Eating Disorders & Psychology Treatment

19/08/2026

14/08/2026

Maybe motivation isn’t always something we need to find.
Maybe it grows from having something to love. 🫶🏻

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

When we love something, we want to care for it.

We show up.
We make time.
We keep going.

The people we love. Animals. Nature. The work we care about. Places that feel like home. Something we’re building. The little routines, relationships and moments that make a life feel like ours.

For me, these connections fill my heart and lift me up.

They give me a million little reasons to get up in the morning, step outside and engage with life — even on the days when it feels harder to get going.

Maybe we don’t always need more discipline, more productivity or more pressure to keep moving forward.

Maybe sometimes we need to ask ourselves:

What do I love?
What matters to me?
What makes me want to show up for my life?

Because sometimes motivation isn’t about pushing harder.

Sometimes it grows when we reconnect with what matters to us. ✨

And this little guy is definitely one of my biggest reasons. 🐾

10/08/2026

A little Monday reminder, brought to you by Bowie 🐾

So much of the work I do comes back to challenging the idea that our needs have to be earned.

“I can rest when I’ve done enough.”
“I deserve to eat because I exercised.”
“I’ll feel good enough when I achieve…”
“I shouldn’t need help — I should be able to manage this myself.”

Whether we’re talking about eating disorder recovery, perfectionism, people pleasing or simply being a human being — your basic needs aren’t a reward for being productive, disciplined or perfect.

You are allowed to eat.
You are allowed to rest.
You are allowed to take up space.
You are allowed to need support.

Bowie, meanwhile, remains firmly committed to the belief that all needs should be met immediately. 😅🐶

🐾

10/08/2026

Underneath eating disorder behaviours, there can be deeply held beliefs about ourselves — I’m not good enough. I have to be perfect. My needs don’t matter. I need other people’s approval to feel worthy.

In Schema Therapy, we become curious about these patterns rather than simply trying to get rid of them.

Where did they come from?
What purpose have they served?
What happens when they’re triggered?
And how might they be keeping the eating disorder going?

For some people, eating disorder behaviours can become a way of managing shame, overwhelming emotions, perfectionism, vulnerability, or a need for control. And when we only address the behaviour without understanding what sits underneath it, recovery can sometimes feel like repeatedly getting stuck in the same place.

This is one of the things I value about integrating Schema Therapy into eating disorder work. It gives us another way to understand the person behind the symptoms — their experiences, emotional needs, coping patterns, and the beliefs they’ve carried with them.

Schema Therapy doesn’t replace evidence-based eating disorder treatment. But for some people, particularly when long-standing patterns continue to interfere with recovery, exploring schemas can be an important part of the work.

Sometimes the question isn’t only “How do we change this behaviour?”

It’s also: “What is this behaviour doing for you — and what do you need instead?” ✨

31/07/2026

Are you or a loved one aged 14-25 years and living with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia?

InsideOut Institute is offering 6 months of free, individualised care for young people with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia, as part of their research trial.

Treatment is delivered twice a week at Sydney University in Camperdown, and includes:

💭 Psychology and dietitian appointments 💭🗣️
🗣️ Carer involvement and training (if appropriate)
📚 Peer support sessions

Participation also includes completing questionnaires, a blood test, and an MRI. Register now: https://www.eatingdisordersresearch.org.au/signature-studies/

29/07/2026

Feeling stuck in recovery can be one of the most discouraging experiences. It often brings self-doubt, frustration, and the question, “Am I ever going to get better?”

As a psychologist, I’ve learnt that when progress feels stagnant, it’s rarely the end of the road. More often, it’s an invitation to become curious.

Periods where recovery feels “stuck” are an opportunity to slow down and reflect.

✨ Is there something we’re missing?

✨ Is the eating disorder still serving an important function?

✨ Has life become overwhelming, making change feel unsafe?

✨ Does the treatment approach need adjusting?

✨ Are we still working towards what truly matters to you?

These moments can be stressful not only for the person experiencing the eating disorder, but also for families, carers, and clinicians. It’s easy for everyone to start questioning whether recovery is possible or what the pathway forward should look like.

This is exactly when it’s most important to stay grounded.

Recovery isn’t always about pushing harder. Sometimes it’s about pausing, re-evaluating, and rebuilding momentum in a way that better fits where you are right now.

Progress isn’t always visible—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

If you’re feeling stuck, let it be an invitation to ask different questions, seek support, and reconnect with the life you’re working towards.

🌻 Recovery isn’t linear, but you don’t have to navigate the difficult parts alone.

22/07/2026

Are you worried about changes in your child's eating habits? Are they exercising more often, skipping meals or worrying about their body weight? Trusting your instincts and seeking support early can make a big difference. No sign is too small when it comes to eating disorder prevention.

If you have questions or have noticed changes, you can book a FREE 20-min appointment with Paediatric Dietitian Dr Lyza Norton through EDFA's Nourish, Nurture, Notice program. She'll answer your questions or concerns about what you've noticed with your child.

Sessions run fortnightly. Next session is Wednesday, July 29.

Book your spot here: https://edfa.org.au/nourish-nurture-notice/drop-in-sessions/

15/07/2026

15/07/2026

We're thrilled to announce the 2027 Walk for Eating Disorders - this time, doing the Great Ocean Walk!

Join Eating Disorders Victoria and a community of like-minded people for an unforgettable three-day journey along one of Australia's most spectacular coastlines.

We're constantly surrounded by unhelpful narratives around exercise, and this adventure is a terrific opportunity to redefine your relationship to movement.

You'll create lasting memories, experience the joy of movement in nature and connect with others while raising vital funds to keep EDV's support services free for Victorians affected by an eating disorder.

Recovery happens one step at a time. Walk with us and together we can help make recovery possible for thousands of Victorians impacted by eating disorders.

Learn more at https://hubs.li/Q04mV-R70.

09/07/2026

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

We are delighted to welcome Dr Mo Zahedi, Consultant Psychiatrist, to the Gisborne Specialist Centre, where he joins Dr James Mimnagh as the second psychiatrist in our growing mental health team.

With Dr Zahedi now consulting alongside Dr Mimnagh, we are pleased to once again be accepting new referrals, helping improve access to specialist psychiatric care for patients across the Macedon Ranges and surrounding communities.

Our psychiatrists provide comprehensive assessment and management for adults including:

• ADHD assessments and ongoing management
• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Psychotic disorders
• Adjustment disorders
• Eating disorders
• Older adult mental health
• And a wide range of other adult mental health conditions.

Both Dr Mimnagh and Dr Zahedi believe in treating the whole person, taking the time to understand the biological, psychological, social and cultural factors that contribute to mental wellbeing. This holistic, patient-centred approach ensures every treatment plan is tailored to the individual.

We are proud to continue expanding specialist services close to home, so our community can access high-quality care without the need to travel to Melbourne. We look forward to welcoming both new and existing patients.

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐏 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 . 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐬𝐜@𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐜.𝐜𝐨𝐦.𝐚𝐮 𝐎𝐑 𝐟𝐚𝐱 𝐭𝐨 𝟓𝟒𝟖𝟑 𝟑𝟑𝟖𝟖