The vast majority of recovery happens in everyday life, beyond the four walls of an office. I help individuals heal their relationship with food, and body and build an identity outside of their disorder by learning to re-establish the function of their occupations in a way that holds purpose, is of value to the individual and is in line with recovery.
Eating disorders or disordered eating impacts all aspects of a person’s life. When ill, their primary occupation in day-to-day life is pursuing their eating disorder and all other meaningful aspects of life diminish causing their quality of life to grossly decline. As a result of the illness, a person will lose sight of their identity and purpose outside of their eating disorder and daily tasks and activities are insidiously warped by destructive rules for engagement in life.
Occupational Therapy focuses on the here and now working together to turn your hopes for recovery into actionable goals. By using a client-centred approach, I recognise the importance of my client’s desire for autonomy in recovery by allowing you to shape and create your therapy.
OT understands that illness is an occupation, and although this is highly destructive, the ED is purposeful to you. OT aims not to just take the illness-focused occupations away from you, but instead understand the meaning of occupation and try to change the perceptions and functions of those occupations over time. If you become reconnected with what is truly important in your life, the need for your eating disorder will diminish.
You may need support preparing for or attending special occasions in your calendar. This could include going to a dinner, an exercise class or preparing for the yearly festivities such as birthdays, family and friends gatherings, Easter or Christmas lunches. I support you in all aspects to prepare and even attend occasions that are valuable to you.
I work with clients and professionals face-to-face within London and surrounding areas and I am licensed to work online in the UK, South Africa and Namibia. For collaborations, talks, podcasts and media, please contact me on the address or phone number on the contact us page
Tegan is truly one of a kind. She has helped save me in so many ways from my battle with an eating disorder. Her knowledge, skills, patience and nurturing ora is not only refreshing, but also has helped me through the ups and downs. If only there could be more Tegan’s in the world, to offer help, support and hope to everyone suffering!
GABBY