Supporting individuals through their eating disorder recovery.
Supporting individuals through their eating disorder recovery.BodyMatters Australasia is excited to announce that we will begin offering monthly support groups in March 2015. We will start by introducing a recovery support group for individuals struggling with an eating disorder, with a carers support group to come in May 2015! The recovery support group will run on the third Saturday of each month starting in March 2015, and will be open for anyone suffering with an eating disorder to attend. The recovery group will begin at 5pm, and run for 1.5 hours at a cost of $15 per person. It is important that members register for each group beforehand by sending an email to us at info@bodymatters.com.au with their full name and contact phone number. Registrations will close at close of business on the Friday before the scheduled Saturday group. To maximise the value of the groups, they will not proceed if less than 3 people have registered. The recovery group will be capped at a maximum of 8 people so be sure to register to avoid disappointment!
What will the support group look like?
The recovery support group offered at BodyMatters will bring together anyone struggling with an eating disorder of any type. The purpose of the group will be to draw upon the support, care, resources, and skills of all group members to promote a path to recovery. This group will also provide an opportunity for information sharing, increased understanding of particular struggles, and peer support. It will be a place to discuss and share experiences and stories, and to develop new coping strategies in a safe and supportive environment.
What are the benefits of support groups for eating disorder recovery?
The intention of support groups is to promote attitudes and feelings of understanding, acceptance, honesty, and positivity. This environment promotes trust, hope, and courage, enabling members to take charge of their journey to recovery. Support groups can often act as a stepping-stone to other professional treatment that may have previously appeared fearful.
The support group we will offer at BodyMatters will be an open group, meaning members can join at any time, and each week’s discussion will be unstructured and based on the needs of the group. The benefit of this type of group is that you continue to meet new people, and build confidence in connecting, communicating, and opening up with other individuals who may have similar struggles. Support groups also provide an opportunity for members to move beyond themselves and their own struggles by reaching out and encouraging, challenging and supporting other members on their recovery journeys.
Guidelines for the group:
Confidentiality
Anything that is discussed in the group stays in the group and we are able to trust one another to respect each other’s privacy.
Honesty
Group members are encouraged to be open and honest about their emotions, feelings, experiences and behaviours in group discussion.
Effort towards Recovery
It is important that all members are motivated to be on the path of eating disorder recovery and discussing how to best move towards this.
Sharing in Group
No one will be required or forced to share in group discussion, however, we will strongly encourage all members to contribute to the group and be given equal opportunity to be involved in each meeting.
Who are your facilitators?
Rebecca is an intern psychologist at BodyMatters. She has completed all tertiary training to become a psychologist and is in the process of completing a period of ‘supervised practice’ in the workplace to obtain her full registration. Rebecca has a genuine interest in eating disorders and she is motivated to help make a difference to the lives of those on the journey to recovery. Alongside her work at BodyMatters, Rebecca is a counsellor with The Butterfly Foundation where she also regularly co-facilitates support groups. She is passionate about the positive and long-lasting changes that support groups can provide to those suffering from an eating disorder.
Lauren is new to the BodyMatters team. She is a Masters of Social Work graduate who has moved to Australia from Canada about half a year ago. Her passion for working with individuals with eating disorders stems from her own three year battle with anorexia, which gives her more insight and understanding into the difficulties experienced each day. Lauren has past experience in facilitating such support groups, and has recognised the growth and positive changes members experience in moving towards recovery. Therefore she believes support groups are an important part of a holistic approach to eating disorder treatment.
Everything you need to know:
What: Eating disorder recovery support group
When: The third Saturday of each month (first group will run on Saturday 21st March, 2015)
Where: BodyMatters Australasia, 5/2A Waters Road Neutral Bay NSW 2089
Time: 5pm – 6:30pm
Cost: $15 per person
Register: Email your full name and contact phone number to info@bodymatters.com.au
How to connect with us…
If you have any questions about the support groups please do not hesitate to contact us at 02 9908 3833 or via email at info@bodymatters.com.au. If you would like to sign up for our first recovery group on Saturday 21st March 2015, please register by emailing your full name and contact phone number to info@bodymatters.com.au, letting us know you’d like to come along to the support group. We look forward to meeting you and having you a part of our group!
