What we do

First Steps is Derbyshire’s only eating disorder charity and is registered with B-eat, the national charity for eating disorders. We support people all over Derbyshire and the surrounding areas who are affected by eating disorders; this includes parents, partners & and families.  All of the staff and volunteers have had personal experience of an eating disorder either as a sufferer or as a loved one, and food no longer controls their everyday lives. First Steps offers a friendly and non-judgmental atmosphere. If you go along you will soon realise that there are other people feeling the same way as you.

First Steps goes into schools and other community areas to raise awareness about eating disorders, challenge the stigmas surrounding the illness and help people to come forward for help.
 
We offer support to people of ALL AGES WITH ANY TYPE OF EATING DIFFICULTY OR DISORDER.
 
We have support groups for young people (HYPED) on a Wednesday at 126 Osmaston Road. between 6pm and 8.30pm . The young people have a say of what they helps them  via the Young Person’s Steering Group. 
 
A group for people of all ages (EDGE) meets EVERY Thursday at 126 Osmaston, Derby from 7pm until 9pm. Families and friends are welcome to go along to get support from other people in the same situation and to learn about the illness from other sufferers at varying degrees of recovery. Once a month the first hour of the session will be based around how to support parents and carers.
 
We run Yoga and relaxation sessions every Wednesday at 126 Osmaston Road from 7.30-8.30 and all ages are welcome to attend. These sessions come at a charge of £1 for under 25, concessions and benefits or £3 otherwise. These sessions are of a very low intensity aimed at beginners. The sessions utilize relaxation and guided imagery to aid anxiety, stress and sleep deprivation. Sessions are not aimed at increasing body muscle mass and losing weight. Jenna Newman is a qualified yoga teacher with experience in working in the area of Eating Disorders.
 
We offer Creative Expressive Therapy Groups as part of our service. Creative Expressive therapy is aimed at clients who find regular talking therapies such as counselling, psychotherapy and CBT difficult. Creative expressive therapy offers a different form of expression alternative to talking. We use drama, dance, music and art to explore our feelings and emotions within a safe environment. Often we will use a variety of objects, toys, art materials and musical instruments as a metaphor for our feelings to help provide a distance for traumatic experiences, memories and emotions.
 
In addition to this are Compassionate Mind Therapy groups run in conjunction with the Compassionate Mind Foundation. Compassion and particularly compassion towards oneself can have a significant impact on our wellbeing and mental health. Developing our sense of compassion can affect many areas of our lives, in particular our relationships with other people. 
 
Hypnotherapy groups run every TUESDAY 7-8pm for a charge of £18 for 6 sessions.  Hypnotherapy is recognized as very powerful method for personal development. In fact, it is known to have been in use for the past 6,000 years!  Today, people use the power of hypnosis to help deal with a vast range of problems.  You are deeply relaxed and calm, aware of everything happening around you.  It is a pleasant and enjoyable state, very similar to daydreaming or drifting off to sleep. You will feel wonderfully relaxed and you may find that your sleep will be of a much better quality .
 

We also offer a limited amount of one to one counselling sessions along with nutritional support sessions.
 
Please contact First Steps Derby if you want to go along to one of the meetings or events.