#13 Is a Therapist the Missing Piece in Your Food Allergy Support System?

Send us Fan MailDr. Whitehouse explores therapy as a helpful resource for those navigating the emotional and psychological challenges of living with food allergies. She offers practical guidance on how to know if you can benefit from therapy, how to find and choose a therapist who understands food allergies, and how to determine whether a therapist is the right fit for your needs. Whether you're a parent seeking support for a child or an adult managing your own food allergy anxiety, this episode will help you decide if therapy could be a valuable tool in your journey.Tune in for expert insights on prioritizing your mental health while navigating food allergies.3 Action Steps:1. Ask your allergist, local allergy support group, or insurance company for a list of potential therapists. Get your free printable list of questions to ask a potential therapist here: https://www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com/digital-resources/freebiechoosingatherapist 2. If you already have a therapist you like, be open and honest with them about what might help you better 3. Check out my Allergy Empowerment 6-week online group for adults with food allergies and parents of kids with food allergies here: https://www.thefoodallergypsychologist.com/online-courses/foodallergyanxietygroup-------Some reasons to consider therapy:1. Persistent fear/worry 2. Difficulty managing emotions 3. Avoiding social situations/isolating yourself 4. Struggles with communication/self-advocacy 5. Strong sense of guilt/blame 6. Physical anxiety symptoms 7. Unnecessary/repetitive label checking/washing/verifying food safety 8. Sleep difficulties 9. Replaying traumatic events 10. Your thoughts or feelings about food allergies negatively impact your life in a way that you’d like to change  ------ Types of therapists/licenses 1. Master’s-Level Clinicians:Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC, LMHC, LCPC)Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW, LICSW, LMSW, LSCSW)Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT, LCMFT)2. Doctoral-Level CliniciansPsychologists (PhD, PsyD)3. Medical Professionals Who Prescribe MedicationPsychiatrists (MD, DO)Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP-BC, APRN)Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!www.kyledine.comFind Dr. Whitehouse:-thefoodallergypsychologist.com-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety [email protected]