2 minute read
Therapeutic Treatment
Our well-established 10-Week Therapeutic Treatment Group is open to people of all genders from age 16 years. The highly sought-after therapeutic group aims to create a safe and supportive environment for people to explore some of the underlying reasons why we might be struggling with eating issues.
We look at a range of topics including feelings and needs, relationships and communication, body relationship and acceptance, mindfulness and a critical analysis of how gender roles, cultural, family and societal expectations might play a factor in eating issues. This recognises our feminist underpinning, critiquing the impact of diet culture and patriarchy on the experiences of people with eating disorders. We also added an exploration of values to the content of the group which provided an important connection to self and hopes for future for participants. The group explores these different topics through discussions and expressively based therapeutic activities which serve to explore the reasons underlying our eating disorder and build our support networks, skills and resources in our recovery journey. The sense of community created in the groups and the story sharing by participants support people to counter the sense of shame, guilt and isolation that can come with having an eating issue. While people are nervous to share, the support, connection, validation and recognition of self are valued from the experience.
Advertisement
We continue to include two Speakers from the EDQ community to come into group towards the end to speak about their experience of recovery. This is an opportunity for group participants to ask these Speakers questions that they had in relation to recovery, ideas and what was helpful and not helpful. During this financial year, two 10-Week Therapeutic Treatments groups were run. The first group began at the end of 2020 and was adapted to online, in response to COVID-19. Participants have often given feedback that a structured opportunity for connection at that time of year helps enormously due to increased stressors around food and family during holiday time.
In week seven, Speakers were invited to share in the group meal, providing an opportunity for the group to hear more about their recovery journey. Group participants shared that they really loved this aspect of the group and found it motivating, inspiring and gave them hope recovery was possible.
Our second therapeutic group was slightly disrupted by COVID-19. The group generally ran face-to-face, aside from week seven where due to restrictions, the group moved to online. Most participants stated that they felt safe to participate in the group via a telehealth setting. Other weeks of group required participants to wear masks during session, for a number of maskto-mask group sessions. While COVID-19 altered the delivery of the group, the participants showed flexibility and resilience in change. Delivering the group via telehealth or with masks, provided the opportunity for continued connection during the difficult time, as well as story sharing and continued therapeutic exploration of eating issues and a variety of different themes.
Quote
“They (group facilitators) identified the goals of each session, created an environment for effective communication (the achievement of mutual “ understanding) they kept discussion focused, kept all of us engaged and provided opportunity for all voices to be heard while creating trust and support which made all of us engage in all activities and discussions. I’m grateful for EDQ as a whole, not only what it has done for me but what it does for others and the community.”
