Emotional Eating, Eating Disorders, Food Addictions & Stress: How RTT, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Counselling & Nutrition Support & Break the Cycle ONLINE, Limerick, Dublin, Dungarven, Cork
As a Registered Nutritionist, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist, Counsellor Psychotherapist, Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapist (RTT), and Functional Medicine Practitioner, I frequently work with adults, teens and children who have the best intentions for their health but find themselves trapped in an ongoing cycle of emotional eating. Despite their knowledge and efforts, they struggle to control cravings, especially when stress or overwhelming emotions kick in.
If this sounds familiar to you, you are certainly not alone! Emotional eating can often feel like an invisible force driving you to make poor and unhealthy choices, even though you desperately want to eat well and prioritise your health. Whether you find you are reaching for sugary snacks at night, binge eating at work, or indulging in party treats, emotional eating can derail even our most determined efforts. But the root cause of this challenge is rarely a lack of willpower—it’s often emotional stress.
The Invisible Trigger: Chronic Emotional Stress
When we experience chronic stress, our cortisol, the stress hormone, remains elevated, which triggers cravings for comfort foods, often high in sugar or fat. These foods provide temporary relief, but they also contribute to weight gain, especially around the stomach, and perpetuate the cycle of emotional eating. Research has shown that unresolved emotional stress can lead to compulsive or addictive eating behaviours.
Stress Red Flag Checklist
- Cravings for food (or other substances) to calm or soothe anxiety
- Sudden unexplained weight gain, especially around the stomach area
- Extreme fatigue, memory fog, or poor sleep
- Mood swings or irritability
- Inability to bounce back quickly after life changes (job moves, relationship break-ups, etc.)
- Chronic health issues that may have an emotional root
If several of these symptoms resonate, it’s likely that emotional stress is at the core of your eating habits, and addressing it directly is key to healing your relationship with food and your body.
Scientifically backed, Proven Modalities to End Emotional Eating
1. Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT)
RTT is a powerful blend of hypnotherapy, hyponsis, CBT, and NLP designed to quickly identify and rewire the subconscious patterns that are driving emotional eating. Often in as little as 2–6 long full sessions, or longer incorporated into standard length hypnotherapy sessions. RTT can help you uncover and resolve the root causes of your cravings. I generally incorporate Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy to help quickly end Emotional Eating and Food Addictions
2. Clinical Hypnotherapy. Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis therapy
Clinical hypnotherapy and Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy is a proven tool that helps reduce food impulsivity and increase body confidence. Meta-analyses have shown that hypnotherapy can significantly support the various aspects of weight management by also addressing the underlying emotional triggers of overeating
3. Counselling & Psychotherapy
Sometimes, emotional eating is rooted in deep-seated trauma, unprocessed grief, or long-standing emotional wounds. As a Counsellor Psychotherapist, I offer a safe space for individuals to explore and heal these wounds. Therapy can uncover the psychological patterns driving emotional eating and empower adults and teens to develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Cognitive-Behavioural therapy (CBT) and talk therapy help you understand the patterns of thinking that contribute to stress-eating and emotional triggers. Working through your emotions in a therapeutic context can break the cycle of reliance on food for comfort.
4. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
EFT, also known as tapping, is a highly effective technique that combines acupressure, beliefs and emotions. It’s an easy and straightforward technique you can learn and practice at home. Numerous studies support EFT’s ability to reduce anxiety and cravings, helping adults, teens and children regain control over their emotional eating habits.
Quick EFT Reset to Control Cravings (with Louise Hay Approach)
If you find yourself reaching for comfort food, use the following EFT tapping exercise. This approach follows Louise Hay’s affirmations, which promote self-love and acceptance, supporting healing from emotional stress and cravings.
EFT Reset for Emotional Eating (Louise Hay-Inspired)
- Pause and Breathe:
Take a deep breath and stop before you reach for that unhealthy snack. Acknowledge the craving but allow yourself a moment of reflection. You are in control. - Karate Chop Position:
With one hand, tap on the edge of the opposite hand (the “karate chop” position) with four fingers. This helps to reset your energy. - Repeat the Affirmations Below (three times each while tapping):
- “Even though I have this craving, I deeply love and accept myself just as I am.”
- “Even though I feel overwhelmed and need to comfort myself, I choose to nourish my body with love and kindness.”
- “Even though I feel anxious, I choose to release this stress and embrace peace. I am worthy of love and care.”
- “I am safe, and I trust my body’s natural ability to heal and make healthy choices.”
- “I am free from cravings. I choose healthy food and honor my body’s needs with love and compassion.”
- “I lovingly release the stress and tension that causes me to overeat. I am at peace with myself and my body.”
