Suffolk Parents and Carers to Get Training in Understanding Eating Disorders

Suffolk-based Wednesday’s Child – a not-for-profit organisation which supports those affected by an eating disorder – is to deliver a rarely available workshop, rooted in the principles of Emotion Focused Family Therapy.

The two-day course is to be led by acclaimed EFFT specialist, Jennifer Danby, who has worked in eating disorder settings for many years and has a unique perspective on how to help families support their loved ones through a recovery journey.

Taking place online, on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 October, the course is open to a limited number of parents or carers, who must live in Suffolk and must be seeking to help an adult with an eating disorder.

The powerful training opportunity has been made possible thanks to Wednesday’s Child receiving funding from Suffolk Community Foundation, as part of their Suffolk Carers Fund.

Debbie Watson, founder of Wednesday’s Child, said: “Families across Suffolk have been doing their best throughout the pandemic to get the right support and treatment for loved ones affected by an eating disorders.

“Adult sufferers in particular have seen lengthy waiting lists as a result of sheer demand, so this course will enable us to ‘upskill’ family members and informal carers in how to provide the best level of support possible – whether or not other interventions are in place.”

Eating disorder referrals have increased dramatically throughout the pandemic, with Wednesday’s Child seeing a doubling of enquiries for therapy and befriending compared to March 2020.

The organisation has a much-expanded breadth of provision since it launched in 2019 and now delivers support from clinical psychologists, family therapists, nutritionists and occupational therapists, alongside a growing Befrienders network and webinars tailored for professionals and other groups.

It also has a number of e-learning courses and a widely followed podcast discussing all aspects of disordered eating and mental health concerns.

Debbie continued: “For any family or carer trying to support an adult with an eating disorder journey, this two-day course is invaluable.

“It will deliver such an insight into the illness, as well as teaching invaluable skills and tactics for managing the various scenarios which come up in the home environment.

“We’re hugely grateful to Suffolk Community Foundation and are very much looking forward to being able to share the expertise of Jennifer with an online audience.”

To apply for a place on the course, or find out more, please email abigail@wednesdayschild.co.uk

For more information about Wednesday’s Child and referring a loved one, contact hello@wednesdayschild.co.uk or visit www.wednesdayschild.co.uk