EmpowerED Parents Workshop
A workshop to empower and support parents in beginning their child’s eating disorder/disordered eating recovery.
This workshop was created by Clinic Director and Registered Dietitian, Elizabeth Gullaher, RD, MHSc, BSc. After well over a decade of experience supporting hundreds of parents and youth in eating disorder recovery, Elizabeth created this activating and informative workshop to help parents begin their child’s eating disorder or disordered eating recovery.
Elizabeth built this workshop with the experience and knowledge that:
- Early intervention is essential in eating disorder recovery. The sooner a child’s recovery journey begins, the higher the likelihood of them reaching full recovery. However, waitlist’s into publicly funded programs can often exceed a year leaving many youth waiting for support, further deteriorating mentally and physically. There are limited options available for parents help educate and support them in taking action now, while they wait for additional support or the admission into a public program.
- Parents are a child’s most valuable and essential support in recovery. They play a significant role in the journey of their child’s recovery. However, little support is available for parents as they take on this fundamental role. Elizabeth is passionate about empowering and supporting parents through this journey.
- Parenting a child with an eating disorder can be a very isolating experience. Parents often comment on how alone they feel while supporting their child through recovery. When asked who is best able to support them emotionally, parents often identify other parents who can share their experiences. Knowing they are not alone, learning alongside and leaning on the support of other parents who are going through similar journeys, is immensely helpful.
- Re-nourishment is the essential first step in recovery. Adequate nourishment is fundamental in the recovery journey as it helps to ensure a nourished brain and body – both essential parts to the recovery journey. Recovery starts with re-nourishment, but does not end there. Elizabeth uses principles from evidenced-based, best practice, Family Based Treatment (FBT), to help guide parents through the re-nourishment stage of recovery.
Workshop Information
Educate. Empower. Activate.
This workshop is for parents/carers of children (under 18 years of age) with a suspected or diagnosed eating disorder or disordered eating.
The workshop includes:
- Professional guidance and facilitation, using evidenced-based best practices and research.
- Essential education through 90 minute weekly group sessions, thoughtful planned to help support the essential steps in nutrition rehabilitation. These sessions educate and empower parents to take action and move through the recovery process.
- Parent peer support
- Worksheets, handouts and resources to help support you through the re-nourishment process.
- Optional individual support and guidance in next steps in the recovery journey for your child through a 30 minute check-out session with Elizabeth at the end of the workshop.
This workshop is appropriate for parents/carers with children with disordered eating or diagnosed/undiagnosed (but suspected) eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa (Typical or A-typical) and Bulimia Nervosa.
Please note, this workshop is not appropriate for parents who have children with Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). If your child has ARFID, please contact us to meet with Elizabeth directly to discuss support options.
Workshop Structure
As an essential first step, this week will help build eating disorder knowledge and understanding. We will also discuss medical monitoring and the essential first step for safety in eating disorder recovery.
We will be reviewing the re-nourishment process and pathway, including what to expect, how to begin and where to start. The goal being getting to a place of adequacy in intake.
Support and education will be provided on the next steps in the re-nourishment process once a nourished state is achieved, and how to support your child when the time comes to start moving through the phases of nutrition rehabilitation.
This week will involve education on what is next in recovery, once a nourished state is achieved, and the support needed to help your child move forward through recovery.
This week will be a combination of education around parent/carer self care, preventing burnout, and an open support group for parents to discuss current challenges.
Our next virtual workshop begins Friday, March 21, 2025.
This group will run every Friday, for 5 weeks, from 10:30am-12pm PST.
Space is limited.
Register today!
Cost: $495 (a $1500 value!)
Please note: Payment is due upon registration.
Full refunds are available up to seven (7) days before the workshop begins. If a refund is requested seven (7) or less days before the workshop is to begin, only 1/2 of the registration fee will be reimbursed.
For financial assistance, please contact us.
If you are unable to make one of the scheduled sessions, a recording or individual session may be provided, as available.