Questions About Binge Eating Peer Support

What affordable binge eating disorder support is available in Australia?

Life in Person is peer support for binge eating disorder, facilitated by someone with lived experience. It is for adults anywhere in Australia, with online, phone and text options, and in person sessions on the Central Coast. It is non clinical peer support and education, not treatment. All times are Sydney Time.

Free

• Free 10 minute phone consult, weekdays 6am to 11am and 1pm to 4:50pm
• Community Round Table, online, every Tuesday at 7pm and every Thursday at 6pm
• Free introduction course, Relationships an Introduction
• Your Story, where you can share your story by emailing [email protected]

$8 a session

• Live online interactive sessions, Monday to Friday at 11am and 5pm, up to 20 people
• Night Support Guided, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, up to 20 people

$12 a session

• Night Support Interactive, Tuesday and Thursday at 8pm, up to 8 people
• Weekend Support, Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 5pm
• Journaling Group, Tuesday at 6pm and Saturday at 6pm and 7pm
• Workshops: Perimenopause, Men's, Toolbox and Meal Planning, each with 12 seats available
• In person sessions

$15

• Text Support Membership, 7 days, up to 21 messages, texting 6am to 9pm

$30 or $60

• One on One Support by phone or Zoom, $30 for 25 minutes or $60 for 50 minutes, weekdays 6am to 11am and 1pm to 4pm

Self paced courses, one time price

• $19 each: Foundations, Understanding Triggers, Food, Body and Mind, Tools and Strategies, and Recovery and Skills
• $12 each: Grief, Relationships, The Last Supper Effect, Perfectionism and Night Bingeing

What type of support do you offer for binge eating disorder?

Life in Person is peer support for binge eating disorder, facilitated by someone with lived experience. Support includes live online interactive sessions, Night Support and Weekend Support, workshops, a journaling group, one on one support by phone or Zoom, text support, self paced courses, and in person sessions on the Central Coast. The online parts are open to anyone, wherever they live.

What qualifications or training does your facilitator have?

My facilitation is based on lived experience of binge eating disorder, and on the peer support approach. That means people share and learn from each other, instead of being told what to do. I'm not a clinician and I don't present myself as one. What I bring is understanding, a safe space and a clear structure for each session.

I also bring 20 years of experience in business. Those years built skills that carry straight into facilitation. I know how to listen well, communicate clearly, stay calm and make people feel welcome, whoever they are and whatever they are carrying.

As the Founder of Life in Person, I continue to build my business skills through formal training and mentorship, so the service is strong and sustainable.

Is there a structured recovery program, and does it use CBT?

Life in Person does not follow a set program. It was designed around each person's own recovery, so the structure comes from the choices the person makes. Some people use the courses, workshops and sessions in an order that suits them, and others choose only the parts that fit. Life in Person can be a person's whole recovery support if they choose it to be, or it can sit alongside clinical care, including approaches such as CBT from their own clinician. The choice, and the autonomy that comes with it, stays with the person.

What is the cheapest way to get started, and are there free sessions or groups?

The cheapest way to get started is free. Drop In Connection and the Community Round Table are free groups, and the introduction course, Relationships an Introduction, is free too. You can also book a free 10 minute phone consult to talk through what you need before you decide anything. If you choose paid support, sessions start at $8.

Can I try a group session before committing to individual support?

Yes. Drop In Connection and the Community Round Table are free, so you can see what a group is like before booking anything paid. You do not need to complete a questionnaire to attend a group. If you would like to talk first, the free 10 minute phone consult is there too. Individual support is a separate choice you can make whenever you are ready.

Are there reduced cost options if I am on a low income?

Yes. Cost does not need to be a barrier. The free options are Drop In Connection, the Community Round Table and the introduction course, Relationships an Introduction. Along with the free 10 minute phone consult, they mean you can start without paying anything. When you are ready for more, paid sessions start at $8.

Are the in person sessions near where I live?

In person sessions are available on the Central Coast. Each session is 45 minutes and costs $12 a person. If that is not near you, you can still take part. Everything else is online by Zoom, phone or text, and the online parts are open to anyone, wherever they live.

Can you help me access clinical treatment if I need more specialised help?

I'm not a clinician, so I don't make referrals or find clinicians for people. If someone needs more specialised help, I encourage them to seek it. The most common routes would be their own GP or the Butterfly Foundation. The choice stays with them. If you feel hesitant about seeking care, the resource library has resources you can use.

Is the group confidential?

Confidentiality is encouraged in every group, but it cannot be guaranteed by other participants. You choose what you share, so you can take part at a level that feels right for you.