Conferences will be held on September 29th and October 1st, 2020
Radio program : La vie du bon côté (translated as The Bright Side of Life)
Changing your relationship with food, with Ingrid Richaud
Sylvie HONORE (radio host for the show “La Vie du Bon Côté”): Ingrid Richaud, counseling psychologist, helps her overweight patients to love themselves more so as to better listen and respect their body and hunger sensations. The goal being to help the person achieve healthy weight loss while eating with pleasure and satisfaction, and being kind and gentle with themselves. The rhythm is that of the client ! Most of the time, patients leave therapy feeling much lighter physically and psychologically. How can we eat guilt-free ? Focus on the Bio-Psycho-Sensorial Approach !”
Conference « Weight Management without dieting : Are you also yoyoing with your weight?”
Speaker at the PAC (Présence et Action Culturelle – Presence and Cultural Action): Health in all its states ! Outline of sectarian abuses : cycle of conferences on devious sects in the health domain.
Subject: Drink… Eliminate ! On Jasmuheen’s Breatharianism and Anorexia Disorder by Sandrine Mathen, from the CIAOSN, and Ingrid Richaud, Clinical Psychologist, specialized in eating disorders.
All consultations are held in Nivelles (easy access from Braine l’Alleud, Waterloo, Charleroi) and online.
Where can I park for free ?
On this map you can find dozens of free parking places close to the Center 67.
Current context of Covid-19 :
For the health and safety of each other, please take note of the following security measures :
To avoid staying too long in the waiting room, please arrive on time for your appointment;
Masks must be worn at least until seated;
For the payment of sessions, please bring the right amount with you;
If you are sick, please stay at home, we can also continue sessions online.
Thank you for your understanding and collaboration.
Online Therapy (for patients already in therapy)
For clients that are not able to make it to the Center 67 because of being homebound, or more generally, because of health problems, I now offer the possibility to do online sessions via the computer software « Jitsi». To know more about this software, click here.
For this second option you will need a well charged, computer or smartphone with camera, a good internet connection and an updated version of either Chrome, Firefox or Opera browser. Please make sure you find a space and time where you will not be bothered (phone in silent mode if possible).
I will give you more instructions by email. No worries, the program is fast, free, and easy to install.
When contacting me by email, please leave me with the following information :
Last Name, First name
Date of Birth
Phone number
Availability
Name of Health Insurance
Country
Please note that your personal data is strictly confidential and will not be shared with 3rd parties (GDPR).
Once you have received confirmation for your appointment, proof of payment (bank transfer : BE51 3770 6195 6462) must be submitted before the beginning of the session. If not, the reservation will not be considered confirmed.
Sessions last 45 minutes each.
Should you have to cancel your reserved appointment, please take note that there is a 48 hour notice policy. This policy allows me to give your appointment time to another patient. Within the 48 hours prior to our meeting, whether you show up or not, the consultation will be billed.
« I have an eating problem. How can a psychologist help me? »
We could understand an eating related issue as an attempt to solve inner distress. The “food solution” allows us to better tolerate certain emotions, relationships or situations. Without surprise, this type of solution generates other difficulties such as unwanted weight gain, body dissatisfaction and shame, various health problems, isolation,…). It is often at that moment that a person may feel the urgency to change their eating habits, and turn to superficial fixes such as dieting, or eating and exercise plans. Slimming practices and programs are the first to benefit from this sense of urgency and despair.
All too often eating disorders are misunderstood and either seen as a lack of willpower (“if you can’t do it, you just don’t want it enough”) or a bad habit to change.
Whether you suffer from compulsive eating, an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, orthorexia), or day long food obsessions (or calorie count), it is important to aknowledge that bothCONTEXT and BEHAVIOR come into play.
This is why, I work in collaboration with a dietician who is trained in intuitive eating, designed to help you reconnect with your natural body sensations and hunger cues.
The psychological work will mostly consist of identifying how your relational and contextual difficulties trigger and maintain the need to continue eating a certain way. Without this step in the process, I often notice people either having difficulties implementing the intuitive eating exercises,relapsing or moving from one problem to another (such as an addiction).
For the work with the dietician, I find it essential to find a friendly body and mind approach. This is why, I happily integrated into my treatment the intuitive eating approach, originally developed by the G.R.O.S. (Groupe de Réflexion sur l’Obesité et le Surpoids)* . I, therefore, highly recommand scheduling an appointment with the G.R.O.S. dietician Olivia CAPOT, also consulting in Nivelles.
* The intuitive eating approach, developed by the G.R.O.S. (Groupe de Réflexion sur l’Obésité et le Surpoids) consists of helping the individual, through concrete exercises, retrieve a feeling of freedom and pleasure while eating, without dieting or guilt-ridden rules. All designed to help you find and keep a healthy weight. More information here (https://www.gros.org/).
New !
