Our Services
Here at First Steps ED some of our services for adults and children are funded, others do require a fee.
To learn more about the services we provide or to find out which are funded in your area, please contact us at info@firststepsed.co.uk. Your journey to recovery is our priority, and we are here to help every step of the way.
A safe, non-judgmental and understanding space to give you the time and freedom to talk. Our counsellors and psychotherapists provide 1:1 therapy to individuals aged 16 and above with eating disorders. All counsellors at First Steps are highly trained and experienced in different counselling techniques. All our counsellors have been thoroughly trained and are knowledgeable about eating disorders, and how to integrate the treatment of eating disorders into a holistic approach that considers both the mental and physical aspects of recovery. Read more here.
Our Private Practice is here to help you address your unique eating disorder recovery goals through counselling and psychotherapy.
Guided by you, we’ll agree on a session plan and you’ll be invited to attend regular sessions with the aim for you to be in control of your recovery journey and make progress towards your unique goals. What is great is the team is available both during the day and most evenings to ensure we are here to provide you with the right amount of support without interfering with your daily life. Click here to learn more.
Befriending is our multi-award-winning 6-to-9-month weekly support programme, recognised by NHS England’s National Integrated Personal Commissioning Team. We match a service user with one of our highly trained and supervised befrienders who volunteer to provide ongoing support throughout the contract.
The service is offered in a range of formats including, email up to twice a week and video clinic/telephone calls up to once a week. Befriending can provide flexibility and a level of anonymity, giving you control of your own recovery. Learn more about our befriending service here.
Each of our groups offer a safe and secure space for service users to share their own experiences and engage with others who might be in a similar situation. First Steps ED workshops are essential and can be a lifeline for those in recovery. Participation will give attendees new skills, information and insight to help them identify triggers and establish new strategies and coping mechanisms. Learn More Here.
We offer Nutritional Therapy with our in-house Accredited Nutritional Therapists working alongside your care team, our nutritionists can offer the support you might need during and after recovery. As part of your multi-disciplinary team they can aid eating disorder recovery by helping you restore a healthy relationship with food.
Our Nutritionists and Psychotherapists work with common eating disorders including Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN), Binge Eating Disorder (BED),
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OFSED), Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Diabulimia (T1DE), and Orthorxia (excessive preoccupation with eating healthy food). Read more here.
First Steps ED delivers specialist eating disorders support for students (EDISS) to commissioned universities in the UK. The service offers a specialised and person-centred approach to eating disorders within the academic environment. EDISS allows students to find the right support channel for them, with the flexibility to trial our services and change frequently, and find something which works around their schedule. Read more here.
Caring for Carers
Caring for a loved one with an eating disorder, diagnosed or not, can be overwhelming. It is common for families to feel that their new ‘carer’ role is impacting their own mental and physical health which is why First Steps ED feel our carers support pathway is an important offer within our service.
As well as a number of services available to you, we also have a range of resources and blog available as further reading and guidance. These are open access, and those in a carer role are welcome (and encouraged!) to contribute their own stories and experiences on our blog platform with the hope to shine a light on the importance of carers as a key part of a loved ones recovery
Any donation, no matter how small, helps us to continue supporting those affected by eating difficulties and disorders.
£10 per month
Can contribute to an individual accessing our online befriending service. We are passionate about keeping our befriending service free and accessible to all, which is why your donation is so important! With either a monthly or one-off donation, you can help sponsor this service!
You can learn more about why we love this service here.
£45
Can pay for an individual to access a 1 hour support session with a trained therapist.
£100
Funds an individual to attend our four-week workshops, designed to offer new skills, information, strategies and coping mechanisms for recovery.
Not quite ready? Check out our blog for inspiration and motivation.
We are passionate about our creating a community which is understanding and non-judgmental, believing that support and guidance should be available for anyone affected by eating difficulties and disorders. It can take time to reach out for support and finding the confidence to speak to someone.
Our blog is here for whenever you need it. Here you’ll find First Steps ED updates, as well as stories and features from our community.
Important: Please note that First Steps ED services are for people with mild to moderate eating disorder and comorbid mental health issues. We do not provide a crisis or emergency service. Following support from a crisis team, we require 12 weeks from your discharge date before making a referral into our services unless a professional referral is made by Integrated Community Services (ICS). If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency, please visit the NHS website, contact your GP or for immediate assistance call 999.
You can make a referral now.
Referrals can either be made by yourself, by a parent/carer, or professional. After making a referral, we aim to make contact within 10 workings days.
Private practice bookings are £45. All bookings are made in the strictest confidence and available to anyone (over the age of 16) who is currently impacted by any eating disorder, or symptoms of an eating disorder, including an individual sufferer, family member or carer. If you are referring into our private counselling service please let us know in the form.
