Eating Disorders & Psychology Treatment

28/03/2026

19/03/2026

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) also known as Persistent Drive for Autonomy, can look very different in clinical practice.

Drawing on clinical and lived experience and current practice frameworks, this session offers an overview of the PDA profile within Autism, supporting psychologists to develop a nuanced understanding of PDA-informed assessment, formulation, and therapeutic support.

Designed for psychologists working with Autistic children, adolescents, and adults across clinical, educational, and community settings.

Register for the session here: https://ow.ly/8qtE50YcC0U

17/03/2026

Day 4 - Final Reflection ✨⛰️🥾

Today’s walk felt expansive — both in landscape and within myself. Moving through the mountain trail, watching the scenery shift with every step, I felt a deep sense of contentment and clarity.

I kept coming back to something simple, yet so powerful: healing is not just something we talk about — it’s something we experience.

Mindfulness. Gentle movement. Nature. Human connection.
These aren’t just “nice ideas” we mention in therapy — they are essential, lived experiences that reconnect us with our bodies, with others, and with life itself.

And yet, I also hold the reality that accessing these in recovery can feel incredibly hard. When you’re struggling, slowing down can feel unsafe. Being present can feel overwhelming. Connection can feel out of reach.

That’s why this work matters so deeply to me.

As an eating disorder psychologist, experiences like this don’t just inspire me — they ground me in why I do what I do. I feel even more committed to walking alongside those navigating recovery, helping them gently reconnect with these elements in ways that feel safe, supported, and sustainable.

This journey — both the trek and the fundraising for Eating Disorders Victoria — has been incredibly meaningful. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by such passionate, brave, and generous people.

Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, or supported this cause 🤍
If you feel called to contribute, the link is in bio.

17/03/2026

A great first day of the Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) Autumn Workshop Series, bringing together diverse perspectives to explore person-centred care in binge eating disorder (BED).

We opened with an engaging presentation from Chevese Turner, exploring key clinical and conceptual considerations including subjective and objective binges, shame vs guilt, the role of restriction, weight stigma, and how biomedical and fat liberation perspectives can both inform our understanding of BED.

Throughout the day we also heard presentations from Phillipa Hay, Milan Piya, Carmel Harrison and Kristi Griffiths, exploring the complexity of BED including diagnosis, co-occurrence, neurobiology, the physical and medical impacts of BED, and current approaches to treatment.

These perspectives were then brought together in an interactive panel discussion on formulation and treatment planning, chaired by NEDC’s Director, Dr Sarah Trobe, exploring questions such as:

• How do we create formulations that consider the whole person?
• How do we sequence treatment targets?
• How do we meaningfully integrate lived experience, clinical and academic expertise?
• How do we consider physical and mental health together?

If you weren’t able to join live, registrations are still open. You can still register to receive recordings from the opening sessions and join upcoming workshops over the next two weeks via this link: https://www.anzaed.org.au/Web/Events/Event_Display-Speaker-Program-Bio.aspx?EventKey=AWS2026

💭 It’s shaping up to be a thoughtful and rich series of discussions.

16/03/2026

Day 3 reflection 🌊🥾

Today I realised that the biggest challenge of this trek for me hasn’t actually been the walking.

Physically, the trek has felt relatively easy. I’m really grateful for a body that allows me to keep moving through such a beautiful landscape. But the real challenge for me has been something else — connecting with people.

When I signed up for this journey, I knew I would be stepping outside my comfort zone socially. Spending several days with people I didn’t know felt far more intimidating than the physical challenge.

As a neurodivergent person, social interactions and building connections can sometimes be the hardest part for me. My mind often retreats inward rather than outward.

But today something shifted.

Day 3 felt less about the walking and more about gently getting out of my head and allowing myself to be present with others. I realised that being surrounded by strangers isn’t always as scary as it can feel.

In fact, I found myself genuinely enjoying it.

We’re all here because we care about the same cause. And today I felt really grateful to be surrounded by such kind and accepting people.

Connecting with nature and mindful movement came naturally to me on this trek — but connecting with others was the part I struggled with most.

Today I felt a little more open to that, and that feels like a really meaningful part of this journey.

