MB Counselling and Coaching

MB Counselling and Coaching I'm Megan, accredited therapist & clinical supervisor. Specialising in eating disorders, trauma, OCD & neurodivergence.

Follow for free weekly evidence based education & practical strategies for adults, children and parents.
📍Fareham, and UK online.

It’s that time again… time to switch off from work for the weekend 💗I’ve really struggled to get up to my early morning ...
28/08/2026

It’s that time again… time to switch off from work for the weekend 💗

I’ve really struggled to get up to my early morning alarm this week. I’m sure the big run last weekend contributed, but my period also arrived.

And I’m sharing that because nothing is TMI on here, and nothing is TMI for my clients to talk to me about either.

Period health matters. We need to be able to talk openly about it with our daughters, sons, partners and clients.

For some girls and women, periods can mean much more than a few days of bleeding. Fatigue, pain, headaches, nausea, digestive changes, disrupted sleep and significant changes in mood can all have a real impact on everyday life.

Hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle can also affect mental health. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), for example, can cause severe psychological symptoms before a period.

Neurodivergence belongs in this conversation too. Growing research suggests some neurodivergent women experience changes in attention, executive functioning, emotional regulation and overall symptoms across their cycle.

We still have lots to learn. I have even sat with a psychiatrist who wasn’t aware of PMDD or menstrual psychosis. Menstrual psychosis is very rare, but it is a recognised phenomenon linked to the menstrual cycle.

Our hormones, brains and bodies are not separate systems. If your body is asking for more sleep, rest or kindness at certain points of the month, that may be information worth listening to.

Have a lovely weekend 💗 I’ll be back on Tuesday, where we’ll continue exploring Phase 1 of FBT for eating disorders.

This post is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. Please be mindful that sharing personal experiences in comments may affect your confidentiality.

Regular eating means giving your body consistent opportunities for energy across the day 💗These slides are examples of w...
27/08/2026

Regular eating means giving your body consistent opportunities for energy across the day 💗

These slides are examples of what 3 meals and 3 snacks can look like. They’re not a prescription for exact portions, some people will need more food than this, particularly during recovery, growth or periods of higher energy need.

This isn’t only “recovery eating”. For many people, eating regularly across the day like this is simply a normal, balanced and sustainable way to eat.

Over time, increasing variety, flexibility and adequacy matters just as much as the structure itself.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual therapy, assessment or professional support. Please remember that if you are a current or former client, liking, commenting on or sharing my posts may reduce your confidentiality, as these interactions can be visible to others. Please only engage if you are comfortable doing so.

Accommodation in Phase 1 FBT can be incredibly understandable. Parents are often trying to reduce distress, avoid confli...
27/08/2026

Accommodation in Phase 1 FBT can be incredibly understandable. Parents are often trying to reduce distress, avoid conflict, get through the meal, protect siblings, or simply cope when everyone is exhausted.

But accommodation and negotiation can sometimes teach the eating disorder that distress changes the plan.

That might look like reducing portions after protest, swapping a feared food, offering repeated choices, allowing rituals, reassuring again and again, or making deals such as “you can leave this if you eat that.”

The aim is not to remove compassion. It is to keep compassion directed towards your child while staying clear, steady and consistent with the eating disorder.

A recovery-supportive response might sound like:

“I can see this is really hard. I’m staying with you. We’re still keeping the meal the same.”

This is not about blaming parents. It is about noticing patterns that may accidentally strengthen the ED and gradually responding differently.

FBT should be guided by a qualified eating disorder professional.

Educational content only and not a substitute for individual therapy or professional support. Please be mindful that liking, commenting on or sharing mental health content may reduce your confidentiality, as these interactions can be visible to others. Only engage if you feel comfortable doing so.

26/08/2026

Compassion is not the same as accommodation.

One of the hardest parts of Phase 1 FBT is knowing when you’re supporting your child, and when you might accidentally be supporting the eating disorder.

Compassion might sound like:

“I can see how hard this is. I’m staying with you.”

Accommodation is when we change the recovery plan mainly to make the distress stop.

That might mean reducing a portion, swapping a feared food, allowing a ritual, avoiding a difficult meal, or repeatedly reassuring your child about weight or calories.

It makes sense that parents want to reduce distress.

But if the eating disorder learns that distress leads to escape or avoidance, it can become more powerful.

So the aim is to validate the distress without automatically removing the challenge.

You can be warm, calm and connected to your child, while still holding the recovery boundary.

