FAQ

Q”I would like to come to one of your meetings but am a bit worried that I am not thin enough. I have never been very low weight and people may wonder why I am there at all."


A“Please don’t worry about being "thin enough "- the majority of our members are of normal height/weight ratio, the group is for people with all types of ED's and everyone is very supportive towards each other regardless of their differences”.

 

Q”I'm interested, but nervous about the idea of attending a session. What can I expect when I go?”

A“You can expect to be made to feel welcome at the sessions.  Facilitators ensure that confidentiality is discussed and that ‘ground rules’ or guidelines are agreed before any work commences.  Experience shows that, since each member expects their own issues of confidentiality to be respected, those of others are also invariably respected. The groups are structured and between 7 – 8pm we share our experiences and thoughts on a “topic of discussion (You can just sit and listen if you prefer. During the second half, 8 – 9pm, you have the opportunity to talk to one of the facilitators, staff or volunteers on a one to one basis or chat to the other members who are all very warm and understanding.”

 

Q”Can attending one or more sessions help me with my problem?”

A“Experience of working with groups suggests that only a few people find exactly what they are looking for in the first couple of sessions.  A common concern is that listening to so many other people’s problems will make your own worse, but this very seldom happens.  95% of our members have attended three or more sessions and have stated that by doing so has helped them to challenge their eating behaviours. There may be times when you may feel that you are getting nowhere and begin to wonder if making the effort to attend is worthwhile.  Such feelings should always be discussed with a member of staff or a volunteer who can help you to work through these thoughts and feelings”.

 

Q”I'm shy around new people, and am frightened of speaking to people I have never met about my issues. Can I come along to a session, and not speak much?”

A“At First Steps we would never apply any pressure for you to talk if you felt uncomfortable doing so. Nearly everybody has doubts about joining a group and it’s perfectly normal to feel nervous. People find it helps them to come to the sessions and just listen.”

 

Q”Does the group give advice?”

A“Giving advice plays only a small part in group sessions although personal experiences and factual information is regularly offered.  People’s views and opinions are expressed which may help you make a decision for yourself.  Learning from the experience of others of ways in which they have coped with their illness is of value to most people”

 

Q”If there is something I feel could be added to the sessions to help me/someone else, can it be suggested and will it be taken on board?”

A“At the end of each session we encourage members to fill out a short evaluation form which gives us an idea of whether the topic has been useful and it also gives the member the option to suggest a specific topics that may be useful to them. We are committed to offering a service that people want and is useful, so we’re always using your feedback to improve the service”

Q”Is there any way I can receive further support with my problem, outside of attending the sessions?”

A“For those who are particularly nervous about attending a group we can offer a number of one to one sessions with a counsellor or support worker. Alternatively there are opportunities to attend alternative therapies such as drama, creative arts, relaxation and hypnotherapy.  We can also offer support via email, facebook, phone, text and this website”

 

Q”Can I bring a friend/partner along for support as many times as I want?” 

A“Yes, friend and partners are encouraged to attend and there is no limit to the amount of sessions that they can attend. We feel that it is important for them to gain an understanding of the condition in order to be able to support their loved one.”

                                     

Q”I am worried that people in the session will be looking at me, possibly judging and wondering what my problem is. Is there anything that can put my mind at ease?”

A“Almost everyone has these worries prior to joining our sessions so you are not on your own. The sessions are friendly and laid back, nobody will judge you as everyone has their own personal experience of an eating disorders and can relate to how difficult it can be to seek help”

 

Q”Can both Wednesday and Thursday sessions be attended?”

A “Yes both groups can be attended - depending on your age - The Wednesday groups are facilitated by the Young Person’s Coordinator who works with people age 12-25. The relaxation class starts at 7.30pm on a Wednesday and this can be attended by anyone of any age. Thursday sessions can be attended by anyone of any age who is affected by any eating difficulty or disorder”.

 

Q”What if someone there recognizes me/what if I know someone?”

A “This very rarely happens, however when it did, the two people ended up being the best of friends and are still in touch with each other to this day. Their friendship played a big part in their recovery and now both are healthy and studying at separate universities. After attending a few session the security of the group can give you a feeling of safety and understanding giving you an opportunity to speak freely about your issues in a way that they you may have not previously been able to do. This will help to reduce the feelings of shame and embarrassment and help you to understand that all group members have similar fears to you.”

 

If you have any other questions that you would like answering, please do not hesitate to contact us