Focus on the gut microbiota – New collaboration
More and more research shows the link between emotional distress and disbiosis (impaired gut microbiota). If what brings you to consult a psychologist is also accompanied by other problems such as recurring intestinal problems, chronic inflammation, diverse food intolerances, regular bloating, etc., I invite you to contact my colleague Caroline CAJOT, nutritherapist and specialist in gut-microbiota, who will analyze the overall health of your gut-microbiota (aka “second brain”). Her nutritional and health recommendations should help you boost your mood and immunity as well as make your gut-microbiota an ally in the process of this therapy.
To find out how to heighten your sense of pleasure and attention while eating, take a peek at this article (in French) « Les 7 sortes de faim ».
If you would like to discover a few guidelines regarding body dissatisfaction and how to work around it (also in French), I invite you to take a look here.
* Difficulty adjusting to a changing/evolving context, such as a separation, divorce, death, new job, unemployment,…
* Relational difficulties at work, with your partner, or family
* Intimacy issues (prolonged celibacy, body dissatisfaction, fear of judgment,…)
* Existential related questions (sense of self and purpose in the world)
* An unhealthy relationship with food or an eating disorder, such as chronic yoyo dieting, bulimia, food obsessions, binge eating, etc.
Psychological consultations give you a confidential space where you can speak freely and think more in depth about what is keeping you from leading a more meaningful life. Together we will look at how we can reactivate your own resources so that ultimately you can use them and find the confidence and motivation to continue on your own.
Consultations for individuals, couples and familys (for French consultations, click here).
Before Signing Up For Therapy
Doing therapy can be revolutionary and improve many things, but not everyone is ready or a good candidate for it. If your distress is too severe, it can prevent you from finding the energy necessary and/or desire to work on things, as well as create unrealistic expectations of your therapist. In this case, it is most likely best to wait and find a way to rest at home or on a retreat before starting the therapeutic process.
Here are some considerations if you are considering therapy:
1) Active collaboration
Psychotherapy involves both parties; it is a collaboration of two equals in which both take full responsibility for addressing any difficulties during the process. The therapist cannot « guess » what you are thinking or « magically » create the desired change.As you know best, who you are, what your needs are and what you are going through, it is by sharing and questioningthoughts anddoubts that we have the best chance in meeting your goals. You are the driving force of change who can decide if and when change is needed. Indeed, the tools I have are powerless without your input.
2) Risks
To speak implies risks, it can be uncomfortable and scary to bring up stories that we are ashamed of or don’t totally understand. It is a process and with time, you should feel more legitimate and comfortable exploring your Self and thoughts.
Also, change in one area alsways implies change in other areas, meaning that if it brings advantages on the one hand, it can also be a disadvantage on the other. Change has its own rhythm, it cannot be forced. We will therefore evaluate beforehand the risks of change while searching for how to better protect yourself from unwanted outcomes.
You can thing of the therapeutic space not as a decision-making space but more of a creative non-judgmental exploration space.
3) Confidentiality
Our sessions are strictly confidential. The content of the sessions is protected by the code of professional ethics.
Limits of confidentiality : Psychologists are required by law to disclose any information that could protect the client or others from an act of physical violence such as suicide, imminent homicide intentions, or plans to do harm to themselves, an identifiable person or group of people.
4) Duration of therapy
The duration of therapy is difficult to foresee in advance as it depends on many factors such as your evolving context, goals, wishes and overall implication.
5) Cancellation policy
Your cancellation allows other patients to benefit from your therapy time. Therefore, for any cancellations made less than 48 hours (business days) before the appointment time, the total fee will be charged. This is standard practice and enables recognition for the professional’s time and work.
6) Goodbye Session
When you decide you want to stop therapy, a “Goodbye Session” is highly recommended, as it constitutes a healthy way to separate and close any suspending previous discussions. This session also enables us to review your progress while discussing how you plan to go forward with what was accomplished.
Moreover, it is an opportunity to bring into the open unexpressed difficulties and/or possible misunderstandings from previous sessions. Holding myself accountable for the safety of the therapeutic framework, I will reconnect with you for this final session if need be.
As a clinical psychologist, I study human behavior, thoughts and emotions so I can help my patients better understand and change what generates and maintains inner suffering and/or distress.
In the therapy room, I put a special emphasis on creating a conducive space for self-discovery so my patients can explore the richness and depth of their emotions and inner world. One of the aspects I most appreciate about my work is creating new perspectives that will best fit for the reality they choose to live in. I believe that perspective shapes reality. This is why questioning old beliefs, especially those that keep us stuck in a rut, can be so liberating and rewarding.
My formal training, professors and mentors, as well as travels and experiences abroad have helped me become particularly sensitive to the influence of social context (norms and belief systems) on psychological well-being. Being of French and American descent, fluent in both languages, I was fortunate to study Psychology, with a minor in Science, Health and Values, in New York State(Wells College). During and after those four years of university, my curiosity for more experience and adventure drove me to continue exploring other parts of the world. In some places I ended up working and living awhile, learning their language (Spanish), and adapting to their cultural standards. Despite the years, I have not forgotten how much language and culture shape our understanding of the world and way of thinking.
