Stepping Stones with Helen Dean

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Stepping Stones with Helen Dean

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Stepping Stones with Helen Dean, 241 Lower Heidelberg Road, Melbourne.

Our Mission is to empower young people with the tools and knowledge to face life’s challenges and to assist family, friends and carers with the support required to empower them to engage and best support young people affected by eating disorders.

24/08/2026

Registrations open this Friday!

ARFID Connect is a small, supportive online/in-person group for young people with ARFID.
It’s a chance to meet others who get it, feel less alone, and build confidence around food, sensory challenges, anxiety and everyday life with ARFID.

AUSTRALIA / MELBOURNE
Saturdays | 3:00–4:00pm AEDT
📅 10 October
📅 17 October
📅 24 October
📅 31 October
📅 7 November
📍 Melbourne – in person
💻 Online option also available

UNITED KINGDOM
Sundays | 9:00–10:00am UK time
📅 11 October
📅 18 October
📅 25 October
📅 1 November
📅 8 November
💻 Online via Zoom
The UK session will remain at 9–10am UK time throughout the program, including when the clocks change.

USA & CANADA
Wednesdays – afternoon/evening North American time
(Thursday mornings in Melbourne)
📅 7 October
📅 14 October
📅 21 October
📅 28 October
📅 4 November
For the first four sessions:
Eastern: 6:00–7:00pm
Central: 5:00–6:00pm
Mountain: 4:00–5:00pm
Pacific: 3:00–4:00pm
💻 Online via Zoom

Choose the group that works for you
✨ 5 weekly sessions
✨ Small, supportive groups
✨ Neurodiversity-affirming
✨ A space to connect with others who understand ARFID
✨ Practical support without pressure

13/08/2026

ARFID can feel pretty lonely. This group is about making it feel a little less so.
Registrations are now open.
See below for details of how to register.
email: [email protected]

05/08/2026

“I just wish I knew someone else with ARFID.”

I’ve heard versions of this from several young people recently and it has stayed with me.

ARFID can affect so much more than food. Eating out, school camps, sleepovers, friendships and simply having to explain why eating feels different can become exhausting.

So I’m exploring interest in ARFID Connect, a small, professionally facilitated group for young people aged around 12–18 who experience ARFID.

This wouldn’t be a food exposure group or a place where anyone is expected to “try something new”. The idea is much simpler: a safe, relaxed space to meet other young people who get it, share experiences and perhaps feel a little less alone.

At this stage, I’m simply seeking expressions of interest to see whether young people and families would find something like this helpful.

If this sounds like something your young person may be interested in, please get in touch. There’s no commitment at this stage.
email: [email protected]

29/07/2026

NEW SERIES: Stories from the Clinic – What Is Really Going On?

After 25 years of working with children, teenagers and families, I've learnt that what we see on the surface is rarely the whole story.

A lunchbox that comes home full.
A child who says they're "not hungry."
A teenager who suddenly wants everything to be perfect.

These moments often leave parents feeling confused, worried or wondering if they're overreacting.

I've created a new series called Stories from the Clinic, where I share fictionalised stories inspired by common situations I've seen throughout my career. Every story has been changed to protect privacy, but each reflects experiences that many families will recognise.

These aren't just stories about food. They're about understanding what might really be going on beneath the surface and why curiosity can be far more powerful than assumptions.
email: [email protected]

23/07/2026

Is your child or teenager struggling with eating, nutrition or growth?

Eating doesn't have to be a battle.
Whether your child is a fussy eater, has a poor appetite, struggles with constipation, needs help with healthy growth, follows a vegetarian diet, or you're simply wondering if they're getting the nutrition they need. I'm here to help!

As a Dietitian and Registered Counsellor with over 25 years of experience working with children, teens and families, I provide practical, evidence-based nutrition advice that fits real family life.

Together we can work towards:
✨ Less stress around food
✨ Better nutrition for growth and development
✨ More confidence at mealtimes
✨ Strategies that are realistic and sustainable

Appointments available in Ivanhoe East and via Telehealth.

If you've been wondering whether it's time to seek support, this might be your sign.

email: [email protected]

08/07/2026

Weight gain is not the same as recovery.

One of the biggest misconceptions about eating disorders is that once someone has gained weight, they're "better."

But recovery is so much more than what the scales say.

Weight restoration is often just the beginning. Behind the scenes, many people are still battling overwhelming fear, guilt, grief, body image distress and the relentless eating disorder voice.

Recovery isn't measured by a number.
It's measured by the courage to keep choosing recovery—meal after meal, day after day.

If someone you care about is recovering, remember:
✨ Don't assume they're okay because they look different.
✨ Avoid commenting on weight or appearance.
✨ Keep showing up with compassion, patience and support.

Sometimes the hardest part of recovery begins when the outside looks "better."

If this resonates with you or someone you love, know that you don't have to navigate recovery alone. Support is available, and healing is possible.

email: [email protected]

01/07/2026

Eating disorders are surrounded by myths and those myths can delay people getting the support they deserve.
This new Myth vs Fact series breaks down some of the most common misconceptions I hear in clinic every week.
From ARFID and ADHD to anorexia, binge eating and body image concerns, understanding the facts helps reduce stigma and encourages earlier support.
Don't rely on social media alone. If you have concerns about eating, food, body image or ARFID, speak with a clinician experienced in eating disorders for an individual assessment.
email: [email protected]

30/06/2026

Supporting your child through an eating disorder is incredibly hard.

If you've experienced an eating disorder yourself, it can be even more complex.

Watching your child struggle may bring back memories, thoughts or fears you believed were long behind you. You might find yourself feeling overwhelmed at mealtimes, anxious, guilty or unsure how to support your child while also protecting your own recovery.

This new 4-week online support group has been created specifically for parents and carers in this position.

Together we'll explore practical strategies for navigating mealtimes, managing triggers, setting healthy boundaries and caring for yourself while continuing to support your child.

💛 Small group (6–10 parents)
💛 Clinician-led
💛 Online
💛 Starts 22nd July

Places are limited, so early registration is encouraged.
email: [email protected]

29/06/2026

What makes my approach different?
Recovery isn't about being the "perfect" patient.
It's not about following a meal plan perfectly, eating all the "right" foods, or never struggling again.
My role isn't simply to tell you what to eat.
It's to understand why eating has become so difficult, help you feel safe enough to make changes, and support you through every step of recovery.
As both a dietitian and registered counsellor, I work with both the nutrition and the emotional side of recovery, because lasting change comes from feeling understood, not judged.
Whether you're living with an eating disorder (anorexia; ARFID, binge eating); ADHD-related eating challenges or body image concerns, my goal is always the same:
To help you reconnect with the person underneath the struggle.
Recovery doesn't have to be perfect.�It just has to keep moving forward.
Helen is currently accepting new clients
email today: [email protected]

17/06/2026

Recovery doesn't begin and end with a number on the scales.
For many people, weight restoration is where the hardest emotional work starts.

Weight gain is often the part people notice.
Recovery is often the part they don't.
Behind weight restoration can be fear, grief, body image distress and an eating disorder voice that feels louder than ever.
Recovery is about so much more than a number on the scales.
email for support: [email protected]

Address

241 Lower Heidelberg Road
Melbourne, VIC
3079

Telephone

+61412855347

Website

https://www.steppingstoneswithhelendean.com/

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