I worked as a therapist in an NHS adult eating disorder service on and off between house moves, babies and life between 2004 and 2023. Working in the NHS had never been my strategic career plan.

At 23 years old, I knew that I wanted to work in eating disorders, but the chaos of my early twenties meant that I was running on ideas and dreams, rather than having any concrete plan. Initially, my decision to train as a therapist came from my own wounded healer abandonment issues and wanting to save others.

This wounded place was a helpful starting point and initiation for change. It gave me purpose and hope as I floundered in the choppy waters of life, but feeling reassured by the distant lighthouse shining its beacon out to sea.

I began my therapist training aged 25, with vigorous youthful enthusiasm and joy. 4 years later and working in Student Support at my local university, I fell upon a job advert for an eating disorder therapist.

It was a new service coming to my city and embedded deeply in a psychological approach to treatment. I decided to apply, even though officially, I was an unsuitable candidate for the role. Miraculously, I was offered the job and the incredible mentors who interviewed me back in 2004, continue to be in my life today.

And it opened me up to a whole wealth of experience and learning for the next 19 years.

This episode explores 9 things I learned on this journey.

Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Eating disorders are on the rise.

The onset of the pandemic accelerated this already increasing trend.

In 2022, the Royal College of Psychiatrists reported that hospital admissions for eating disorders increased by 84% in the last five years.

During the pandemic, BEAT (National Eating Disorders Association, UK) saw an 81% increase in contact across all Helpline channels. This included a 162% rise in social media contact and a 139% surge in online group attendance.

Although the incidence of eating disorders has been ever increasing over the past few decades, why the explosion of diagnoses now?

In this episode, I explore four reasons why. I hope that you find it helpful.

Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Today, I’m talking to Becky Grace Irwing, a BABCP Accredited CBT & EMDR qualified Therapist and qualified Mental Health Nurse. Becky spent 8 years as a Mental Health Nurse and 3 years as a CBT Therapist. She has worked across many mental health services for 14 years including acute, forensic and CAMHS services as well as University Mental Health and Disability Services and a London talking therapies service. She has a background history as a Fitness and Yoga Instructor of 10 years, and has worked in the fitness industry from the age of 17 to 35.

Becky specialises in Eating Disorders, Neurodiversity and complex trauma issues and the link between these. She has a lived experience of binge eating for nearly 30 years, and has been recovered for 7 years. Becky has ADHD and is self-diagnosed with Autism.

Becky describes herself as a dog Mum of two sausage dogs, a human first, and she likes to knit and is sustainability conscious.

In the episode today, Becky talks about her own recovery journey focusing particularly around eating difficulties and the interplay with neurodivergence. She then goes on to talk about why neurodivergent humans can be particularly vulnerable to developing eating disorders. She talks about eating disorders as coping strategies and explores in more depth the issues that often present in therapy when someone has ADHD or autism.

It's a really interesting episode. Becky has a wealth of information to share. I hope that you enjoy it.

To find out more about Becky: -

Instagram: @beckygracetherapy

Website: - www.beckygracetherapy.co.uk

FB and LinkedIn: Becky Grace Irwing

Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html