Eating Disorders Resources

Evening slots available for CBT in central London

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:16:42 +0000

I currently have a couple of slots available to see people who would like to work on their eating difficulties using a cognitive behavioural approach. I see clients near Kings Cross in central London. If you’re interested in hearing more about the way I work, please email me

BABCP conference, Edinburgh

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:52:03 +0000

I had a great, if very busy, time at the BABCP conference in Edinburgh. It was fantastically well attended (I think around 1000 people) and there was a real buzz. As well as the excellent (ahem) eating disorder and impulse control stream, there were a number of events about new developments in Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies and some excellent keynotes. I was very impressed by Chris Williams’ (who developed the excellent Living Life to the Full website) stand at the Exhibition. Chris and colleagues have been working on some very nicely designed and simple but effective Low Intensity Support Materials in the form of booklets covering some of the core issues in CBT. These include ‘I can’t be bothered doing anything’, ‘I’m not good enough’ and ‘The things you do that mess you up’. For more about the booklets, see the Five Areas website

Dove Self-Esteem Fund

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:45:13 +0000

I’m really enjoying the latest resources on Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty site - lots to share with with my clients here. I especially enjoyed the short film archive, which includes a great example of how a model is prepared and photoshopped for a billboard advert. And make sure you have a play with their interactive games, including ‘Playing with Beauty’ where you can use a slider to transform normal women into the proportions of a toy doll.

7th National Conference on Adolescent Eating Disorders

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:23:01 +0000

This regular annual conference, now in its 7th year, will be held on Tuesday 9 December 2008 in Cambridge, UK. More details from the Royal College of Psychiatrists website

Anorexia nervosa and pregnancy

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:19:27 +0000

I just came across this brief article about recovery from anorexia in relation to the changes that occur in pregnancy from Grace Bowman in the Guardian.

Grace Bowman’s book ‘Thin’ is available from Amazon.co.uk

Frontier psychiatrist

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:18:34 +0000

I’ve just come across this excellent blog by a trainee psychiatrist based in London. Wide ranging topics, from John Prescott’s struggle with bulimia, to a summary of general paralysis of the insane (the tertiary form of untreated syphillis, in which mental functions are severely affected).

And then of course there’s the song by the Avalanches of the same name.

Body image and ED blog

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:40:19 +0000

His Body Chronicle is a new blog describing a gay man's journey with body image and eating disorders

Eating disorders sessions at BABCP annual conference, July 2008

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:34:08 +0000

I just wanted to let you know that the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) will hold its annual conference this year in Edinburgh from 16th-19th July. The Eating Disorders and Impulse Control stream is particularly strong this year, with a number of interesting keynotes, workshops and symposia. For further info please visit the conference website.

And yes, I do have a bit of a vested interest in promoting this, I'm the co-convener of the eating disorders and impulse control stream.

Back online after a break

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:32:45 +0000

Apologies for the extended absence. The site has been down for a period of *ahem* maintenance and migration to a new server.
Good to be back

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy sessions available

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:08:49 +0000

I currently have a free slot to see private clients with eating problems. I also work with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. I see clients near to Kings Cross in London on weekday evenings. If you would like to find out more, please email me in the first instance.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:13:34 +0000

Eating Disorders Awareness Week is coming up again soon - 25th Feb - 2nd March 2008. b-EAT (formerly the eating disorders association) are organising lots of events, and will also launch the results of their carer's survey at the House of Commons on 25th February.
The carer's conference, jointly run by b-EAT and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust will be held at Guy's Hospital on 23rd Feb 2008. You can download further information from the b-EAT website.

Special Issue Watch: Eating Disorders and Trauma

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:40:28 +0000

Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention has a special issue out on eating disorders and trauma. Guest edited by John Levitt and Randy Sansone, the issue contains articles covering the intriguing but traditionally under-researched relationship between these two areas. Brewerton reviews the literature on PTSD and eating disorders, Waller and colleagues examine the links with emotional abuse and Claes and Vandereyken link trauma to self harm. Briere and Scott's article is a review of assessment instruments for trauma - this is a complex area and it's great to have this summary for those who are not trauma experts. In the treatment section of the issue, Levitt presents a model for working with those affected by complex issues of trauma, eating disorders and abuse, using self-regulation theory.

Carers and family members needed for survey

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:29:49 +0000

Are you caring for someone with an eating disorder, or a concerned family member? If so, b-eat, (formerly the Eating Disorders Association), would like to hear your views. Visit their website to complete the survey online. Closing date 25th Nov 2007.

'Skinny Boy' - new book

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:26:09 +0000

I'm pleased to have received a review copy of 'Skinny Boy: A Young Man's Battle and Triumph over Anorexia' by Gary Grahl. I'm in the process of reading it and will post my thoughts once I'm done, but in the meantime you can read more about the book on the website: Skinnyboybook.com

Chris Fairburn workshop on Transdiagnostic CBT for Eating Disorders: Nov 2007

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:29:09 +0000

On 7th-8th November this year, Professor Christopher Fairburn will be presenting a workshop on the new Transdiagnostic form of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for EDs as developed by his team in Oxford. The approach is designed for all forms of eating disorder and has special modules for patients with mood intolerance, clinical perfectionism, severe low self-esteem and major interpersonal problems. The workshop will be held at the University of Reading. For further information contact Sarah Holling (s.j.holling@rdg.ac.uk or 0118 378 6668).