Food Junkies Podcast

Episode 279: Clinician's Corner | Why Motivation Isn't the Problem — Building Competence in Food Addiction Recovery

April 30, 2026·41 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Are you exhausted from chasing motivation that never lasts? In this Clinician's Corner episode, Molly Painschab and Clarissa Kennedy break down why motivation is actually an outcome, not a starting point — and what truly drives sustainable recovery from ultra-processed food use disorder.  Using the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), they unpack the three psychological needs every person in recovery must have met: autonomy, relatedness, and competence — the often-overlooked key that separates short-term compliance from lasting change.  🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:  Why "just get motivated" is the wrong advice — and what to focus on instead  The three pillars of Self-Determination Theory and how they apply to food addiction recovery  Why external pressure (shame, fear, "I should") can actually increase relapse risk  The

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