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It can feel like a big step to seek support for an eating disorder, and not knowing what to expect can amplify feelings of doubt and fear. At ABBI Clinic, we want to demystify the therapeutic process and provide all the information you need to feel calm and prepared for your time with us. Before you join ABBI Clinic for your tailored treatment programme, let’s take a look at what to expect in eating disorder recovery.
We’ve designed our patient pathway to be as straightforward as possible. From initial referral to discharge, we ensure every step of your journey at ABBI Clinic is transparent, supportive, and easy to navigate.
Every ABBI Clinic journey begins with an initial enquiry. Whether you are a self- or private medical insurance-funded patient contacting us directly or receiving a referral via your local Community Eating Disorder Team, this initial contact is how we start the treatment process.
Once we receive an enquiry, our team will schedule an initial assessment. This will provide our specialists with the opportunity to ask some questions to determine the best next steps, taking the nature of your eating disorder alongside your mental wellbeing, physical health, and living situation into consideration.
If ABBI Clinic is deemed the right fit, a treatment programme recommendation will be made, determining whether you will engage in Day Care or Outpatient care. Once this is agreed, a personalised treatment plan will be created to make your recovery process as effective and tailored as possible.
With a confirmed plan, you will begin your treatment. This can be in person, hybrid, or fully online, depending on your needs and preferences. Treatment approaches can vary depending on what is most appropriate, with options including group therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy.
After a period of treatment, an assessment will be conducted to determine whether you are ready to be discharged from ABBI Clinic or to progress to a new type of support. A discharge meeting will be held, during which progress and wellbeing will be discussed, and plans to discharge or continue treatment will be agreed upon.
Finally, the outcomes of your time at ABBI Clinic will be shared with you. All discharge documents are completed within two weeks of discharge.
Eating disorder recovery is different for everyone who undergoes treatment. At ABBI Clinic, we know that it isn’t always plain sailing, and it can be helpful to recognise some of the obstacles patients typically face along the way. Facing these stumbling blocks doesn’t spell failure but offers opportunities to learn and make positive progress.
Fear is a natural response to change, and people can often feel anxious about what treatment will be like, how their body might change during recovery, and how they will cope without their familiar routines.
Just because someone has agreed to start treatment doesn’t mean they aren’t torn between wanting to recover and wanting to hold onto their eating disorder behaviours.
Relapse is a normal part of the recovery journey, but people can often be discouraged by these temporary setbacks or feel ashamed.
Adopting new ways of thinking about food and eating can be made more difficult by persistent, critical, or obsessive thought patterns.
Without eating disorder behaviours to rely on, people can find it challenging to address the strong emotions that motivate their unhealthy habits. These can include depression, guilt, regret, and grief.
As they experience day-to-day life without an eating disorder, people can feel uncertain about their sense of self, questioning who they are without the behaviours they’ve come to see as normal.
Living with an eating disorder can often cause people to be self-critical and have unrealistically high expectations of themselves going into treatment.
Alongside their own expectations for recovery, people can find it difficult to manage the pressures of their day-to-day experiences. Interactions with food, expectations from family, and social media influences can all pose challenges.
As the body adjusts to regular nourishment, people may experience discomfort. Sensations like bloating can be hard to get used to, as can bouts of fatigue and sudden mood swings.
Many who live with an eating disorder can find it difficult to find the support they require. Availability and funding can also pose obstacles, which is why at ABBI Clinic, we tailor our treatment offering to make support as accessible as possible.
When you are ready to be discharged from your ABBI Clinic treatment programme, the optimal outcome is for you to feel capable of implementing the skills you have developed during treatment into your daily life. This won’t necessarily be easy at first, but the long-term goal is for you to draw on key learnings, such as:
Post-treatment life will also focus on rebuilding healthy eating habits, establishing regular eating patterns without rigid rules, and reducing fear or anxiety around ‘fear foods’, body weight, and social eating.
At ABBI Clinic, we aim to provide you with the skills to no longer organise your life around your eating disorder and return to work, education, relationships, and hobbies with a healthier new perspective.