That’s compassionate persistence.

Educational content only and not a substitute for individual therapy or professional support.

Please be mindful that liking, commenting on or sharing mental health content may reduce your confidentiality, as these interactions can be visible to others. Only engage if you feel comfortable doing so.

Phase 1 of FBT can be incredibly difficult for families.Meals may bring fear, anger, tears, fullness, panic, guilt or re...
25/08/2026

Phase 1 of FBT can be incredibly difficult for families.

Meals may bring fear, anger, tears, fullness, panic, guilt or resistance. Those feelings can be very real, but they do not necessarily mean the recovery plan is wrong.

In early recovery, the body and brain are adjusting to more nutrition, fear is being challenged and the eating disorder may become louder as its rules are disrupted.

The aim is not to become harsh or dismissive. It is to stay calm, compassionate and consistent while continuing to support the nutrition your child needs.

This is also where the externalising work from last week can help: separate the child from the illness. Validate your child’s distress, stay connected to them, and hold the eating disorder responsible for the rules and behaviours that are keeping them unwell.

That can mean:
“I can see how hard this feels. I’m with you, and we still need to continue with the meal.”

This is the idea behind compassionate persistence: holding empathy for your child while not handing decisions back to the eating disorder.

FBT should be guided by a qualified eating disorder professional.

Educational content only, not a substitute for individual therapy or professional support.

Please be mindful that liking, commenting on or sharing this post may reduce your confidentiality, as your interaction may be visible to others. Only engage if you feel comfortable doing so.

Beautiful scenes from today's coastal trail run.🏃🏽‍♀️
23/08/2026

Beautiful scenes from today's coastal trail run.
🏃🏽‍♀️

Today I ran the Big Pilgrimage 15 Mile Trail Run 🏃‍♀️🌿The Big Pilgrimage is a 15-mile trail event following part of the ...
23/08/2026

Today I ran the Big Pilgrimage 15 Mile Trail Run 🏃‍♀️🌿

The Big Pilgrimage is a 15-mile trail event following part of the historic Pilgrims’ Trail through the beautiful Hampshire countryside, with a mix of trails, tracks and country paths along the way.

Today wasn’t about pace or chasing a time. We deliberately took it easy, made it a social run and honestly loved every minute of it. 🥰

Lots of chatting, laughing, taking in the scenery and just enjoying being able to run together.

Sometimes running can be about goals, PBs and training plans… and sometimes it can simply be about getting outside, moving your body and having fun.

Today was definitely the latter ❤️

Such a lovely event and such a good reminder of why I enjoy running in the first place.

It’s that time again, time to pause all the work and business for the weekend.This weekend I’m spending time with my fam...
21/08/2026

It’s that time again, time to pause all the work and business for the weekend.

This weekend I’m spending time with my family, and then on Sunday I’m running The Big Pilgrimage. I’m really looking forward to it. This one is going to be a completely no-pressure, social run with the club/gym where I strength train.

After a busy week, I’m very ready for a bit of a reset.

A little reminder for anyone else who needs it too: your weekend doesn’t have to be productive. You don’t have to use every spare hour to catch up, get ahead, train harder or tick things off a list.

Make some space for things that are simply enjoyable.

See people you like. Get outside. Move your body if that feels good. Rest if that’s what you need. Eat something you enjoy. Laugh. Switch off from work for a while.

Fun matters too.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend and manages to find a bit of balance between rest, movement and actually enjoying themselves. ❤️

20/08/2026

President Professor Subodh Dave comments on a new documentary about ADHD.

Early change in FBT matters.Research suggests that, for young people with anorexia nervosa, gaining around 2.4 kg (6 lb)...
20/08/2026

Early change in FBT matters.

Research suggests that, for young people with anorexia nervosa, gaining around 2.4 kg (6 lb) during the first four weeks of FBT is associated with a much greater likelihood of full recovery.

For bulimia nervosa, early reductions in binge eating and purging are also linked with better outcomes.

This is one of the reasons Phase 1 of FBT can feel so intensive. The emphasis is on acting early and decisively: increasing nutrition, supporting weight restoration where needed, interrupting eating-disorder behaviours and helping parents take back responsibility from the eating disorder.

It isn’t about expecting recovery to happen in four weeks. It’s about recognising that early progress matters.

Educational content only and not a substitute for individual therapy or professional support. Please be mindful that liking, commenting on or sharing mental health content may reduce your confidentiality, as these interactions can be visible to others.

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