Some of the most important eating disorder recovery work happens at the table - after all, the body must be renourished to recover.
At the same time, the eating disorder voice generally becomes loudest at mealtimes and nourishing your body is, well, really hard.
This is where Meal Support comes in.
what is meal support?
Designed to accompany traditional treatment, meal support provides an ideal opportunity to challenge eating disorder thoughts and behaviours in real-time.
Evidence can be gathered against the eating disorder so the body can be nourished, even though it might be difficult. These skills and approaches can then be used to face mealtimes more confidently out in the real world.
Meal support is also about knowing you’re not alone. That’s why I’ll be there to share meals with you, and I’ll bring with me my training in Meal Support Therapy through the InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders, as well as my experience providing in-the-moment Meal Support to individuals with eating disorders in an intensive Day Program setting.
Individual
Individualised, one-to-one support from me at mealtimes, designed to fit your needs, your schedule, and your goals.
virtual Meal Support
-
Are aged 18+ and have a current treatment team for your recovery
Are stepping down from a higher level of care or starting your recovery journey
Are looking for accountability at mealtimes (e.g. live alone, supports cannot be present)
Want more in-the-moment support than group meal support can offer
Want to challenge fear foods and want someone to do it with you
Want to challenge specific behaviours and thoughts in real-time
Feel alone in your recovery, like nobody ‘gets’ what you’re going through
-
Pre-meal check in (5 minutes)
Check that meals/snacks correspond to your meal plan
Meal (30 minutes) or Snack (15 minutes) Completion
We’ll eat together, using distractions you find most helpful
I’ll provide compassionate coaching and in-the-moment warm redirection where appropriate
We might utilise simple mindfulness practices to help regulate your nervous system
I’ll provide time updates to help you keep a steady pace
Post meal check in (10 minutes)
Identify ‘wins’ and set a plan for what will be most helpful for you moving forward
-
Snack – 30mins
1 x Snack Support Session - $99
Package of 5 x Snack Support sessions - $450
Meal – 45mins
1 x Meal Support Session - $150
Package of 5 x Meal Support sessions - $675
Group
This virtual Meal Support Group, facilitated by me, provides a supportive space for you to continue moving towards recovery alongside seven other humans going through the same thing as you.
virtual Meal Support
-
Are aged 18+ and have a current treatment team for your recovery
Struggle with completing some/certain meals
Are looking for accountability & support at mealtimes (e.g. live alone, supports cannot be present)
Are working on delaying or stopping binge eating
Are trying to reduce engagement in compensatory behaviours
Find it easier to eat when surrounded by others
Feel alone in your recovery, like nobody ‘gets’ what you’re going through
-
Pre-meal check-in and goal setting (15 minutes)
Group members will share their individual goal for the session e.g. finish a meal, try a fear food, challenge a behaviour, stay present during the mealtime
Reminder of group safety measures and boundaries
Meal completion and supportive distraction (30 minutes)
Everyone will eat together and I’ll facilitate a distracting activity – think trivia, bingo, categories, conversation cards (trivia theme suggestions are most welcome!)
Post-meal check-in and celebrating wins (15 minutes)
Group members can share a win from the mealtime and a ‘what’s next’ intention to further support them once logging off
-
Wednesday Dinner Meal Support Group (6:45-7:45pm) - $55
Package of 5 x Wed Dinner Meal Support Groups - $245
Want to work with me and have access to this group? Get started with 1 individual nutrition therapy session and access to 5 Virtual Meal Support Groups - $460
It is envisioned that this service will grow to offer an increased number of days and meals in the near future. I would love to hear your day/time preferences, so let me know here
Meal Support FAQ
-
Unfortunately, due to the nature of group settings I am unable to provide individual support during the meal support session. This is why it’s suuuuper important that you have your own treatment team to support you.
Or perhaps individual meal support is better suited to you!
-
Yes, absolutely! This is one of the most helpful components of meal support. I won’t necessarily be eating the same thing – unless we have agreed to challenge a specific fear food in an individual meal support session, in which case I will do it with you – but you can be sure it will be adequate, varied and setting an example of ‘normal’ eating.
-
There is, and this is for both individual and group meal support sessions. Failure to attend is a loss for yourself and limits availability for other clients seeking these services.
A minimum of 48 hours’ notice during business hours is required to cancel or reschedule a session without incurring fees. Cancellations or reschedules made with 24-48 hours’ notice will incur a late notice fee of 50% of the session fee. Changes made with 0-24 hours notice will incur the full session fee. Non-attendance without notice will also incur the full session fee.
This is payable before further meal support sessions can be made.
-
Virtual meal support sessions aren’t meant to be a stand-alone service, they’re to help you put into practice the goals you have set with me or your treatment team in individual sessions.
For this reason, only those who have a current treatment team set up (e.g. psychologist/dietitian/GP) are eligible for this service. You do not need to be working with me specifically to participate.
If you are currently on a waitlist for psychological/dietetic services, please get in touch via the Contact page and we can chat further to assess your suitability.
-
Upon hitting the ‘express interest’ buttons for either group or individual meal support, you will be directed to an online Expression of Interest form to be completed by you. This form also contains a link/QR code to a Meal Support Referral Form. You will need to forward this link to at least ONE member of your current treatment team, for them to complete and submit.
This is to open up communication between me and your team, and provide me with information about your background, current goals, and medical stability to ensure your suitability for this service.
From there, I’ll be in touch via email to confirm that Meal Support will give you the support you’re looking for, and guide you to booking your preferred choice of Meal Support online at a time that suits you.
-
Virtual Meal Support will be conducted using a secure health professionals platform called Coviu. Anyone, anywhere can participate by simply clicking the link. Once you have booked your session online, you will receive a link to join.
At the start of the ‘meal completion’ part of the session, I will ask you to adjust your camera so that I can see both you and the plate/bowl in front of you at all times throughout the session. This will be optional in the case of group meal support.
