Eating disorder CPD for therapists, coaches and personal trainers
I’m passionate about raising awareness and improving practitioners’ understanding of eating disorders. So often practitioners are told not to work with people with eating disorders, or are given a narrow perspective about what they will look like or how they will present. We must all work within our scope of practice, yes, of course, and yet some good awareness and knowing how to signpost someone can actually make a big difference to someone who is struggling with an eating disorder.
PLUS……Eating (and exercise) disorders are significantly more prevalent within sport and the fitness industry, and this is also (sadly) increasingly so within the wellness industry. They come in all shapes and sizes, and can often remain hidden behind the fine line between dedication and disorder. This is why, since 2016, I have been raising awareness of eating disorders, and challenging the 'norms' within these industries around body size, shape and ‘healthy’ relationships with food and exercise.
My sessions for coaches and fitness practitioners help you be more able to spot signs, be informed about appropriate language, practices and scope when working with someone who has experienced an eating disorder and know how to signpost to relevant services if needed. They also explore the wider context of sport and fitness and why these environments may become triggers to someone who is vulnerable to developing an eating disorder.
I am always happy to have a conversation about a particular topic you would like me to deliver a workshop or presentation on. You can see some of the sessions I have delivered in the past at the bottom of this page.
This 2 hour online session guides you though the various forms of eating disorders, how they might present and why they might happen.
We explore what might make someone at risk of developing an eating disorder, signs to be aware of and how to signpost appropriately and compassionately.
We also discuss ED informed language that can benefit everyone you work with whether they have an eating disorder or not.
Eating Disorder Awareness for Personal Trainers, Coaches and Movement Practitioners
I haven’t yet set dates for the next session. Please drop me an email using the form on my contact page if you would like to be kept up to date.
Developing an ED informed Practice - For Counsellors and Psycotherapists
Eating disorders are complex and hold the highest mortality rate of all the mental health disorders. We are told this during our base training, but often then simply advised to not work with this client presentation, to refer to an ED specialist or for medical support.
But, what if we have been working with a client and then suspect there may be an underlying eating disorder. How to refer while being mindful of the therapeutic relationship that has been formed? And where to signpost to?
Plus eating disorders and disordered eating take many forms and lie on a continuum. So how do you know when to work with a client with food and body issues while staying within your own current scope of practice. and when ethically to refer on?
What does an ED informed practice look like?
Aswell as providing practical usable information, this session also explores ethical dilemmas.
I haven’t yet set dates for the next session. Please drop me an email using the form on my contact page if you would like to be kept up to date.
Presenter, NEDDE Training, October 2024
Compulsive Exercise and its Links with Eating Disorders and Neurodivergence, Online
Co-Lecturer in Eating Disorders in Sport - University of Edinburgh (2016 - 2024)
Delivering to year 3 &4 undergraduate, and postgraduate students, in applied sport science, physical activity for health, medical and sports performance disciplines.
Co- Lecturer in Eating Disorders in Dance - University of Edinburgh (2017 - 2024)
Delivering to undergraduate and post graduate students within the Dance Faculty as part of the Dance Medicine Module
Lead presentation; CCQI, Quality Network for Eating Disorders (2022)
‘Exercise and Eating Disorders: the use of exercise as a tool to recovery’,
Online (hosted by the Royal College of Psychiatry)
Presentation to Scottish Athletics (2022)
Eating Disorder Awareness in Athletics
British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) (2019)
Physical Activity and Health Board - Guidance for University Gyms and Eating Disorder members
FASIC/ The University of Edinburgh Gym (2019)
Presentation to fitness staff on eating disorder awareness and approaches to support individuals
Yoga, Pilates and the Eating Disordered Client (2018)
1 day CPD workshop for yoga and pilates teachers
‘The Power of Belief in Eating Disorder Recovery'
Presentation at Royal Medical Society Annual Conference (2018)
RealTalk; Eating Disorders Awareness week; Real Stories & Conversations of Recovery (2018)
Hosted and organised event where people in recovery were supported to share their stories
Nuffield (2017)
Presentation to staff and personal trainers on eating disorder awareness and approaches to supporting members
Eat, Breathe, Thrive (2016/7)
Facilitating a yoga based approach to mindful eating, emotional resilience and body confidence
Presentation to University of Edinburgh hockey teams (2016)
Eating Disorder Awareness in Sport