Eating distress and body image issues are so widespread, counsellors are highly likely to come across this in their work. In this workshop, we’ll explore the links between abusive relationships and disordered eating, including any kind of eating distress, eating disorders and body shame. For many people affected by abusive relationships, disordered eating may be a way of coping, but perpetrators may also use food, weight and body shame to control.
Mel works in both domestic abuse services and eating disorders services, and has been exploring the many links and nuances between disordered eating and domestic abuse, as well as body image, body shaming and weight stigma. As Mel works with perpetrators of abuse, this workshop will explore links to disordered eating for both victim/survivors of domestic abuse and perpetrators, as well as children and young people growing up around abuse. No prior knowledge is needed of domestic abuse or disordered eating, as this will be an introduction to learning about both and the ways they intersect.
Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event
- Learn more about disordered eating and body shame, and/or domestic abuse, with an additional focus on perpetrators too.
- For those working in domestic abuse wanting to learn more about disordered eating, or those working with eating disorders/eating distress wanting to learn about domestic abuse, and for those who work with neither and are interested in both!
- To help explore a nuanced and unique approach to thinking about power and control in relation to food and bodies.
Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?
- This training is for anyone interested in learning more about disordered eating and body shame, and/or domestic abuse, with an additional focus on perpetrators.
How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?
- This workshop will help deepen knowledge of both domestic abuse and of disordered eating to help support those affected by either or both, and raise awareness of the impact of power, control and body shame.
Course Content
Presenter
Mel Ciavucco is an Integrative Pluralistic counsellor, based in Bristol but originally from the Midlands. Mel offers online sessions and specialises in eating disorders, body image and weight stigma. She also has experience in domestic abuse, working with perpetrators both on a 1:1 basis and in groups. Mel is a writer and has been published in Therapy Today with an article about fatphobia (June 2021 edition). She writes about disordered eating, weight stigma, class, and more on her website.
