Frequently asked questions

What are the Benefits of a Carer Consultation?

Immediate Support for You: A carer consultation provides prompt assistance to carers who may be feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or uncertain. It acknowledges your needs and offers validation.

  • Psychoeducation and Coping Strategies: In your carer consultation, you can gain valuable insights into managing eating disorders. We offer practical coping strategies, self-care tips, and information about eating disorders.

  • Emotional Validation and Connection: Sometimes, we just need someone to listen and empathise. A carer consultation allows us to validate your emotions, normalise your experiences, and build a supportive connection.

  • Hope and Encouragement: Through carer consultation, we can instill a message of hope, reinforce that your role matters and discuss how you can have a positive impact on your loved one’s recovery journey.

  • Reducing Isolation: We know firsthand how isolated the caring role can be. A carer consultation can break that isolation, reminding you that you are part of a broader community facing similar challenges.

  • Empowering Decision-Making: During the consultation, you can discuss specific concerns, ask questions, and receive personalised advice. This empowers you to make informed decisions and feel more confident in your caregiving role.

We bridge the gap between clinical expertise and lived experience, providing essential support to carers.

What will we actually talk about at our Carer Consultations?

That’s going to be up to you. This is a suggestion of some of the topics that we could work through together:

  • Navigating treatment pathways - who can help with diagnosis, provide treatment, using private or public clinicians

  • Accessing Support - organisations that provide carer training, carer support groups, and financial supports for carers

  • Eating Disorder Treatments - what type of treatments are available, who can provide those treatments, and where?

  • Family Based Treatment (FBT) - phases of treatment, meal coaching, meal support and distraction ideas, managing distress in refeeding

  • Carer Burden - exploring the challenges of refeeding role, self-care strategies, alignment of the care team

What do Carer Consultants do?

Our Carer Consultants have their own lived experience of caring for a loved one living with an eating disorder. Their role includes:

  • Supporting Carers: help families and friends navigate mental health services, provide information about their loved one’s diagnosis, and refer them to other community support services

  • Sharing Lived Experience: draw upon their personal caregiving experiences to offer empathy, understanding, and practical guidance to other carers

  • Enhancing Well-Being: empower families to maintain their own well-being while providing care and support to their loved ones

In essence, they bridge the gap between professional clinical services and carers, ensuring families and friends feel supported during their loved one’s illness and recovery