Helping you care for a loved one with an eating disorder
Caring for someone with an eating disorder can feel like an emotional minefield. Whether you are a parent or a carer in any other capacity, it can be overwhelming. I know this because I have been there.

When my loved one was struggling, I honestly found myself paralysed, stuck in the fight-flight-freeze part of my brain — scared, frozen and unsure what I could do or how I could help. Staying calm and rational just seemed impossible, yet this was exactly what I needed to be.
That is when I discovered solution-focused hypnotherapy: despite being a huge sceptic to begin with, this gave me the strength, balance, perspective and tools that I needed to move forward with compassion and purpose. And that is why I retrained in this field — to offer this same support to other parents and carers facing similar situations.
How solution-focused hypnotherapy can help you as a carer
Reducing stress and anxiety: Recharge with deep relaxation
When your loved one is first diagnosed, they may begin receiving care relatively quickly or immediately, in the ideal scenario, but you may unfortunately find yourself faced with a lack of resources and long waiting times for referrals. There is unfortunately huge demand for the services available in this area, and support teams can often be stretched to the limit.
In the meantime, carers often bear the brunt of the emotional toll. I remember the physical effects of this stress all too well: cracking my teeth from holding all that tension unconsciously, having sleepless nights, being unable to concentrate and focus, and always feeling so exhausted. Hypnotherapy provides a space for deep relaxation, helping you ease these symptoms and supporting you to recharge and face the various challenges that may come up.
Restoring balance: Stay calm and centred
The caregiving journey is truly emotionally draining and it can be easy to neglect your own mental and physical well-being. However, to create a calm and supportive environment in your home, which will really help your loved one to progress, you need to restore your balance in your own mind first.
Hypnotherapy can help you stay centred and grounded, supporting you to approach incredibly difficult moments from a calm state of mind, rather than a panicked one. This can really help transform the energy and atmosphere in your home, helping you to be less reactive and making it a more welcoming space for your loved one’s recovery.
Building resilience: Focus on positives and develop coping strategies
The ups and downs of caring for someone with an eating disorder can feel relentless. While not neglecting or disregarding the severity of the situation in any way, solution-focused hypnotherapy teaches you to focus on the positives in your life and the life of your loved one, no matter how small these positives may be and how hard this may seem to begin with.
For those of you who are familiar with or using the New Maudsley method, this is in line with the approach to focus on the “blue balloons”, rather than the “red balloons” of the problem itself, the eating disorder. Over time, this shift in focus helps strengthen your mindset to become more positive, changing the way you look at the situation and giving you and your loved one a more hopeful perspective.
Caring for yourself: Support with strength and compassion
As carers, we often sacrifice our own needs for the sake of others, but I learned the hard way that ignoring your own health — both mental and physical — makes it harder for you to help those you are caring for. Solution-focused hypnotherapy offers you a space to prioritise yourself, build your emotional resilience, and recharge so that you can provide the compassionate, effective care and support that your loved one needs.
Let’s work together to bring more balance and calm to your life
As we have looked at above, caring for someone with an eating disorder can be exhausting on every level. But you do not have to do it alone. Solution-focused hypnotherapy offers a way for you to reconnect with your strength and create a calm, healing environment for your loved one — and yourself.
Together, we can help you feel calmer, stronger and more prepared for this journey with compassion and care.
Support is available through the charity Beat, the Charlie Waller Trust who run amazing courses to help parents and carers, and other great organisations as well. Please do not hesitate to reach out for whatever support you need.
