This service helps people to overcome a range of different eating disorders, as well as supporting their families and carers. We support people of all ages from across Dorset.
We help people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder and use a stepped care approach. This means treatment is shaped around individual needs, experiences and physical health.
Most treatment takes place on an outpatient basis, meaning people must attend appointments and return home the same day. Some people need day patient and/or inpatient care if more support is needed.
Physical health checks are a key part of our service. These help our multi‑disciplinary team (a team of different health professionals) to provide safe and effective care.
To get the best support, it is important that people are ready to engage with treatment, able to attend appointments and willing to take part in physical health checks.
Support for young people
After an assessment, young people and their families are offered treatment that is evidenced-based and best practice. This includes our multi-family treatment programme and other family focused therapies.
Support for adults
After assessment, adults are offered one of three treatment pathways. Each pathway uses evidenced based therapies that are proven to help people with eating disorders.
These include group treatments like MANTRA, cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED) or interpersonal therapies, which focus on relationships and emotional wellbeing. Alongside these treatments, we also offer family therapy, specialist dietetics support and work that focuses on quality of life and daily living.
Key information about this service
If you are struggling with an eating-related problem which is affecting your health, you can access this service by contacting your GP. Referrals to the service can also be made by any health or social care professional.
We also accept self-referral and parental referral.
Trinity Court
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Parking: Yes
Disabled access: Yes
No matter what our age, our wellbeing is important to our health.
When we consider our wellbeing to be the state that we are comfortable, healthy or happy, then we can explore areas that impact on this.
Watch these videos for more information.
Our community eating disorder service is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, excluding bank holidays. Outside of these hours, if you or your loved one are in a crisis and need support, please use the contacts below in the first instance.
For physical health concerns: dial 111 for urgent NHS medical advice. NHS111 is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
For mental health concerns: dial Connections: 0800 6520190 - Connections is a round the clock helpline for Dorset resident or visitors in mental health crisis. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Access Mental Health - supporting you in a crisis: if you are struggling to cope or feel yourself nearing a breakdown, Access Mental Health is here to provide help. Designed in partnership with local people, it offers a range of services which provide support at times and places when people need it the most. Check out our website page for more information on our drop-in face-to-face or virtual support.
Families and carers play a very important role in recovery. Carers need to be able to receive the right type of support both emotionally and financially. Please use the following links to meet your needs.
Workshops and drop in sessions:
Charlie Waller is a mental health charity which is currently providing Eating disorder workshops for parents and carers: Eating disorder workshops for parents and carers.
These workshops are based on the New Maudsley Approach and aim to reduce anxiety and stress for carers, give communication tools, develop skills and techniques to improve self-esteem and help carers support their loved one through change.
We run our own carers skills drop in and workshops at different times throughout the year. These workshops use evidence-based research, offer practical skills and useful tips, provide a safe space to share ideas and experiences.
They are led by experienced eating disorder clinicians in a supportive environment.
Please contact us via email (dhc.