Eating Disorder Clinic: What to expect when you visit Your Nourished Mind
As an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, I provide one-on-one support to clients in person and virtually. In-person sessions take place at my eating disorder clinic, where people can expect a welcoming, safe and confidential space. I personally greet in-person clients at the door when they arrive. Dog-loving clients can also be greeted by my cavoodle, Mervyn. Merv loves a cuddle and to help to put clients at ease.
What is an eating disorder clinic
Your Nourished Mind is a health service focused on providing one-on-one practical support to people in the community suffering from disordered eating and diagnosed eating disorders.
I am a qualified Social Worker with experience working in the mental health sector in Western Australia. My lived experience of recovering from an eating disorder has driven me to support others on their recovery journey. I am now an accredited Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, after studying at the Carolyn Costin Institute, an internationally recognised provider of the leading eating disorder recovery coaching training.
What happens in the eating disorder clinic
As an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, I support clients to challenge and change their eating disorder thoughts and behaviours in the here and now. My work with clients is goal orientated and present-focused.
I take an individualised approach with clients to meet their specific needs, meaning the focus of my work with clients varies. Some clients need support to identify and challenge diet culture, stop counting calories and ditch their scale, while others need help following their meal plan and reducing exercise. I’ve worked with clients who initially were not ready to make any changes, so our focus was on increasing motivation, hope and readiness to change.
As a coach with lived experience of recovering from an eating disorder, I aim to provide an aspect of support that I felt was missing from my treatment. I incorporate peer mentoring into my work with clients, and this shared experience helps clients feel understood. I demonstrate living a recovered life and share aspects of my recovery journey to provide hope that recovery is possible and strategies to support recovery.
Clients of Your Nourished Mind do not need an eating disorder diagnosis to access support from an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach. I work with people all along the disordered eating spectrum; some clients have recently been discharged from hospital in-patient treatment, others are looking for support to overcome the last few hurdles in their recovery, and for others, it may be their first time reaching out for support. Not meeting full diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder is not a reason to delay getting support. I recognise the detrimental impact disordered eating can have on someone’s life.
Don’t feel ready for an eating disorder clinic?
I encourage you to check out my recovery resources, worksheets and workbooks I developed to support people in recovery. I use these resources frequently with one-on-one clients and in group settings. I can guarantee there will be something to help you, regardless of where you are currently in your recovery journey.