Individuals

Families & Carers

GPs

Dieticians

We also understand that it’s important to find a professional who specialises in treating eating disorders and body image problems to ensure all your health needs are looked after. Evidence shows that recovering from an eating disorder is much easier when you have an experienced health professional that you trust in your corner.

At The ISTDP Clinic our psychologists have specialist training and expertise in treating eating disorders and are ready to help you overcome your difficulties. We have treated many people including those for whom other treatments have not been successful.

We also know that the specific treatment needs of someone struggling with an eating disorder will vary. We’re here to help you decide what you want to achieve in treatment and from the first meeting we begin to provide treatment to help you achieve your goals. After the first session, we can recommend the frequency of sessions and the length of treatment that may be required to help you achieve those goals, but you’re free to decide whether you want to engage in further treatment after that point or not. We know that successful recovery begins with you deciding to make a commitment to yourself, but that you should also be aware of what type of commitment is required.

Some people may require assistance with gaining weight, while others may require assistance to reduce binges or purging. In addition to these areas, some people may want to become more self-aware of how they use food to deal with emotions. Depending on your needs, your therapist can help you recognise your emotional triggers and learn how to combat them. Other treatment goals may also include learning how to:

  • overcome anxiety
  • deal with difficult emotions
  • understand triggers
  • overcome self-sabotage
  • improve self-esteem

Research has shown that the most effective and long-lasting treatment for an eating disorder is some form of psychotherapy or psychological counselling, coupled with careful attention to medical and nutritional needs. Ideally, this treatment needs be tailored to the individual and will vary according to both the severities of the disorder and the patient’s particular problems, needs, and strengths. We will work with you, your GP and other supports (e.g., dietitian or psychiatrist) in helping you develop the most appropriate plan for your recovery.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is a serious eating disorder that affects women and men of all ages. It can damage your health and even threaten your life. But you're not alone. There's help available when you're ready to make a change. Since anorexia involves both mind and body, a team approach to treatment is often best. Those who may be involved in anorexia treatment also include GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and dieticians. The participation and support of family members also makes a big difference in treatment success. Having a team around you that you can trust and rely on will make recovery easier...

Bulimia Nervosa

If you are living with bulimia, you know how scary it feels to be so out of control. Knowing that you are harming your body just adds to the fear. But change is possible. Regardless of how long you’ve struggled with bulimia, you can learn to break the binge and purge cycle and develop a healthier attitude toward food and your body. It’s common to feel ambivalent about giving up your binging and purging, even though it’s harmful. So, if you are thinking of getting help for bulimia, we're here to support you...

Binge Eating Disorder

It can be difficult to overcome binge eating and food addiction. Unlike other addictions, your “drug” is necessary for survival, so you don’t have the option of avoiding it. Instead, you must develop a healthier relationship with food—a relationship that’s based on meeting your nutritional needs, not your emotional ones. An effective treatment program for binge eating disorder should address more than just your symptoms and destructive eating habits. It should also address the root causes of the problem—the emotional triggers that lead to binge eating and your difficulty coping with stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, and other uncomfortable emotions.