Counselling

We are only able to offer one-to-one counselling for people age 11+ with mild to moderate anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder and OSFED (Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder). We do not have the skills or training to work with ARFID.

If your eating disorder is moderate to severe you need to speak to your GP about referral to NHS eating disorder services.

For more information about eating disorders and our service criteria, please see below.

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Eating disorders explained

Anorexia Nervosa (AN)

Anorexia is a serious mental health condition characterised by low weight and the fear of gaining weight. Someone with anorexia will severely restrict the amount of food they eat, make themselves vomit or exercise excessively.  Many people with anorexia have a distorted image of themselves, thinking they’re overweight when they are underweight.

Criteria for our service includes a BMI of 17 or above (for adults)

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Bulimia Nervosa (BN)

Bulimia is an eating disorder and mental health condition. People who have bulimia try to control their weight by restricting the amount of food they eat, then binge eating and purging by making themselves vomit or using laxatives. Most people with bulimia are at a normal weight.

Criteria for our service includes purging less than twice a week

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Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Binge Eating Disorder is characterised by frequent and recurrent binge eating episodes. A binge is an episode of excessive eating or drinking. People who binge eat very large quantities of food over a short period of time even when they’re not hungry but do not purge the food from their body. Binge eating is one of the most prevalent eating disorders among adults.

Criteria for our service includes binge eating no more than twice a week

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Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED)

A person with OSFED may present with many of the symptoms of other eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating Disorder but will not meet the full criteria for diagnosis of these disorders. This does not mean that the person has a less serious eating disorder. People with OSFED often present with extremely disturbed eating habits and/or distorted body image. OSFED is the most common eating disorder diagnosed for adults as well as adolescents.

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“I have found the service very helpful, it has given me the ability to take back self-control and has had a positive influence on the decisions that I make.”

“Eating Matters is a safe house for me. A place where my independence is encouraged and my privacy respected. Whilst the staff are always available to help and listen, they are also discreet and non-judgemental.”

“Your staff really do understand eating issues and helped me to understand too. I have learned how to manage my problems and can face the future with much more confidence.”

“I found Eating Matters online and they were immediately able to meet me and guide me on how to encourage my teenager to attend meetings with a counsellor who was carefully matched to work with her. She is now at university!”

“I found the meetings incredibly helpful, both in understanding the reasons I have had such difficulty controlling my weight and in suggesting strategies to address the issue. The initial assumption that it was not just a matter of ‘pulling myself together’ and following this or that eating plan was such a welcome change from the various diet clubs I have attended over the years.”