https://thebingeeatingtherapist.com/adhd-group-experience/Waiting list for online ADHD group: https://thebingeeatingtherapist.com...

12/01/2026

🌀 ADHD & Binge Eating Weekend Group 🌀
Sat 21st & Sun 22nd February 2026 | Bournemouth

If you have ADHD (diagnosed, suspected, or strongly suspected 😉) and struggle with binge eating, you’re not imagining the connection — and you’re definitely not alone.

This in-person weekend group is a rare space dedicated to exploring how ADHD traits like impulsivity, emotional intensity, procrastination and dopamine-seeking can feed into binge eating patterns — and what actually helps.

✨ What people value most about this weekend:
• Feeling deeply understood (often for the first time)
• ADHD-friendly insights into binge eating
• Practical tools that don’t rely on willpower
• A small, cosy group that quickly feels safe and connected
• Flexibility — the content adapts to what this group needs most

📍 Bournemouth, UK
🕘 Two full days, Saturday & Sunday
💷 £200 + VAT
👥 Limited to 10 people

If ADHD and binge eating feel tangled, exhausting, or isolating — this weekend is for you.

Run by an accredited psychotherapist with lived experience.

Head here for more details: https://thebingeeatingtherapist.com/adhd-group-experience/ 💛

07/12/2025

Will I lose or gain weight in binge eating recovery? That’s what so many people want to know and it complicates the recovery process. joined me on my YouTube channel this week for a frank discussion about each of our experiences with weight changes in recovery.

You can find the full conversation over on my channel or DM me for the link!

07/12/2025

When most people think about stopping binge eating, the first fear that comes up is: “But what will happen to my weight?” In this conversation, iamstefaniemichele and I share honestly about how our bodies changed in recovery – including the part no one wants to talk about. I lost weight. Stef gained weight. And we both had to navigate the mental chaos that came with that.

We unpack what actually happened to our weight over time (not the overnight “before and after” fantasy), how letting go of trying to lose weight affected our eating, and why nothing became more important than not bingeing. We talk about attachment to weight loss, the “all-in” approach versus a slower, more gradual recovery, and how to handle body changes when you absolutely do not feel neutral about them.

We also explore:

➡️How to care less about the scales without pretending you don’t care at all

➡️Feeling conflicted around food (second cupcake, anyone?) and making regulated choices

➡️Why stability with food makes body image wobbles more tolerable

➡️The quiet, fierce part of you that will protect your recovery above everything else

🧠 If you want more from us together, you can find our old podcast Life After Diets (200+ episodes) plus our new monthly podcast Feelings… and Other Inconveniences.

Sarah and Stef's podcasts and YouTube channels: ...

28/10/2025

Planning your food sounds like a sensible idea — after all, most treatment plans for binge eating recommend it.
But what if just the act of planning feels triggering?

In this video, I share my personal experience of how food planning once felt like code for control — and how that mindset actually made my binge eating worse. We’ll explore why food planning can feel so charged, especially when your nervous system still associates “planning” with dieting or restriction.

I’ll also share how I reframed planning into something gentler — creating rhythm and structure rather than rigid control. You’ll learn:
✨ Why planning can reactivate your “Day 1 diet” wiring
✨ The difference between planning for control vs planning for support
✨ How to balance structure with freedom and permission
✨ How to bring awareness to the parts of you that rebel, comply, or panic around food

This one’s for anyone who wants to bring calm back into their relationship with food — without slipping into old diet habits.

Planning your food sounds like a sensible idea — after all, most treatment plans for binge eating recommend it.But what if just the act of planning feels tri...

23/10/2025

That’s me holding me! The latest AI fad has got me in a reflective mood…

If you are interested in creating your own you can do it in Gemini app by uploading your photos with the following prompt: Take a picture with a Polaroid camera. The photo should look like a normal photo without any clear subject or props. The photo should have a consistent light source like a flash. Replace the background behind the two people with a white curtain. they are hugging and smiling. Do not change the faces.

