CARERS HELP

• If you are a parent, family member, friend or colleague and want to help someone with an eating disorder
• If someone is behaving in a way that worries you but won't admit there is a problem
  
• If someone admits there is a problem but won't accept help or treatment
• YOU are likely to be worried, frustrated and often in a great deal of conflict. You may be angry with the person who is denying their eating disorder problems or refusing help & treatment. They may be in treatment already but it doesn't seem to be working. Someone is asking you to keep a secret perhaps? You simply do not know how to help or what to say or do.

Love alone will not help. The person with an eating disorder will almost certainly need professional help & treatment. Anyone who is not trained in eating disorder treatment will probably not be able to help a sufferer and may unwittingly make things worse by saying or doing the wrong things.

Families, friends and colleagues can be valuable allies in an overall treatment plan. In fact, research shows clearly that recovery is faster and better when carers are taught how to be involved with therapy in the right way.

Aims of Our Carer Programme

There is very strong evidence that helping carers makes it more likely that a sufferer
will get help, accept help and recover. Working with carers helps us to help you do the right thing at the right time with someone who is struggling with an eating disorder & issues around food. We can even help you to find a way through what may feel like a medical maze.

Recommended Care Pathway

Assessment: You will find a Carer's consultation really helpful, to discuss possible eating disorder and its history. You can do this with the person you care for, on your own or with your partner or other family member.

Ongoing work with an eating disorder therapist will help you with practical skills and emotional support. We will help you to learn what is important about the eating disorder and give you tools to help the person you care for & to establish the prospects for treatment.

Here Is What To Do & How To Help

• Be informed. Have a look at our Guide for Carers.   
• Read our FAQ's ... I Suspect Someone I know has An Eating Disorder;  What Can I Do To Help?  about what you can do when you are a carer, friend or colleague of someone who is struggling with an eating disorder issue.
  
• Have a Carer's Consultation
  A confidential session with one of our eating disorder counsellors can be a really helpful step forward. You can use this session for guidance on any of your concerns; how to approach someone who is denying a problem; how to take treatment forward; how to get support and care for yourself or other family members.
• Let your loved one or friend know, kindly and without blame or anger, that you are getting some support for yourself to help you cope with your concerns. In our experience this is the best way of encouraging a loved one or even a colleague to accept a treatment plan.
• Remember … it is not about food; and it is not about you. An eating disorder is about feelings and can strike in any kind of family. Treatment is not about looking for reasons. It is about finding solutions. Let us help you and your loved one to find the right solution.

A Consultation with a trained counsellor is the best way for you to understand & manage the difficulties which are part and parcel of an eating disorder, decide about ongoing treatment and help move towards recovery.

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