Our support
We are here for you to discuss issues about food and eating and the reasons why you, or the person you care about, has developed disordered eating or an eating disorder. Parents and carers also contact us if they suspect an eating disorder or have had their suspicions confirmed and are unsure of the next steps.
Please note that we are not a counselling or crisis service or a general mental health organisation, and staff will signpost you to helpful alternatives if necessary. Our support team are fully trained members of staff, who have both professional and personal experience of eating disorders.
You can book 1:1 support call via telephone, video or online chat, email us or join us for an online support group session every fortnight.
Meet the support team
Belinda, Support Team Lead
With personal experience of recovery from eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and orthorexia, Belinda offers emotional and practical support to anyone struggling with an eating disorder and to those caring for or supporting someone else. After recovering, she qualified as a Nutritional Therapist with a desire to specialise in supporting people with eating disorders.
Talk with Belinda
Belinda offers 1:1 support calls on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. She also facilitates the peer support group for people with eating disorders every other Tuesday.
Book here.
Mel, Support Team Member
Having previously experienced her own difficulties around food and eating, Mel knows how important it was for her to have someone to talk to, who could truly understand. With 5 years of advanced training in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and as a parent of 3 children, Mel offers support and signposting to anyone struggling with an eating disorder, or supporting someone else through one.
Talk with Mel
Mel offers 1:1 support calls every Wednesday and Friday.
Book here
Joanna, Support Team Member
At 14 years old, Jo’s daughter developed anorexia followed by binge eating disorder. As a parent with lived experience, Jo can particularly offer support and understanding to family members caring for a loved one and anyone struggling, including many practical strategies and coping techniques. Jo is also a qualified practice nurse and SEN learning assistant.
Talk with Joanna
Joanna offers 1:1 support calls on Thursdays. She also facilitates the peer support group for family and friends of people with eating disorders every other Tuesday.
Book here
Rosie, Support Team Member
As a teenager, Rosie struggled with OSFED, anorexic, bulimic and bingeing tendencies. Now studying psychology, and currently on placement at an adolescent eating disorders unit, Rosie wants to support others and to let them know they are not alone. She can offer support on various issues, including bingeing, purging, body image, and restriction.
Talk with Rosie
Rosie offers 1:1 support calls every Thursday.
Book here
Claire, Support Team Member
As a registered nurse, Claire has experience caring for patients with an eating disorder in a medical setting including the eating disorder ward at the Maudsley Hospital in London. For five years, Claire has been supporting callers to our helpline and often uses her medical training to guide people towards the clinical help they may need.
Talk with Claire
Claire offers 1:1 support calls on alternate Fridays.
Book here
What you can expect when you contact us
- A safe space in which to talk to people who have a professional and personal understanding of eating disorders
- A service where you feel able to speak openly about your concerns, knowing that the information is treated confidentially*
- Reassurance and emotional support with a focus on practical guidance and strategies to help you move forward
- An understanding of the services we offer and the additional help and resources we can provide
- Signposting to other organisations and support services
Read EDA's Charter which includes our terms of use.
*Your Privacy
We take your confidentiality very seriously and aim to create a trusting relationship between service users and staff. Your personal details are not shared with third parties unless consent has been given, and only on a 'need to know' basis. Exceptions to this are detailed in our Confidentiality Policy (see below) and are made only where there is a potential risk to the service user or others and/or where required by law.
Read EDA's Confidentiality Policy