My Approach & Background

My Approach to Disordered Eating Therapy

Having worked with people experiencing disordered eating difficulties for several years now, I am convinced that there is no one type of treatment that will be helpful to everyone. Everyone really is different, even the same "type" of eating disorder can differ from one person to the next in terms of symptoms, causes, factors that keep it going, and - crucially - response to various treatment strategies.

As a counselling psychologist I have received training in a number of different approaches to psychological therapy, and to supporting people with disordered eating issues. I also regularly engage in ongoing post-qualification training; I am always keen to learn new ways to work with people experiencing disordered eating and/or body image distress.

My approach is both simple and quite complicated! I aim to understand the client, their needs and preferences, and the factors that have caused their eating difficulty and that keep it going - and then I aim to tailor the therapy I offer to each unique person. The way I tailor my approach for each client is always carefully considered, collaborative, and keeps the client's views and feedback in mind. But it does mean that I can't answer questions like "how would you work with me?" before we meet.

I believe it is essential for clients to feel safe and respected, as well as understood, within their therapy, and I aim to develop a warm and supportive therapeutic relationship which enables this. I have found that, working like this, clients are often able to make positive changes with regards to their eating and their body image, and in other areas of life too.

My Approach to Weight Concerns

One aspect of my approach that is consistent across my client work is that I am a weight inclusive practitioner and I am influenced by Health at Every Size principles. This means that I don't subscribe to the idea that people should aim to diet their way into so-called "normal" or "healthy" categories of controversial tools such as the body mass index (BMI) - regardless of their size, weight or shape. I am unable to support clients, therefore, with intentional weight loss efforts.

This is for good reason and is based on informed beliefs. For example, evidence strongly suggests that dieting: is typically not effective in the long-term; often leads to a higher weight in the long-term; can be is damaging to both physical and mental health; is very often a factor in the development of eating disorders. Research has also shown us that the relationship with weight and health is complex, and that there are many ways to improve health without focussing on weight at all.

I am always happy to discuss this in sessions, and to signpost to supporting resources. But for now, it seems most important to say that I understand that opting not to strive for weight-loss can be counter-intuitive for a lot of people (especially for higher-weight individuals), that this is something that can be explored in the approach I offer, and that I have helped lots of people with these concerns to find new ways of eating - in peace!

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My Training & Experience

I qualified as a Counselling Psychologist in 2010 from Roehampton University and I have spent most of my career working with eating disorders, disordered eating, body image difficulties, and related issues - both in an NHS funded eating disorders outpatient service and in private practice.

I continue to regularly engage in further learning on topics relevant to disordered eating. Some of the courses and events I have attended over recent years are listed below.

Some ongoing training I have attended:

ACT for Working with Eating Disorders Masterclass - Professor Nuno Ferreria (2025)
Overcoming Rumination and Overthinking - Skills Development Service (2025)
Working with Families - Supported Families (2025)
Trans and Nonbinary Inclusion - The Side Quest Coach (2025)
Unravelling Body Shame, Part 2: Anti-fat Bias in the Therapy Room - The Fat Counsellors (2025)
Unravelling Body Shame, Part 1: An in-depth exploration of Anti-Fat Bias and Body Acceptance - The Fat Counsellors (2024)
Nourishing Neurodiversity: Integrating Inclusive Approaches In Eating Disorder Treatment - Irish iaedp (International Association of eating Disorders Professionals) Chapter Conference (2024)
Advanced Certificate in Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating & Neurodiversity - NEDDE (Neurodiversity, Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating) (2024)
Exploring Intersectionality of LGBTQIA+, Neurodiversity and Eating Disorders - NEDDE (2024)
Body Image & Disordered Eating - NEDDE (2024)
Trauma-Informed Therapy for the Neurodivergent Client - NEDDE (2024)
LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Therapy Space - Side Quest Coach (2024)
Nutritional Interventions for Eating Disorders - National Centre for Eating Disorders (2023)
Web-based Training for Enhanced CBT (CBT-E) for Eating Disorders - CREDO (2023)
Eating Disorders International Conference - organised by BEAT (2021 & 2022)
Understanding Your Eating - with Professor Julia Buckroyd (completed 2022)
Advanced Certificate in Eating Disorders - with Professor Julia Buckroyd (2021)

In addition:

I am a "Certified Cyber Therapist", having completed the Online Therapy Institute's training in 2021.
I am a qualified supervisor and completed Training by Liberty's "Advanced Practitioner: Supervision" course in 2022.