- Finish by Breathing:
After you complete the tapping, take a few slow, deep breaths. Visualize a sense of calm and peace flowing through you, knowing that you’ve taken the first step in healing.
5. Functional Medicine Nutritionist Ireland ONLINE, Limerick and Cork
A root-cause approach to health and nutrition is essential to support long-term healing. My functional medicine approach looks beyond the surface symptoms and investigates your hormones, gut health, nutrient levels, and lifestyle factors that may be contributing to emotional eating.
Lifestyle Reset: A few steady and practical Steps to help you
- Schedule regular relaxation breaks to reduce stress taking even a few minutes to breathe deeply can reduce cortisol levels.
- Move your body daily –exercise can help regulate stress hormones and improve mood.
- Set clear, healthy boundaries –learn to say “no” without guilt to maintain your emotional well-being.
- Curate your social environment –distance yourself from negative, energy-draining relationships.
- Unplug from technology –power down screens at least 60 minutes before bed to improve sleep quality.
- Prioritise self-compassion –treat yourself with love and kindness, especially when facing difficult emotions.
- Implement mindfulness techniques such as meditation, journaling, or gratitude practices to cultivate inner calm.
Integrated Hypnotherapy, Nutritionist and Counselling Services for Emotional Eating, Eating Disorders and Sugar or Food Addictions
I offer a comprehensive suite of services to address emotional eating through RTT, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Nutritionist services and Nutrition Consultations, and Functional Medicine. Our goal is to provide an integrated approach that meets your health, mental, emotional, physical, and nutritional needs.
| Service | Conquer Emotional Eating, Eating Disorders, Food Addictions | Delivery Options |
|---|---|---|
Registered Nutritionist Consultations |
Evidence based meal planning, nutrient analysis, stress management, and emotional support, and strategies | Online or In clinic |
RTT and Advanced RTT |
Identify and reframe subconscious patterns and Beliefs to break the emotional eating cycle using | Online or In clinic |
Clinical Hypnotherapy, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy |
Reinforce healthy habits, reduce cravings, and increase body confidence | Online or In-clinic |
Counselling & Psychotherapy |
Heal deep emotional wounds; develop healthier coping mechanisms for stress | Online or In clinic |
EFT Coaching can be integrated |
Learn self applied stress relief for long term emotional balance | Online group or 1 to 1 |
Functional Medicine Nutrition |
Root cause analysis of hormone imbalances, gut health, and stress management | Online or In clinic |
In-Person Clinics located in:
- Limerick · Adare · Newcastle West Limerick · Midleton · Youghal · Cork City · Dungarvan
Online Emotional Eating Therapy remotely in Ireland, UK, UAE, Australia & Worldwide remotely ONLINE
Access secure, confidential ONLINE consultations from anywhere in the world from the comfort, safety and convenience of your own home
Book a Consultation Now to Fresh New Beginnings!
Great Health and Feeling Great!
Take the first step towards great health and happiness.
Book a Consultation Now and begin your journey to lasting health with personalised, expert guidance.
(Limited availability for both online and in-person sessions to ensure individualised care.)
Reference
- Harvard Health Publishing. Why stress causes people to overeat. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-stress-causes-people-to-overeat
- Harvard Health Publishing. Understanding the stress response. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response
- Harvard Health Publishing. Hidden causes of weight gain. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/hidden-causes-of-weight-gain
- Church D. Emotional Freedom Techniques for depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11547174/
- Yang Y et al. Impact of EFT on anxiety, depression and sleep. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399925000522
- Schuessler F et al. Hypnosis reduces food impulsivity in obesity. https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165%2822%2900288-X/fulltext
- Mason T et al. Emotional food craving across the eating-disorder spectrum. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11393200/
- Wang L et al. Tryptophan pathway & stress-induced binge eating. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38736909/
- Rupa Health. A functional-medicine approach to obesity. https://www.rupahealth.com/post/an-integrative-approach-to-obesity
- Institute for Functional Medicine. Whole-health and functional medicine in 2023. https://www.ifm.org/podcast/whole-health-functional-medicine-2023
- Arasu R & Padmanabhan M. Rapid Transformational Therapy: An emerging modality. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355588922_Rapid_Transformational_Therapy_RTT_An_Emerging_Non-invasive_Therapeutic_Modality
- CreateToday Therapy. Unveiling the science behind RTT. https://createtodaytherapy.com/unveiling-the-science-behind-rapid-transformational-therapy-is-it-truly-evidence-based/
- Harvard Health Publishing. Exercising to relax. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax
- Bodywhys Ireland. Eating-disorder helpline & support. https://www.bodywhys.ie/recovery-support-treatment/support-services-2/helpline
- The Guardian. Is it true that stress makes you gain weight? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jan/20/is-it-true-that-stress-makes-you-gain-weight