Irish Eating Disorders Centre

19/11/2025

📚 Is it just a struggle with schoolwork or is there something deeper going on?

If reading, writing, or focus feels like a constant uphill battle, dyslexia might be part of the story.

At the Irish Eating Disorders Centre, we understand that learning differences like dyslexia can impact emotional wellbeing, confidence, and daily life, not just academics.

💡Our team at Lighthouse Psychology offers Educational Assessments that help uncover learning challenges such as dyslexia, so individuals can access the right support and thrive. Whether you're a parent looking for answers or an adult seeking clarity, we’re here to help you take the next step with compassion and expertise.

Book an Educational Assessment today - visit lighthousepsychology.ie or get in touch to learn more.

17/11/2025

“Can I ask my therapist anything?”

Yes, and here’s why asking questions is a right, not a disruption. Therapy is a space for curiosity, clarity, and collaboration. You have every right to ask questions like:
👉 What approach do you use?
👉 How will we work together?
👉 What happens if I don’t feel comfortable?
👉 Can I take a break or change therapist?

Asking questions helps build trust and ensures therapy works for you.
Your therapist is there to support your growth, and that includes helping you understand the process.

💡Follow our Know Your Rights series to learn how to advocate for yourself and get the most out of your sessions.

Got a question you’ve been afraid to ask? Send us a message and we’ll answer it in a future post.

14/11/2025

✨ Your Reminder to Book While This Offer Is Still Available ✨

There’s still time to take advantage of our bundle of 6 counselling sessions for €500 with one of our experienced counsellors. This is a meaningful way to invest in your wellbeing with consistent, compassionate support.

Whether you're navigating a life transition, processing past experiences, or simply seeking space to reflect and grow, this package offers a steady foundation for your therapeutic journey.

📌 Eligibility Criteria
To avail of this offer, you must:
✔️ Be a new client or have not attended therapy with us in 2025
✔️ Book your first session by November 30th, 2025
✔️ Commit to weekly sessions for 6 consecutive weeks
✔️ Mention this post when booking

📍 Sessions are held in a safe, confidential setting, online or in-person, depending on your needs. Let this be the season you prioritise your mental health. 🍂

To book or learn more, visit irisheatingdisorderscentre.ie or send us a message.

13/11/2025

Why OT Alone Often Isn’t Enough in Sensory-Based ARFID

When ARFID occurs alongside an autism diagnosis, the challenges usually come from sensory overload and nervous-system distress, not behaviour.

This is why OT on its own often doesn’t make progress.
If a child’s sensory system doesn’t feel safe, food exposure won’t work.

Children need:
• Sensory profiling
• Nervous-system stabilisation
• Co-regulation
• Gentle, supported steps

OT is important — but it needs to be part of a wider, sensory-informed approach.

12/11/2025

❓Did you know that learning differences like Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, or Dyscalculia can impact mental health and self-esteem at any age?

At the Irish Eating Disorders Centre, we understand the importance of seeing the whole person. That’s why we now offer Educational Assessments for children, teens, and adults. These assessments can help identify underlying learning challenges that may be contributing to emotional distress or disordered eating.

💡 Understanding your learning profile is a powerful step toward healing.

📞 Contact us to learn more or visit irisheatingdisorderscentre.ie

10/11/2025

“Can I sit in on my child’s therapy session?”
Here’s what every parent should know about consent and confidentiality in therapy. When a child or teen comes to therapy, their right to privacy and autonomy matters, and it’s protected by law and ethics.
🔹 Under 18s can often consent to therapy themselves, depending on age and maturity.
🔹 Therapists may share general themes with parents, but not the full content unless the young person agrees.
🔹 If there’s a risk of harm, therapists must act but will aim to involve the young person in that process.

Therapy works best when young people feel safe to speak freely. That safety includes knowing their voice is respected. Supporting your child’s mental health starts with understanding their rights.

Follow our Know Your Rights series to learn more about therapy, consent, and how to empower your family’s wellbeing.

Questions? Drop them in the comments or message us privately.

