Support for
Your relationship with food and your body can change with specialist support.
Therapy for disordered eating and body image concerns — working alongside medical and dietary teams for whole-person care.
Key information you should know
- Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition — early support matters.
- Effective treatment involves psychological therapy alongside medical and dietary care.
- Our clinicians work collaboratively with GPs, dietitians, and other specialists.
Signs you might benefit from eating disorders support
- Preoccupation with food, weight, calories, or body size
- Restricting food intake, fasting, or rigid food rules
- Binge eating — eating large amounts in a short time, often feeling out of control
- Compensatory behaviours after eating — purging, excessive exercise, or laxative use
- Intense fear of gaining weight or strong distress about body image
- Hiding eating behaviours from others
How therapy can help with eating disorders
Disordered eating and body image distress can dominate daily life. Restriction, bingeing, purging, compulsive exercise, and intense fear of weight gain are signs that specialist psychological support may help.
Because eating disorders often need coordinated care, our psychologists work alongside GPs, dietitians, and other clinicians where needed. Therapy targets thoughts and behaviours around food and body, and supports recovery at a pace that respects your physical health.
Psychologists who support eating disorders
3 psychologists with experience in eating disorders.
Kristy Ward
Psychologist & Director
Kristy is a warm, highly experienced psychologist who brings nearly two decades of clinical practice to helping people feel understood, supported and confident as they work towards meaningful change.
2 clinics
Nikita Kettlewell
Clinical Psychologist & Clinic Manager
Nikita works collaboratively with clients to identify goals and strategies for each individual, using a warm, empathic and non-judgemental approach. She has a background in individual and group therapy.
Works from Succoris Bendigo
Sophie Lord
Clinical Psychologist
Sophie provides warm, thoughtful therapy for children, adolescents and adults via telehealth. She is culturally aware, inclusive, and brings genuine curiosity to each person's story.
2 clinics
Common questions about eating disorders
What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition involving unhealthy patterns of eating, thinking, and behaviour around food, weight, or body image. They include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and others. They affect people of all ages, genders, and body types, and are not a lifestyle choice or a matter of vanity. Early support improves recovery, so reaching out sooner rather than later matters.
How do I know if I or someone I care about has an eating disorder?
Signs can include preoccupation with food, weight, or body shape, restrictive eating, bingeing or purging, rigid rules around food, and distress or withdrawal around meals. Physical changes may also occur. Because eating disorders can be hidden and are sometimes minimised, it is worth seeking advice if you are concerned. A GP and psychologist can assess what is happening and guide the right care.
How are eating disorders treated?
Effective treatment usually involves a team, because eating disorders affect both mind and body. Psychological therapy works alongside medical monitoring and dietary support. Evidence-based approaches are tailored to the specific eating disorder and the person, and can include cognitive behavioural and family-based methods as well as work on body image and the emotions underneath. Your psychologist can coordinate with your GP and dietitian so care is joined up.
Where should I start if I think I have an eating disorder?
A good first step is seeing your GP for a health check, as eating disorders can affect the body in ways that need monitoring. You can also contact us directly, as no referral is needed to book therapy. A GP Mental Health Treatment Plan or an Eating Disorder Plan may provide Medicare rebates. Reach out and we can help you find the right support and providers.
Can you have an eating disorder at a normal weight?
Yes. Eating disorders are about a person's relationship with food, eating, and body image, not their body size. Most people with an eating disorder are not visibly underweight, and serious conditions such as bulimia and binge eating disorder often occur at an average or higher weight. This is one reason eating disorders are frequently missed. If your thoughts or behaviours around food are causing distress, it is worth seeking support regardless of your weight.
Prefer to reach out directly? We're happy to help.