The Eating Disorder Therapist

In this episode, I explore unhealthy competitiveness and how it can be destructive. Particularly, when it leaves you constantly comparing and not feeling good enough. I hope that you enjoy it.   Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist   Harriet Frew's current offers: - Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html Online Breaking Free from Bulimia  https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html Eating Disorders Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html Body Image Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

CBT-E is one of the most favoured and researched therapies for eating disorders. It means enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy. If you access support via the NHS (assuming that you are based in the UK), you may well be offered this treatment, particularly if you meet diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. The approach is described as transdiagnostic, as it’s relevant for several different eating disorder diagnoses. CBT-E was developed by Professor Christopher Fairburn and his team in Oxford over two decades ago, initially as a treatment for bulimia nervosa but then it expanded out to treat other eating disorders too. In this episode, I explore CBT-E, my experience of delivering it and considerations for clients. I hope that you find it helpful.   Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist   Harriet Frew's current offers: - Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html Online Breaking Free from Bulimia  https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html Eating Disorders Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html Body Image Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Being the eldest daughter can bring unique challenges to well-being. Eldest children tend to be super-carers, overly responsible and 'good children'. In this episode, I explore my personal experience as an eldest child and the impact on relationship with food and mental health. I hope that you enjoy the episode.   Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist   Harriet Frew's current offers: - Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html Online Breaking Free from Bulimia  https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html Eating Disorders Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html Body Image Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html  

Here I share 7 healthy hacks, which I love. These are centred around mental wellbeing, connection and self-care. I hope that you enjoy the episode.   Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist   Harriet Frew's current offers: - Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html Online Breaking Free from Bulimia  https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html Eating Disorders Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html Body Image Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html   Likes Download

Today, I’m talking with Alexandra Lederman, an art therapist working in Melbourne, Australia. After working as a fine artist and discovering the benefits and value of the creative process, Alex knew that she wanted to help others learn how to express and communicate through art. Alex’s experience lies in therapeutic support for diverse population groups, including young children and their families, adolescents and the elderly. Her approach is person centred, strengths-based and aims to work with the individual and their wider network. Her personal strength is the ability to incorporate the visual arts into therapeutic healing and growth. Alex works using a lens from Polyvalgal Theory, which helps her to understand her own emotional state, as well as being able to meet her clients where they are at and help them to find a sense of safety, regulation, play and connection. In the episode today, Alex talks about her own eating disorder recovery journey and how art was an integral part of this. She talks about the role of art in eating disorder recovery, how it can help, support and heal. Alex explains about the use of Polyvagal Theory and Internal Family Systems in her work. She also talks about her upcoming ‘All Your Colours Programme’, starting in May 2025, for people with eating disorders. This is an integrative specialist online therapy group for people with eating disorders (at any stage in their recovery). This is such an interesting episode and opens the mind to many creative possibilities available in recovery, outside conventional treatments. I hope that you enjoy it.   To find out more about Alex: - Instagram: @alexledermantherapy Website: https://www.alexandralederman.com/   This week's sponsor: - Fueling for Recovery: https://fuelingforrecovery.com/   Harriet Frew's current offers: - Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html Online Breaking Free from Bulimia  https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html Eating Disorders Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html Body Image Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html  

Eating disorder recovery is often a murky, dark and difficult road with sporadic glimmers of hope along the way. It’s digging around in the depths of your psyche to work through traumas and abandonment wounds. It’s about interrupting disordered cycles with food, which have long protected and kept you safe. It’s profoundly challenging work. You might feel distinctly worse before you feel better. The road feels long and winding. You reach one summit to only realise that there are many more on the horizon. So perhaps it feels ‘toxically positive’ to romanticise aspects of recovery and eek out some goodness amongst the gloom and doom? Yes and no! In this episode, I explore 11 ways to romanticise recovery, to instill hope and encouragement on the healing road. I hope that you enjoy it.   Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist   Harriet Frew's current offers: - Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html Online Breaking Free from Bulimia  https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html Eating Disorders Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html Body Image Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Restrictive eating, under the guise of wellness is very normalised. As we live in a society that continues to validate thinness on the pedestal of achievement. The impact of undereating on the body can be profound. It’s not something that just skinny people do. If you’re a serial dieter or you struggle with eating disorders or disordered eating, then you probably relate to hunger and food preoccupation as a predictable part of the fabric of daily life. You might think that this is just your personality, whereas in fact it’s about restriction. And remember that 85% of people with eating disorders are not underweight. You can still be hungry and depriving yourself, whilst looking healthy. In this episode, I explore the impact of restrictive eating on body, mind and soul. I hope that you find it helpful.   Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist   Harriet Frew's current offers: - Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html Online Breaking Free from Bulimia  https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html Eating Disorders Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html Body Image Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html    

