Bedfordshire and Luton Community Eating Disorders Service for Children & Young People

All clinicians have a relevant professional qualification and experience working with young people and their families. Members of the team include:

• Dietician. Offers advice about food choices and lifestyle.
• Therapists. Talk to you to help make sense of your difficulties and develop positive skills.
• Family Therapists. Offers your family a supportive space to talk about their experiences.
• Paediatrician. A doctor who specialises in the health of young people.
• Consultant Psychiatrist. A senior doctor who oversees the emotional and physical wellbeing of young people.
  
  

We work and listen respectfully and non-judgementally

A lot of young people, worry about their weight, shape or food. However, for some, these worries can become an obsession which can turn into a serious eating disorder.

Someone with an eating disorder might compulsively diet or skip meals in order to lose weight. Regularly overeating and experiencing loss of control over what, when or how much to eat can also be signs of an eating problem. 

When we receive a request for help we will offer you an appointment. When we first meet you we will spend time chatting about what has brought you here.  You can tell us anything that you like about how you are feeling and what you would like to be different.  We won’t think it is silly or stupid.  You may feel worried about talking on your own and may prefer to have family with you. Also, it doesn’t matter if you don’t feel like talking much at an appointment.   You can ask as many questions as you like and if we use any complicated words just tell us and we can explain what we mean.  We want to work with you to find ways for you to feel better.

We find it helpful to meet other people in the family so we can hear what they think about the difficulty.

Sometimes we only need to meet you a few times, and sometimes it may take longer.  We will talk about this with you when you come to see us.

When we receive a request for help we will offer you an appointment.  At the first appointment we will spend time talking about the reasons you are here.  We will listen to you, you can tell us anything you like about how you are feeling and ask as many questions as you like.  This is a safe environment and we want to help you.  We find it helpful to meet other members of your family so we can hear what they think about the difficulty but we will also talk to you separately.  You may prefer if it is just you at the appointment and this is fine, just let us know.

After the first meeting it might be helpful to speak to your GP, teachers, social worker or other professionals involved with you and your family. We would only do this with your permission.
This is a confidential service. We will only discuss your case with another service if you have given us permission or if we have serious concerns about a young person's safety.