Eating Disorders
EATING DISORDERS
Back to ACC Summer School 2012 Info
Helena Wilkinson worked as a research assistant in a Zulu hospital, before training in Christian counselling at Waverley Abbey House, Farnham, UK. She subsequently joined the staff as a lecturer and editor. For four years she was the editor of CWR’s journal, The Christian Counsellor.
In 1994 she founded Kainos Trust, a charity for eating disorder sufferers, which she directed for 10 years prior to it merging with Swansea City Mission. She is based at the mission’s retreat centre, Nicholaston House, on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales, where she runs residential courses for people with eating disorders. She has over 20 years experience of working with eating disorder sufferers.
She is the author of ten books, including Beyond Chaotic Eating and the bestseller Puppet on a String, her personal account of overcoming anorexia, written when she was a teenager. She is a regular contributor to the daily devotional, Inspiring Women Every Day, published by CWR, read by 100,000 women around the world.
Helena is an international speaker, her work having taken her to Europe, Africa and Asia.
For further information visit www.helenawilkinson.co.uk.
Summary of training content
The training covers all types of eating disorders – anorexia, bulimia, compulsive eating and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). It highlights the fact that the eating disorder is not the problem but the solution and uses the concept of the iceberg. It addresses what lies below the water’s surface, such as: media pressure; emotional hunger; lack of worth; loss of identity; fear of adulthood; trauma; family issues and personality. Each eating disorder is explored in detail, stepping inside the mind of those who suffer and asking why people do what they do.
The recovery process takes into consideration the physical, emotional and spiritual components and looks at:
- Relationship with food, body image and weight
- Connection between feelings, thoughts and behaviour
- Disruptions to the growing up process
- Spiritual blockages
The use of group work, role play and testimony will be a part of the training. Helena will also speak on the short-term residential work which she and her team carry out at Nicholaston House and the benefits it has when used in conjunction with counselling.