Today I’m talking to Michelle Rosko, who is a holistic health & fitness coach, certified personal trainer, & nutrition coach. Michelle has been on her own eating disorder recovery journey and now comes to the health and fitness space with a compassionate, sustainable, & holistic approach. She is host of the podcast Fitness Freedom. Michelle has an online programme, the 4H method, which brings together Hope, Habits, Happiness and Health. Michelle helps her clients build healthy routines for their lifestyle, look in the mirror & love what they see, go from hating the gym to loving exercise, stop the extreme yo-yo dieting & exercise, & make peace with all foods. Michelle supports people to trust their bodies rather than giving quick fixes that don’t last. She wants all her clients to experience true joy, peace and freedom. Michelle describes herself as queer, multi-racial, international cat mum, lover of nature, movement, all the flavours of ice cream, travel, & genuine connection. In the episode today, Michelle talks about her own recovery journey and the challenges she faced along the way. She also dives into her 4H method and the valuable work she does with her clients in healing relationship with food and body. I hope that you enjoy the conversation.   To find out more about Michelle: - Website: https://go.mlrosko.com/the4hmethod Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sLEvrTzkYxl81U0fWBM7F Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist   This week's sponsor: - Fueling for Recovery: https://fuelingforrecovery.com/   Harriet Frew's current offers: - Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html Online Breaking Free from Bulimia  https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html Eating Disorders Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html Body Image Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Eating disorders are on the rise. The onset of the pandemic accelerated this already increasing trend. In 2022, the Royal College of Psychiatrists reported that hospital admissions for eating disorders increased by 84% in the last five years. During the pandemic, BEAT (National Eating Disorders Association, UK) saw an 81% increase in contact across all Helpline channels. This included a 162% rise in social media contact and a 139% surge in online group attendance. Although the incidence of eating disorders has been ever increasing over the past few decades, why the explosion of diagnoses now? In this episode, I explore four reasons why. I hope that you find it helpful.   Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist   Harriet Frew's current offers: - Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html Online Breaking Free from Bulimia  https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html Eating Disorders Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html Body Image Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

I worked as a therapist in an NHS adult eating disorder service on and off between house moves, babies and life between 2004 and 2023. Working in the NHS had never been my strategic career plan. At 23 years old, I knew that I wanted to work in eating disorders, but the chaos of my early twenties meant that I was running on ideas and dreams, rather than having any concrete plan. Initially, my decision to train as a therapist came from my own wounded healer abandonment issues and wanting to save others. This wounded place was a helpful starting point and initiation for change. It gave me purpose and hope as I floundered in the choppy waters of life, but feeling reassured by the distant lighthouse shining its beacon out to sea. I began my therapist training aged 25, with vigorous youthful enthusiasm and joy. 4 years later and working in Student Support at my local university, I fell upon a job advert for an eating disorder therapist. It was a new service coming to my city and embedded deeply in a psychological approach to treatment. I decided to apply, even though officially, I was an unsuitable candidate for the role. Miraculously, I was offered the job and the incredible mentors who interviewed me back in 2004, continue to be in my life today. And it opened me up to a whole wealth of experience and learning for the next 19 years.   This episode explores 9 things I learned on this journey.   Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist   Harriet Frew's current offers: - Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html Online Breaking Free from Bulimia  https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html Eating Disorders Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html Body Image Training for Professionals https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html