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Coaching
What Is Recovery Coaching?
Are you feeling stuck in your recovery, overwhelmed and not sure where to begin? Are you looking for a space to set specific goals, as opposed to 'just' talking about the past? Does part of you know what to do, but you're struggling to get started and look for someone to help keep you accountable, support you, and help you into action? If so, recovery coaching could be for you.
Recovery coaching is a supplemental tool in recovery that works on identifying where you are stuck, and setting practical goals to help you get 'unstuck'. Together, we investigate where your eating disorder is present in your core beliefs, actions and day-to-day sneaky habits, and create a tailored game plan. We work together on implementing practical tasks, goals and challenges, targeting the eating disorder heads on through doing, rather than just thinking about doing.
Medical disclaimer: Coaching is not licensed to treat mental illnesses, and does not replace medical treatment for an eating disorder. We are not doctors or dieticians; we cannot prescribe medications, meal plans or set diagnoses. Instead, we work multidisciplinary and collaboratively alongside your team, offering practical goal setting and support both in and between sessions.
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How We Work
For new clients, we typically meet once a week for 50 minutes (virtual or in person, see below). In our sessions, we focus on tackling eating disorder thoughts, beliefs and behaviours, and on setting specific goals for the week. Between sessions we are available on email or text for support (during our work hours), check ins and questions, meaning you are well supported also outside of the sessions. We are happy to work collaboratively with your treatment team.
We always tailor our coaching to each individual client, and do not believe in a 'one size fits all' approach. Coaching is collaborative, and we work with you to find an approach that works for you, because the best 'method' of recovery is the one you can actually stick to (progress, not perfection). We place a lot of value on our relationship, and want you to feel comfortable, heard, and respected. You are encouraged to be open about what works for you and what doesn’t - that is what makes coaching work the best!
To make sure we can be fully present for every person we work with, we only take on a limited amount of clients at a time. Please note we only work with people who are self-referred (meaning they themselves reach out for coaching and are participating because they want to, rather than someone else pushing them - although recommendations/referrals are welcome).
Our Philosophy/Approach
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Flexible, Science-Informed Weight Restoration. If underweight, restoring to a healthy BMI is an important part of recovery. At the same time, we want to support your body in finding its 'happy weight' - the weight it naturally settles when you are not trying to control it through disordered behaviours. If weight restoration is part of your recovery, we approach this flexibly. We understand set point weight, weight overshoot, hypo- and hyper-metabolism, and the non-linear nature of weight restoration.
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Full Recovery is Possible. "It never really goes away" is not our lived experience, nor the experience of so many of the people we have worked with. Although recovery looks different for everyone, it is important to highlight that living a full, healthy life free from constant eating disorder thoughts and behaviours is possible.
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Multidisciplinary Work. We regularly collaborate with dieticians, doctors, therapists and other healthcare professionals.
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Health At Every Size. We work from a HAES-informed stance. This means that we acknowledge that health looks different for everyone, and that health is more than just a number on a scale.
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Intuitive Eating (With Nuance). We help clients work towards intuitive eating as an end goal, whilst also acknowledging that some people in recovery may temporarily need a more structured, mechanical approach to make sure it does not turn into intuitive restriction. We believe in true intuitive eating that embraces both mental- and physical hunger, an all foods fit-approach, and help you think and stress less about food- and eating - not more.
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Extreme Hunger/'All In'-Informed. We are informed about the biology and psychology of reactive hunger after restriction, and have supported lots of clients through this stage. We help you work with your hunger, rather than against it. We also support clients who want to recover with an 'all in' approach.
Client Testimonials
"Amalie's coaching methods enabled me to realise the behaviours I was engaging in caused my binge and restrict cycle. We worked on finding methods and actions to break this exhausting cycle. By the end of my coaching, my binges had disappeared, I had greater food freedom and stopped engaging in self destructive behaviours."
- Client testimonial, United Kingdom
"Achieving full recovery is the most rewarding and most difficult journey I’ve ever pursued. But, with the care and support from Louisa, I can confidentially say that anorexia has no power over me any more. (...) After being ignored and offered unhelpful advice by many medical practitioners and therapists, Louisa’s approach has been so encouraging."
- Client testimonial, US
"As opposed to 'traditional' treatment, Amalie has a more forward-thinking and biological approach to eating disorders, and that is what has made coaching useful for me. (...) I’ve heard so many times that fully recovering from an eating disorder is impossible, but working with Amalie I’ve experienced that’s not true. I even managed to fully recover in less than a year."
- Client testimonial, Norway
"The calls & support from Louisa were life changing for me. She was like a detective and trying to find those toxic ED behaviour that was still in me. (...) Louisa is totally the best out here (and I've worked with other coaches until I've found Louisa, so I have experience). She won't let you stay in ED and at the end of the day you will be as grateful as I am."
- Client testimonial, Azerbaijan
Our Sessions
We offer virtual coaching sessions to clients worldwide. Our sessions are available in English (both), German (Louisa), and Norwegian (Amalie). We typically do sessions via video call, but sessions via phone call are also available. Between session support is available via Whatsapp (Louisa) or email/Google chat (Amalie). Please note that we are only able to answer in our working hours, and that between session support is not intended as a 24/7 crisis support service.
Amalie also offers in-person coaching. Sessions take place in a private, comfortable room in Kingston upon Thames, London (right by Kingston Bridge). The space is designed to feel calm and welcoming, offering a safe setting for eating disorder recovery work. Restrooms and a waiting area are available on site. The building is located a five-minute walk from Hampton Wick station and around ten minutes from Kingston station, making it easy to reach for clients in London and Surrey. Metered parking is available closeby.
Please note that in-person sessions are charged at an extra £15 per session to cover room rental costs, and have a 48 hour cancellation policy.