The Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network has been offering Craving Change workshops and the program’s cognitive-behavioural approach and resources to their clients for over a decade. Tiffany Schebesch, one of the CFPCN dietitians, recently shared how she uses Craving Change with her clients.
“Incorporating the Craving Change approach into my practice has significantly improved how I support clients with emotional and situational eating. For example, by helping my clients recognize the type of hunger and introducing strategies from the Craving Change workshops, such as mindful coping techniques and planning alternative responses, they gradually gain more awareness and control over their eating patterns. I regularly use the There’s a Mouse in my Mousse! handout to explain the CBT model that guides our conversations. Clients have reported reduced guilt, increased confidence in managing cravings, and an ability to enjoy food without overindulging, which also positively impacted their overall well-being.”
I also draw on the ABC model included in the Craving Change resources when working with clients who are struggling with negative self-talk after an eating lapse. For example, a client once said, “I blew my meal plan today, I have no willpower.” Using the ABC model, I helped them pause and identify this thought as the belief (B) that was driving their intense guilt (C – consequence). Together, we explored the accuracy of that thought and reframed it into something more balanced, such as, “One slip doesn’t erase all of my progress. I can make a different choice at my next meal.” This simple step made the thought less harsh and helped reduce the emotional intensity, making it easier for the client to get back on track instead of spiraling into more unhelpful behaviours.