I’m walking this trek to support Eating Disorders Victoria, helping provide support, education and resources for people and families affected by eating disorders. If you would like to support this cause, donations are still open and every contribution makes a difference. 🤍

15/03/2026

Day 2 of the Bay of Fires Trek 🥾🌊

Today invited me to slow down.

Not because I wanted to, but because I needed to.

It made me realise how deeply wired I am for rushing, striving, achieving, and always moving towards the next thing. That inner restlessness can feel so familiar that I barely notice how much it pulls me away from the present moment.

Today, I noticed it.

I noticed how hard it can be to let go. How much conscious effort it takes to soften, to stop pushing, and to simply be here — with the sound of the ocean, the breeze on my skin, and the steady rhythm of each step.

And in that slowing down, something shifted.

I could see the beauty around me more clearly. I could feel the world differently. A world that can often seem harsh, artificial, or dangerous also holds so much peace, wonder, and quiet healing.

I feel incredibly grateful to be walking these beautiful landscapes with a group of passionate people, all here to support such an important cause.

This trek is part of a fundraiser for Eating Disorders Victoria, supporting people and families affected by eating disorders.

Thank you so much to everyone who has already supported this journey — your generosity truly means a lot. 🤍

If you’d still like to contribute, there is still time to support this cause. Every donation helps.

👉 https://eating-disorders-foundation-of-victoria-inc.grassrootz.com/edv-bayoffires-2025/venessa-nadolnik

14/03/2026

Day 1 of the Bay of Fires Trek ✔️

Today’s walk gave me a lot of time to reflect.

I felt a deep appreciation for this body that allows me to move forward — step by step — through such a beautiful part of the world. Even when there is pain or discomfort, the ability to walk, to keep going, to explore… that is freedom.

It reminded me how powerful our bodies are when we allow them to do what they were designed for: move, adapt, carry us through challenges.

Another thing that stayed with me today was the power of mindset. Long walks, changing terrain, tired legs — it’s amazing how much our thoughts shape the experience.

And perhaps the most special part of today was sharing this journey with a group of people who all showed up here for the same reason: to support an important cause and raise awareness for eating disorders.

Grateful for every step today.

If anyone would still like to support this cause, there’s still time to donate and help make a difference. Every contribution truly means a lot 🤍

🔗 Link in bio or below:
👉https://eating-disorders-foundation-of-victoria-inc.grassrootz.com/edv-bayoffires-2025/venessa-nadolnik

✨Supporting Eating Disorders Victoria
🥾 Bay of Fires Trek
🌊 40km over 4 days

07/03/2026

From rural to coastal — in one week.

This morning started with an early walk as the sun slowly rose over the landscape. A quiet moment to breathe, move, and connect with nature before the day begins.

Preparing for the Bay of Fires Trek has reminded me how powerful it is to slow down and surround ourselves with nature. To start the day by welcoming the sunrise, letting the body wake up gently with each step, and remembering how important movement and the outdoors are for our wellbeing.

In just a short time, I’ll be walking along Tasmania’s coastline to raise funds for Eating Disorders Victoria, supporting people and families affected by eating disorders across our community.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has already donated and supported this fundraiser — your generosity truly means a lot. 🤍

If you’ve been thinking about contributing, there’s still time to help me reach my goal. Every donation, big or small, helps support vital services and advocacy.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

🔗 Donate via the link in my bio / fundraising page

https://eating-disorders-foundation-of-victoria-inc.grassrootz.com/edv-bayoffires-2026/venessa-nadolnik

06/03/2026

Many feeding challenges in children are often described as “picky eating.”
But sometimes the picture is more complex.

Two terms that are increasingly discussed in this space are ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and Paediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD).

While they can look similar on the surface, they come from different diagnostic frameworks.

ARFID is an eating disorder where food restriction is driven by factors such as sensory sensitivities, fear of choking or vomiting, or low interest in eating — not body image concerns.

PFD is a medical diagnosis describing impaired oral intake that may involve difficulties across medical, nutritional, feeding skill, or psychosocial domains.

In practice, these presentations can sometimes overlap, particularly in children with complex medical histories, sensory sensitivities, or neurodivergent profiles.

Understanding the underlying drivers behind food avoidance is essential, as it guides the type of support and intervention that may be most helpful.

Early assessment and multidisciplinary support can make a meaningful difference for individuals and families navigating feeding challenges.