Eating Disorders & ARFID Support
Food should nourish, not frighten. Whether you're navigating an eating disorder yourself or supporting someone you love — you don't have to do this alone. Compassionate, responsible support in Swindon, Cirencester, and across Wiltshire.
Eating Disorders — Not Always Visible, Always Painful
Around 1.6 million people in the UK are diagnosed with an eating disorder — and experts believe the true figure could be as high as 4 million, because so many go unrecognised and untreated.
Crucially, eating disorders are not always visible. You cannot tell by looking at someone whether they are struggling. They affect people of all body sizes, ages, and backgrounds — and they are rarely just about food.
Common Eating Disorders — Signs to Look For
Anorexia Nervosa
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Distorted body image — seeing yourself differently to how others see you
- Severe restriction of food intake
- Low body weight
- Absence of menstruation (amenorrhoea) in those affected
Bulimia Nervosa
- Episodes of binge eating — eating large amounts in a short space of time
- Purging behaviours — vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise to compensate
- Body weight often stays within or near the normal range
- Preoccupation with food, weight, and body shape
- Shame and secrecy around eating
Binge Eating Disorder
- Recurrent binge eating without compensatory purging
- Feeling completely out of control during episodes
- Eating much more quickly than usual
- Eating large amounts even when not physically hungry
- Distress, shame, or guilt afterwards
How Support Can Help — Changing the Relationship with Food
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy are extremely effective at addressing the underlying anxiety, low self‑esteem, and emotional patterns that fuel difficult relationships with food. They can help with:
- ✅ Reducing anxiety around meals and food choices
- ✅ Building genuine confidence and self‑worth beyond appearance
- ✅ Improving body image — seeing yourself with kindness
- ✅ Developing healthier coping strategies for difficult feelings
- ✅ Creating calm around eating — one meal at a time
Recovery is possible — and every step forward matters.
ARFID — Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
ARFID is a distinct condition where eating is limited not by body image concerns, but by fear, anxiety, or sensory sensitivity around food. It is one of the most complex food‑related presentations — and it requires careful, compassionate, multi‑agency support.
What Causes ARFID?
- Sensory sensitivities — intense reactions to taste, smell, texture, temperature, or appearance
- Anxiety — fear of choking, vomiting, getting sick, or trying something new
- Past experience — food poisoning, choking incident, or negative reaction that created lasting fear
Signs & Symptoms
- Strong avoidance of entire food groups or textures
- Eating very slowly or in very specific ways
- "Brand loyalty" — only eating certain brands or exact versions of foods
- Foods must not touch on the plate
- Disgust or fear response at mealtimes
- Going hungry rather than trying unfamiliar foods
- Weight loss, restricted growth, or nutritional deficiency
- Anxiety and stress focused around eating
Who Is Affected?
ARFID can start early — around ages 2–3 — or appear later, often at secondary school age around 12 years old. It affects children and adults alike. Early recognition and support make a significant difference.
ARFID is the most complex of food‑related disorders and requires intervention from multiple professionals. Hypnotherapy and psychotherapy are not a standalone cure — but they are extremely beneficial in reducing anxiety around food, building confidence, and supporting both the person affected and their parents/carers through the recovery journey. I work alongside your GP and care team to complement their work.
arfidawarenessuk.org ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
No — and it is important to be clear about this.
Eating disorders are serious physical and mental health conditions that require medical oversight from your GP, dietitian, and specialist eating disorder services where appropriate. Hypnotherapy provides valuable complementary support — reducing anxiety, building confidence, addressing underlying emotional patterns — but it works alongside your medical team, not instead of them.
Your physical health always comes first.
Yes — absolutely.
Supporting a child or loved one with ARFID or an eating disorder is incredibly draining. Parents often feel helpless, guilty, or overwhelmed — and those feelings matter too. I can provide separate or joint sessions to help you understand the condition, manage mealtime anxiety, and find ways to support your family without the constant stress.
You cannot pour from an empty cup — your wellbeing matters, too.
It can be hard to tell — and that uncertainty is completely normal. Key differences include:
- Impact — Is it affecting growth, weight, or nutrition?
- Range — Has the variety of foods shrunk over time?
- Emotion — Does seeing or being offered new food cause genuine fear or panic?
- Rigidity — Are rules around brands, presentation, or preparation non‑negotiable?
- Age — Has it persisted well past the typical "fussy eating" stage?
If you're concerned, speak to your GP. It is always better to ask and be reassured than to wait.
Yes — with appropriate safeguards.
I am DBS checked and fully insured. For children, I work closely with parents and, where appropriate, alongside your medical and school support teams. Sessions are adapted to the child's age and understanding — and parental involvement is always part of the process.
For children with ARFID, my role is to support the emotional side of recovery — never to replace medical or nutritional care.
Yes — and I will encourage you to involve your GP.
We can have an initial conversation to understand what you're experiencing and how I might be able to support you. However, before beginning regular sessions, I will ask that you have seen your GP so they are aware and can provide any necessary medical oversight. This is to keep you safe — not to create barriers.
If you're struggling to get the support you need from your GP, I can help you think about how to advocate for yourself or your family member.
It's a chance to talk through what's happening — with absolutely no obligation:
- ✅ Share your experience — in your own words, at your own pace
- ✅ Explain how I work and where hypnotherapy can help
- ✅ Be clear about what I cannot do — medical or nutritional treatment
- ✅ Discuss how we'd work alongside your GP/support team
- ✅ Answer any questions — big or small
- ✅ Decide what happens next — or take more time to think
Everything shared is confidential — and there is never pressure to commit.
Reach Out Today
Every journey begins with one brave step. I'm here to listen — and to help where I can.