PEER SUPPORT GROUP The Peer Support Group is a growing addition to EDQ’s line-up of support options. The group began in January 2020 in response to the scarcity of existing options for clients to connect with other people who have a shared experience of the recovery process. Peer Support Group is made up entirely of people with a lived experience of an eating disorder. People in the group have a whole range of eating disorders and range from the very beginning stages of seeking support for their eating disorder, all the way to long-term recovery. Clients can choose to attend on a fortnightly basis, so there is no obligation to attend each session. The purpose of the group is to foster and support recovery and offer an opportunity to connect with others who are currently in recovery as well. We have created this group based on feedback from our existing clients that it would be nice to have a place to connect with peers, that provides a bit of a break from therapy but is still a supportive and safe environment. The group provides a support option for those who are on a waitlist for individual counselling or other services, ensuring that motivation for recovery is not lost due to lack of support.
Our Lived Experience Speakers
From the program’s beginning as a fortnightly in-person group, we soon switched to a more frequent online meeting. This has proven to be a sustainable option, with Peer Support Group meeting 41 times in the last year. The increased frequency of the groups has been helpful in allowing clients to maintain community connections during a period of forced social isolation. We are also able to run the weekly groups at alternating times in order to accommodate differing schedules. This year also saw a group member from the beginning, who started group in the later stages of recovery, go on to complete the Speaker/ Mentor training at EDQ and attend the group as a co-facilitator.
Feedback
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“PSG means so much to me. As one of the first group members from the start of last year, and now as new Speaker, having this safe and welcoming space to share, reflect, experiment and offer assistance has truly helped me grow into my recovery and find my place in the EDQ community.”
Group brainstorm during Peer Support Group
FY21 Annual Report
29
