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Useful links |
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 The following is a selective list of NZ websites, chosen because they both provide good information of their own, and also have an excellent and detailed list of links to:
- further sources of information
- treatment places in Aotearoa New Zealand, and organisations who can refer to specialist practitioners.
Eating Disorders Association NZ (EDANZ) was established by parents of people with eating disorders in New Zealand. Its aims are to provide support, information and help to families that have a member with an eating disorder; to change the way people think and talk about eating disorders; and to advocate for increased resources and better services for people with eating disorders and their families.
Central Region Eating Disorder Services (CREDS) is a community-based organisation operated by the Hutt Valley District Health Board. It provides specialist services to people with eating disorders in the Greater Wellington area, from training and nutritional counselling through to residential care.
Eating Difficulties Education Network (EDEN) is a non-profit community agency whose purpose is to promote body trust and satisfaction, size acceptance and diversity on an individual and societal level. |
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How can Freedom with Food help me? |
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 If your planned destination is freedom with food and feeling good about your body, there are a number of possible routes you can take.
One route is to have a series of confidential appointments at Freedom with Food. These appointments will be about helping you make changes in how you deal with food and in how you think and feel about your body. At these appointments you can also address other issues which are important to you.
Appointments at Freedom with Food provides the opportunity for a guided discussion about the following questions, and help in finding answers and solutions that work for you.
- Regarding food, eating and your body, what is it about the current situation that you would like to be different?
- How would you like things to be? Does your vision involve a greater peace, satisfaction and freedom than you currently have?-- freedom to enjoy food without fearing its effects, freedom to stop eating when your body has had enough, freedom from thinking so much about food, freedom to enjoy your body?
- How can you get from how things are now to how you want them to be? What changes may need to be made, and what are the different ways you can go about making these changes? What difficulties may you encounter on the way? Which way of dealing with these difficulties would work best for you? How can you maintain changes you have made so that they become a natural part of your life?
The appointments can draw on techniques from...
- counselling and other talking therapies
- creative processes (like visualisations)
- cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- life coaching
- meditation
- and more
...but because you are unique, the process would be adapted to fit what suits you.
Appointments are usually at weekly intervals (other intervals can be negotiated where appropriate). They are usually 50 - 60 minutes long (a different session length can be negotiated where appropriate). Appointments take place at the Natural Health Centre in central Wellington http://www.nhc.co.nz and at Skin Body & Soul in Johnsonville.
If you are interested in finding out more, you can arrange a initial meeting of about half an hour. This meeting is FREE of charge, and is available to help you decide if appointments at Freedom with Food would be right for you. |
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What can I do? |
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 The feelings and the fears which accompany eating and body image issues can make it very difficult to take the first step of seeking help. But on the journey towards freedom with food, it can make all the difference to have a guide who knows the territory and who can support and show you the way through challenging terrain.
Here are a few possible sources of guides for your journey:
- Ask your doctor what specialist help is available in your area and apply to be on their waiting list
- Book a trial session with a specialist practitioner (for example a counsellor, psychotherapist, life coach, dietician or nutritionist with experience in and knowledge of these issues). The style and approach of practitioners varies widely so it’s worth checking out more than one. Freedom with Food offers a free initial meeting so that you can decide: is this approach right for me?
- Find organisations offering help, information or support in your area. In particular, find out if there are any self-help eating issues groups in your area. The style and approach of groups varies widely, so if one doesn’t suit you another might. If there isn’t a group near you, you could consider setting up your own support group so that you can meet regularly with others who are working towards freedom with food. NZS.com — New Zealand Web Directory and Search Engine-- has a list of support groups (including self-help groups) which is updated daily.
- Look at the online self-help available, or investigate several self-help books in a library or at a good bookshop to find one that suits you. You can work through a self-help book by yourself or with the support someone you trust, or you can use one as part of your work with a practitioner. Here are some initial suggestions:
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- The Anorexia Workbook, by Michelle Heffner and Georg H Eifert (2004) Harbinger, USA
- Anorexia Nervosa: a survival guide for families, friends and sufferers, by Janet Treasure (1997) Brunner Routledge, UK; reprinted 2003 Brunner Routledge, UK and USA
- Getting Better Bit(e) by Bit(e): a survival kit for sufferers of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorders by Ulrike Schmidt and Janet Treasure (1993) Psychology Press, UK
- The Body Image Workbook: an 8 step programme for learning to like your looks, by Thomas F Cash (2008), Harbinger USA
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