03/10/2025

In this week's video, I put ChatGPT to the test and compare its answers with my own perspective as a psychotherapist who has both lived experience of binge eating and years of supporting others in recovery.

I asked ChatGPT the questions people struggle with most:
👉 Why do people develop binge eating?
👉 Can you lose weight while recovering?
👉 Should you keep binge foods in the house?
👉 Is sugar addiction real?
👉 What’s the best advice for stopping binge eating?

Some of the answers I agreed with, others I didn’t — and along the way I’ll share what I’ve learned personally and professionally about what really helps people recover from binge eating.

Whether you’re wondering about weight loss, food addiction, or how to stop binge eating, this video is for you.

✨ If you’re struggling, remember: you’re not alone. For more support, you can find hundreds of videos and podcast episodes on my channel, plus therapy groups and resources on my website.

https://youtu.be/aqubaFCGul4?si=nyT5dn4td6nVd88X

asked ChatGPT the questions people struggle with most:👉 Why do people develop binge eating?👉 Can you lose w...

20/09/2025

🧠 Did you know we have around 6,000 thoughts a day… and most of them aren’t consciously chosen? No wonder so many of us feel like our minds are running the show. When your thoughts pull you into worry, self criticism, or overthinking, it can feel impossible to get any sense of peace.

In my new video, I share a powerful 3-step acronym to help you notice your thoughts, step back from them, and redirect your mind where you actually want it to go. This isn’t about “stopping your thoughts” — it’s about freeing yourself from being controlled by them. Watch here 👉

Do you ever feel like your thoughts are running the show — and you’re just along for the ride?We have around 6,000 thoughts a day, and for most of us, very f...

13/09/2025

“Why do you still want to eat when you’re already full?

When I was stuck in binge eating, it felt like I was always hungry and never hungry at the same time. I couldn’t make sense of it. I would eat until I felt sick, but the drive to eat more didn’t go away. And every time I heard advice like ‘just eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full’ I felt even more broken.

What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I do something that seemed so simple?

In this new video, I share what finally clicked for me — the crucial difference between hunger and appetite. Once I understood that my appetite was dysregulated (not me being weak or flawed), I could begin to heal.

👉 If you’ve ever felt confused by your hunger cues, or like intuitive eating doesn’t ‘work’ for you, this one’s for you.
Watch here ⬇️

Feeling out of control around food? In this video I share my journey of binge eating recovery and what I learned about the difference between hunger and appe...

30/08/2025

You genuinely want to eat healthier. You’ve got the best intentions… so why does it keep slipping through your fingers? 🥦🍫
It’s not about willpower — there are powerful psychological reasons behind this struggle, and once you see them, it starts to make sense.
👉 Watch here:

Are you frustrated by your efforts to eat 'better'? When it feels like you're repeatedly breaking promises t...

24/05/2025

📕 If you’ve been craving some space to reflect, reconnect and get creative, I’m co-hosting a summer solstice workshop in a beautiful garden studio in Christchurch, Dorset. We’ll be making intention-setting journals (with an incredible artist Maria Vinney guiding us) and I’ll be gently supporting the reflection process

It’s going to be calm, nourishing, and a chance to be with a small group of lovely women. Tea, cake, and sunshine (hopefully) included. ☕️🍰

There's 8 spaces and we've just published the event today.

More info: [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seasons-of-self-a-creative-summer-solstice-workshop-for-women-tickets-1378455831499?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seasons-of-self-a-creative-summer-solstice-workshop-for-women-tickets-1378455831499?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExMUlRVDY3MWZYelNIQWIwWAEeMb7tY92vqO2qB-tE4Cs47rmoDabDu3ND0J4J3TqOxJmJuXsb6VAKwMTfYNI_aem_9xHMSLodsU95ZfYb8kjD7g)

An uplifting summer solstice workshop for women to reflect, create, and set intentions in a beautiful garden art studio.