Understanding Eating Difficulties

Increasing numbers of people have difficulties around food and eating, but miss out on help because they don’t have a clinical diagnosis – this online training event is designed to increase awareness of the importance of early intervention to provide better support and help with recovery.

Time is of the essence - early support is important

An estimated 1.25 million people are affected by eating disorders in the UK – but there are many, many more who may not meet diagnostic criteria or simply don’t get the help they need.

Absolutely anyone can be affected by eating difficulties; all ages, all body sizes, all genders, all races, and disordered eating can take many forms. It sits on a spectrum between what might be considered ‘normal eating’ and an eating disorder and may include symptoms and behaviours of eating disorders, but at a lesser frequency or lower level of severity. Eating difficulties don’t just affect the person involved but also their families and friends too, who often feel frightened, confused, and powerless to help.

The aim of this live, evidence-based, online training with Jo Baker, a highly experienced psychotherapist, is to give you a greater understanding of eating difficulties as well as eating disorders and body image. You’ll explore the signs and symptoms, and the effects they have on an individual as well as developing new skills around effective communication with someone who is struggling. It will dispel some of the myths around eating difficulties and also help you find ways of calming yourself in moments of overwhelm to ensure you can be as supportive and helpful as you’d like to be…

This course is relevant to a range of disordered eating behaviours including:

• restrictive eating
• compulsive eating
• irregular eating
• inflexible eating
• avoiding a type of food or food group
• self-induced vomiting
• laxative, diuretic, enema misuse
• supplement misuse
• clinical eating disorders

BONUS RECORDING – you will also get a recording for 2 weeks after the event to maximise your learning.

Jo has a wealth of information and experience to share...

LINDA HARRISON

What you will learn:

• why early support is important
• how to react if you think someone is struggling around food – including what not to say and do
• the potential physical and psychological harm that disordered eating can cause
• the function of food in mental health
• the common myths around eating difficulties and problems with food
• a greater understanding of eating disorders and subclinical disordered eating behaviours – their signs and symptoms
• increased knowledge of the physical impact and social effects of having an eating disorder
• new skills around communication – how to approach the subject of eating difficulties or food avoidance
• why it is important not to focus on food
• a deeper understanding of ‘body image’ and perception and how media and society impact people’s body image and perception
• a greater understanding of the male experience of eating difficulties and the unique barriers men may face in accessing treatment
• new support and communication skills to offer help to anyone struggling with their mental health, body image and eating disorders
• what exercise addiction is, and its relationship to eating difficulties
• the impact of gym and diet culture on our mental health, body dissatisfaction and the signs and symptoms of muscle dysmorphia
• effective ways to look after yourself – managing stress, anxiety and worry for the household
• how and when to seek professional help

Who is this training suitable for

• Parents, other family members and/or carers of people who are experiencing eating difficulties – or anyone else interested for personal reasons
• Anyone who works with people and needs to know how best to help when someone shares that they are struggling with food
• Therapists, counsellors and any other mental health and welfare professionals who want to gain a better understanding of eating difficulties, their symptoms and impact so they can support families with a member who is experiencing eating difficulties.

Course Programme

The ‘Understanding Eating Difficulties’ course starts at 9.15am and runs until 1.30pm.

Important note

This live online CPD training event is an awareness raising course, providing you with evidence-based information, facts and effective communication skills. It does not qualify you to work with eating disorders.

If you are an experienced, qualified HG therapist /counsellor who would like to learn more about how we can work therapeutically with people with eating difficulties, problems around food or eating disorders – view our advanced CPD training in-person workshop: Working with Eating Difficulties