Some people trying to lose weight don't bother much with calories. They avoid the four-letter-D-word the way Atkins devotees shun carbs and instead focus on psychological counseling and spiritual coaching to address what's often considered the root of the problem: emotional eating.

"A lot of (such methods) have to do with reprogramming people," said Brent Wisse, co-director of the weight-disorders clinic at the University of Washington.

Counseling is "very effective" in dealing with binge eating and nocturnal eating, he said. "And it certainly can be a tremendous key to weight loss."

At weight-loss programs that focus on counseling, leaders say the solution is always long term.

"People are getting more in tune with natural health and learning that drugs and medications and quick fixes aren't the way to go in the long run," said Sheryl Manchester, regional director at Positive Changes Hypnosis Center in Bellevue, part of a national franchise. "They're so sick of the yo-yo dieting and feeling like food consumes their life completely."

Aware Eating was among a sample of non diet weight-loss programs in the Seattle area:

Robin Maynard-Dobbs, who teaches a process called Aware Eating from her North Seattle home and a studio in Bellevue, says most people don't pay attention to their food.

"Most of us eat in front of the TV, when we're at the computer, at our desk," said Maynard-Dobbs, who has been running her private, for-profit business for more than 10 years. "Wherever your attention is, is where your satisfaction is."

In addition to weekly classes of about seven to 10 people in private homes and one-on-one coaching, she holds weekly classes over the phone. The "teleclasses" are offered in six-week bundles, four times a year. Maynard-Dobbs focuses on teaching people to "connect with their body" - to put your hand on your abdomen, for example, and try to gauge whether you're really hungry by bringing your awareness into that area.

She also helps clients identify emotional eating. About half her clients who want to lose weight succeed, said Maynard-Dobbs.

The former behavior-change counselor for Group Health, who worked largely with diabetics, is also trained in the therapy process of neuro-linguistic programming and eating awareness.

Victoria Harris, 52, turned to Maynard-Dobbs more than a year ago, before traveling to Europe. She suffered from an eating disorder in her teens and 20s, and she learned to control it, but still harbored an "uncomfortable relationship" with food.

"I was going to a foreign country; I wouldn't have control over my diet," Harris said. "She taught me how to get in touch with my body and tell when I was full. She taught me how to eat like a little kid again."

Maynard-Dobb's program costs from $115 to $149 for the six-week class. Members receive a bridge phone line for the teleclass when they sign up. In-person groups cost $200 for six weeks.