More than ever, deepening my knowledge of psychology felt indispensable. This is when I decided to pursue my education, while returning closer to my country of origin, with a Master’s degree in Psychological Sciences, at UCLouvain in Belgium. On top of my natural incline towards cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT), I took a particular interest in Systemic Psychotherapy. I am currently enrolled in a 4-year post-training program, to become a Systemic Psychotherapist. The systemic approach examines the influence of social contexts on the individual, and conversely, the influence of the individual on their social contexts. Social context includes all relationships, from family, to couple, to friends, to work relationships.
Part of my practice is also devoted to helping people with eating disorders (compulsive eating, bulimia, anorexia, orthorexia) or poor bodyimage (body dissatisfaction, obsessive calorie control, excessive fear of gaining/losing weight). It was after the completion of a memorable internship that I discovered the Intuitive Eating Approach * and decided to incorporate it into my practice. Unlike dieting, this approach offers a mind and body friendly alternative for people struggling with eating (more information here).
*The Intuitive Eating Approach, developed by the G.R.O.S. (Groupe de Réflexion sur l’Obésité et le Surpoids) consists of helping the individual, through concrete exercises, retrieve a feeling of freedom and pleasure while eating, without dieting or guilt-ridden rules. All designed to help you find and keep a healthy weight.
Continued training and education :
Systemic Family Psychotherapy by CEFORES, Centre Chapelles-aux-Champs
You might be wondering, “what is therapy ?”, or “is therapy what I need ?”
Therapy is giving yourself permission to take a step aside from your usual daily life, a time and space to reflect, understand yourself and others better. Therapy can also help boost social relationships and overall connection, thanks to better communication and emotional coping skills. By regaining enough motivation and autonomy, you should be able to pursue life in a more meaningful way.
Who am I ?
As a psychologist, I study and analyze human behavior, thoughts and emotions so I can help my patients better understand and change what generates and maintains inner suffering and/or chronic distress.
In the therapy room, I put a special emphasis on creating a conducive space for self-discovery so my patients can safely explore the richness and depth of their emotions and inner world. One of the aspects I most appreciate about my work with patients is creating new perspectives that will best fit the reality they choose to live in. I believe that perspective shapes reality. This is why questioning old beliefs, especially those that keep us stuck in a rut, can be so liberating and rewarding.
My formal training, professors and mentors, as well as travels and experiences abroad have made me particularly sensitive to the influence of social context (with its norms and belief systems) on psychological well-being. Being of French and American descent, fluent in both languages, I had the opportunity to… (Read more)
Part of my practice is also devoted to helping people with eating disorders (compulsive eating, bulimia, anorexia, orthorexia) or poor body image (body dissatisfaction, obsessive calorie control, … (Read more)
Psychological consultations
Do you sometimes feel that no matter how much you try to change things, you are still turning in circles… that certain situations, thoughts, emotions or behaviors prevent you from progressing towards your goals ?
Here are some common problems I encounter in my private practice :
Psychological consultations give you a confidential space where you can speak freely and think more in depth about what is keeping you from leading a more meaningful life. Together we will look at how we can reactivate your own resources so that ultimately you can use them and find the confidence and motivation to continue on your own.
Consultations for individuals, couples and families (for consultations in French, click here).
All the consultations are held in Nivelles (easy access from Braine l’Alleud, Waterloo, Charleroi) and online (if already a patient).
Where can I park for free ?
On this map you can find dozens of free parking places close to the Center 67.
Current context of Covid-19 :
For the health and safety of each other, please take note of the following security measures :
To avoid staying too long in the waiting room, please arrive on time for your appointment;
Masks must be worn at least until seated;
For the payment of sessions, please bring the right amount with you;
Hand sanitizer is available at the entrance;
If you are sick, please stay home, we can also continue sessions online.
Thank you for your understanding and collaboration.
Online Therapy (for patients already in therapy)
For clients that are not able to make it to the Center 67 because of being homebound, I offer the possibility to continue therapy online via the secured computer software « Jitsi». To know more about this software, click here.
For this second option you will need a well charged, computer or smartphone with camera, a good internet connection and an updated version of either Chrome, Firefox or Opera browser. Please make sure you find a space and time where you will not be bothered (phone in silent mode if possible).
I will send you a link a couple of minutes before our session by email. The payment for an online session must be submitted before the beginning of the session (bank transfer : BE51 3770 6195 6462). It is a way to secure your reservation. Thank you for your understanding.
Sessions last 45 minutes.
Should you have to cancel your reserved appointment, please take note that there is a 48 hour notice policy. This policy allows me to give your appointment time to another patient. Within the 48 hours prior to our meeting, the consultation is charged (BE51 3770 6195 6462).
