Our Services

Individual, Group & Family Based Treatment.

Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for Anorexia Nervosa

“The Maudsley Model”

This outpatient treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa involves the entire family and has been shown to be effective for those under 18 who have been ill for less than three years. The model asserts that young people with eating disorders often cannot make sound decisions about food, so the family is seen as a crucial resource in their treatment rather than a contributing factor to the disorder.

Treatment focuses on strengthening the parenting team to take charge of the eating disorder.

Three Phases of Treatment

Phase 1

Parents, guided by clinicians, take charge of all eating decisions to help their child regain health. Siblings offer emotional support to create a positive home environment.

Phase 2

Responsibility for eating decisions is slowly returned to the adolescent, with parents offering support to ensure a smooth transition back to independent eating habits.

Phase 3

The final phase focuses on resolving any family issues and reinforcing supportive bonds as the adolescent moves confidently into recovery.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

The way we think can affect the way we feel and behave

CBT is based on the idea that the way we think can affect the way we feel and behave in the world. It suggests that psychological problems can emerge from the way in which we evaluate certain events in our lives, and can impact our thoughts and feelings, as well as behaviours. That means that by changing the way we think about things (events/situations in our lives), we are able to change unhelpful habits or behaviours, and learn to think in more realistic and helpful ways.

The primary goal of CBT is to help individuals identify and change these unhelpful patterns. Through CBT, individuals can develop healthier coping mechanisms that reduce distress and decrease reliance on harmful habits, such as addictions or avoidance behaviors. CBT’s effectiveness is widely supported by research, showing significant and lasting improvements across various mental health issues.

CBT sessions are highly structured, with each session focusing on specific goals related to thought and behavior change. Homework assignments are often part of CBT, reinforcing new skills and helping clients apply strategies in real-life situations. Therapists work collaboratively with clients to set and achieve treatment goals, fostering a partnership that empowers individuals to make meaningful progress toward healthier, more constructive ways of thinking and living.
Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT)

Personal suffering stems from our attempts to avoid the experience

ACT is a treatment approach based on the idea that personal suffering often arises not from emotional pain itself, but from our efforts to avoid it. This pain may include distressing thoughts, feelings, sensations, and memories. While avoidance might offer short-term relief, it’s often unhelpful in the long run. For instance, alcohol use is a common avoidance tactic that may provide immediate comfort but tends to have negative, long-term consequences.

ACT employs thought and behavior exercises to help clients connect with their “here and now.” Through mindfulness strategies, clients learn to observe their thoughts and feelings with some detachment, enabling them to take committed actions guided by their core values and work toward a fulfilling and meaningful life.
The goal of ACT is to foster emotional flexibility, encouraging people to experience rather than avoid distress while focusing on building a life that aligns with their values and brings deeper meaning.
Mindfulness

“Autopilot”

Many people arrive at destinations without fully realizing how they got there, often living on autopilot.

In therapy, mindfulness is a state of openness and awareness focused on the present moment. When we practice mindfulness, difficult thoughts and feelings have less control over us, promoting curiosity and flexibility in our interactions.

Mindful strategies can help us:

  • Distance ourselves from unhelpful thoughts and feelings
  • Accept and experience painful emotions instead of avoiding them

By being fully present, we can become more aware of the feelings and experiences we often try to evade. This approach encourages less judgment in our lives and helps us recognize that our emotions can come and go, much like the tides. By not resisting our emotional experiences, we open ourselves up to deeper connections with ourselves and our surroundings, ultimately fostering greater compassion, especially toward ourselves.

Although mindfulness is a relatively recent addition to modern psychology, it has emerged as a powerful, evidence-based tool for improving psychological health. Research continues to support mindfulness as an effective intervention for various clinical challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and eating disorders.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)

Readiness to change a given behaviour

MET is a non-judgemental style of therapy which has been found to be helpful in supporting clients who are having difficulty changing particular behaviours. It emerged from an understanding that decision-making often incorporates ambivalence, based on a person’s readiness to change.

MET therefore supports clients in exploring their readiness to change a given behaviour, such as their drinking, or giving up an eating disorder, and pitches therapy at their particular level of motivation to change. It uses strategies to support clients in enhancing and fostering their readiness to change, and has been shown to be a helpful adjunct to therapy for a number of concerns including eating disorders and alcohol/substance use as well as other addictive behaviours.

Let’s Get in Touch

We offer a warm and empathic space in Sydney for individuals with eating disorders.

Making the decision to reach out can be overwhelming, but our experienced team will work with you to understand your fears and your motivations to change, so they can support you to achieve your goals.