09/11/2025

When Schools Reward Harm: Body Shaming, Bullying, and Orthorexia

In many areas, schools are failing to address a serious problem: body shaming and its link to bullying and disordered eating. When harmful behaviour is ignored, or even rewarded, students learn that cruelty and control are acceptable.

A recent case in a secondary school in Wexford highlights the danger:
A student, visibly underweight and restricting her food intake, fat-shamed classmates. The affected students sought help from the Irish Eating Disorders Centre (IEDC). Despite being aware of the behaviour, the school awarded the student for excellence in sport.

This sends a dangerous message:
✅ Achievement can excuse cruelty
✅ Self-denial is celebrated over empathy, respect, and recovery

Body shaming is bullying, it attacks self-worth, isolates peers, and leaves lasting psychological scars.

Schools have a duty to:
✔ Intervene early
✔ Involve parents
✔ Work with mental health professionals

Rewarding harmful behaviour rooted in disordered eating is not encouragement, it is neglect disguised as recognition. Education must prioritise safeguarding and compassion over appearances or accolades.

The Wexford case is not unique.

In many areas, unchecked body shaming reinforces illness, bullying, and long-term harm. Parents concerned about their child’s relationship with food, body image, or bullying should seek help. Eating disorder specialists and youth mental health professionals can provide early support and intervention. With timely action, recovery and emotional healing are possible.

07/11/2025

🧠 Therapy isn’t just for when things feel out of control. It’s also for when you’re ready to take control.

Engaging with an eating disorder clinic isn’t only for moments of crisis. It can be a powerful support when:
🟡You're in recovery and want to stay on track
🟡You notice old ED patterns starting to resurface
🟡You’re ready to challenge generational, cultural, or family beliefs around food, body image, and self-worth

At the Irish Eating Disorders Centre, we offer compassionate, evidence-based support for wherever you are on your journey. Therapy can be a space to heal, reflect, and rewrite the story you’ve been told about food and your body.

Explore how therapy can support your recovery and growth. Visit irisheatingdisorderscentre.ie to learn more or reach out today.

04/11/2025

🌟 Meet the Team: Hannah 🌟

We’re delighted to introduce Hannah, our Assistant Psychologist, whose work is grounded in empathy and individuality. With experience supporting neurodivergent children, adolescents, and adults, Hannah brings a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything she does.

🎓 Hannah holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology and a Master’s in Psychology from the University of Limerick. She’s a graduate member of the Psychological Society of Ireland and is passionate about ongoing learning, with aspirations to pursue a Doctorate in the near future.

💡 Her background also includes a QQI Level 5 Special Needs Assisting qualification, which deepened her commitment to inclusive, needs-led care.

Hannah’s favourite film is ‘Good Will Hunting‘ and a quote that sticks with her from the film is “you’ll have bad times, but it’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to”.

Hannah is dedicated to creating a space where every client feels seen, heard, and empowered to reach their full potential. We’re so lucky to have her on our team!

03/11/2025

🧠 What you say in therapy stays in therapy… but what does that really mean?

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of ethical therapy. At Irish Eating Disorders Centre, we take your privacy seriously 🔐

Your therapist won’t share what you say, unless there’s a legal or safety reason to do so. This includes situations like:
🚨Risk of harm to yourself or others
🚨Disclosure of abuse or neglect
🚨Court orders or legal obligations

We’ll always aim to discuss any necessary disclosures with you first, so you're never left in the dark. Your trust matters, and we’re here to protect it.

Want to feel safe opening up in therapy? Follow us for more posts in our Know Your Rights series. Got questions about confidentiality? Drop them in the comments or DM us privately.

31/10/2025

31/10/2025

🎉 We Have a Winner! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who took part in our Halloween competition, your pumpkins were absolutely gourd-geous! 🎃🧡

From painted masterpieces to quirky carvings and imaginative drawings, we were blown away by the talent and creativity shared by our community!

✨ And the winner is the Joker pumpkin! ✨

Have a look at the fabulous entries that we received below 💫

Thanks again for helping us make Halloween fun, inclusive, and inspiring! 🎃🧡