Category: Uncategorised

advocacy The importance of reframing ‘terminal anorexia nervosa’ as end-of-life care

The importance of reframing ‘terminal anorexia nervosa’ as end-of-life care

by

Whether or not to define ‘terminal anorexia nervosa’ is being vigorously debated in the eating disorders field. In an article published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, August 25, 2023 edition, Andrea Phillipou writes: Although I disagree with the terminology of ‘terminal AN’ and believe that establishing criteria has the...

Continue reading
Life Stories Diary Write your story with self-paced memoir mentoring

Write your story with self-paced memoir mentoring

by

Postscript: I apologise if you have received a “Demo!”newsletter  – sigh, I’m  still getting used to the new functionality available on this wonderful new website.  Writing a memoir is rather like running a marathon. Success requires time, dedication, preparation, planning, and perseverance. Between us, I think that holding your own...

Continue reading
Eating Disorders Look, listen and write – there are stories in everyday life

Look, listen and write – there are stories in everyday life

by

Supermarkets are more than a place to purchase groceries. They are also a place to gather stories. And the extra good news is that these stories, which nourish our soul, are free. The stories won’t be found on shelves. They will be found in the aisles, in many shapes and...

Continue reading

Dear Diary, I’m moving to www.lifestoriesdiary.com

Recovering and healing from an eating disorder is an ongoing journey. Like life itself, the process can be as fulfilling and rewarding as we choose to make it. Accordingly, I am delighted to announce the time has come for lifestoriesmentor.com.au, my website ‘home’ for the past six years, to transition...

Continue reading

Our blood counts – 3000 Aussies give blood to help find cure for anorexia nervosa

Blood donations from 3000 Australians and New Zealanders are assisting the journey to find the causes of anorexia nervosa. Well done, Australia and New Zealand! As an ardent supporter of this amazing research led by Professor Cynthia Bulik and her team and was excited today to receive the following letter from leading Australian researcher in...

Continue reading

A conversation on why listening to the patient’s story counts

The patient’s story counts. Growing recognition of this truth, that the narrative has an important role to play in illness recovery, is heartening. This is  particularly so in the field of eating disorders where many mysteries remain. Listening to the patient can provide the researcher, the clinician, the therapist, the...

Continue reading

Workshop on the diary as a therapeutic tool for eating disorders

A memorable ‘double premiere’ occurred in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday…the young, highly motivated team at the Centre for Integrative Health held their first workshop and I was honoured to be the presenter, with The Diary Healer as the focus. Thank you, Dr Kiera Buchanan, Kate Pollard, Marita Cooper and Alanah Robinson...

Continue reading

Journaling your way to self-renewal

The Pages Beckoned: Write! Jenni Schaefer lights up my world with her love of writing, and passion for helping others to embrace a full life. Using Writing as a Therapy for Eating Disorders _ The Diary Healer contains many pearls of wisdom from Jenni and other diarists who have used their...

Continue reading

Did my recovery experience have to be so tortuous? Could the diary help?

Did my recovery experience have to be so tortuous? Could the diary have provided a more pro-active role in healing? I wanted to find out.
 Above all, the catalyst for my book The Diary Healer was a desire to explore and reveal the potential of diary writing as a therapeutic tool in self-renewal...

Continue reading

An Enduring Relationship: the Patient and the Therapist Who Does Not Give Up

I was thirty-two, suicidal, and trapped in a self-destruction spiral when I met the psychiatrist who would save my life. I had developed anorexia nervosa at age eleven and the illness was embedded in my brain. ‘Prof’, as I called him, won my trust, saved my life. My therapy had...

Continue reading