Some patients find that ongoing support helps them to manage their relationship with food after their treatment has finished. Before being discharged from ABBI Clinic, we recommend a range of post-treatment support options, including:
While everyone progresses through the healing process at a pace that’s personal to them, one thing that’s consistent for everyone is the guidance and support provided by the entire ABBI team. Our specialists offer empathetic care across the full spectrum of eating disorder treatment, ensuring every road to recovery is powered by human connection and holistic treatment.
ABBI Clinic were very helpful in my recovery from my eating disorder. They offered meal support as well as group therapy, a dietitian, and weekly individual sessions. They helped me create a meal plan that was suited to my dietary requirements as well as a maintenance plan for continuing recovery after my discharge.
The staff are amazing and supportive. They’ve helped me to see through a variety of techniques regarding wellbeing, nutrition, and dietary advice that being well is possible. I’m now armed with tools and techniques to use when things get tough, and life does throw curve balls, but I can cope with life, being a well me, just as I am.
I never thought I’d ever beat my ED that’s been torturing me for 30 years. Thank you, ABBI Clinic, not only for giving me hope when I thought nobody could help but also for being the first place that’s helped me to actually get well. Not just physically but mentally as well. I’ve finally addressed the root cause of the issue, and that’s been imperative in helping me to see life without my ED and how good it can be.
ABBI Clinic have been nothing short of incredible in supporting me with my recovery journey. The staff at ABBI Clinic make every effort to ensure that your journey is personalised by getting to know each individual person, and it shows in their care and support. A special mention to Kate, whom I cannot thank enough for always giving her undivided attention and showing week in and week out that she genuinely cares to support you in recovery.
Very quick and clear communication throughout.
ABBI Clinic was a very positive experience for me. I felt I was understood & not judged. I was given some very useful tools to help me cope with my eating disorder.
abbi clinic is a great day care service, it's very tailored to your own needs because everyone's eating disorder is so different even if your diagnosis is the same. it helped not only give me the tools to stay out of hospital but also gave me the motivation to be able to believe in myself that i could.
The staff there are brilliant. They make you feel comfortable and welcome. The setting is great, as its private, warm and had all the facilities you need.
I had my initial screening with Dr Shama and she was calm, professional, and non-judgmental, which made it easier to open up. Dr Shama was extremely thoughtful about this and has contacted the NHS provider for my screening notes so I did not have to go through the emotional distress again.
The Clinic have been excellent. They are extremely attentive, very quick to respond to queries and have been really kind and sensitive at all times to help me.
Excellent service. After contacting the clinic about my concerns about having an eating disorder I was seen for an initial consultation within a week.
I recently completed a treatment at the ABBI Clinic for B.E.D., and I cannot recommend it highly enough. From the start, the staff were incredibly compassionate, friendly, and supportive, making a daunting process feel safe and manageable. The time spent with the others going through similar experiences was invaluable – helpful, encouraging, and a real source of connection. I felt truly supported every step of the way, and I’m deeply grateful for the care I received.
Looking to learn more about what to expect at ABBI Clinic? Find answers to our most commonly asked questions here, or reach out to get in touch with a member of our expert team.
No, you will not be required to do anything you are uncomfortable with upon arrival at ABBI Clinic. Our specialist team prioritises making the healing process as comfortable and tailored as possible, focusing on treatment methods that encourage positive progress and minimise stress or anxiety.
All information shared in a therapeutic setting is kept confidential and handled in accordance with data protection guidelines.
At ABBI, we offer support for patients living with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and a range of other conditions. To learn more, take a look at our eating disorders page.
You don’t need a professional referral to access treatment at ABBI Clinic. If you are accessing treatment privately (either self-funding or through private insurance), you can contact us directly to arrange an initial consultation, whether you are self-funding or using private health insurance. We also accept referrals from GPs, other healthcare professionals, and NHS Community Eating Disorder teams. If you would like more information about any of these routes, please take a look at our referrals and funding pages or contact us.
