All donations over $2.00 to the Eating Disorders Queensland are tax deductable and directly support people through access to counselling, practical assistance to support recovery, groups, equipment for the centre and books for our library.
You can make a one-off or regular monthly donation and you will receive an automatic receipt.
Reconnect events are hosted by Eating Disorders Queensland at various times through the year and aim to connect the community, reduce isolation and increase awareness of eating disorders.
This short video looks at our first Reconnect of 2019.
The group focused on creating intentions for the year through collage and creative expression.
Each Reconnect has a different focus and theme. Please see our social media for upcoming Reconnect events.
David LangfordDavid is an accredited social worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers and a practitioner in the Individual Clinical stream of EDQ’s services.
He has been at EDQ for over two years, starting his journey as a social work student from February 2018 to June 2018, he joined EDQ as a practitioner in July the same year. David works with clients in both individual counselling and group settings. Over the past two years, David has taken a key role in the development, delivery, and subsequent evaluations of EDQ’s meal support group program ‘The Community Table’.
David is passionate about mental health recovery and believes that recovery is possible, even though at times the challenges of recovery may feel overwhelming. He uses connection and story sharing to reduce the impact of isolation, shame, and stigma that may be associated with experiencing mental health concerns, including eating issues.
David has an eclectic range of interventions including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectic Behavioural Therapy, sensory strategies, and problem-solving. His work grounded in a strengths-based and person-centred approach, which is underpinned by a Feminist perspective.
This foundation honours the individual’s strengths and acknowledges the effects of power, with the aim of empowering the individual to make change.
David enjoys connecting with his family, friends, and nature. He also enjoys listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks.
Sarah LarsenSarah is a recent graduate of Masters of Counselling and completed a yearlong placement with EDQ.
Upon completion of this placement Sarah has joined the Carer and Family Team at EDQ and works as a Carer Coach.
Sarah operates in a person-centered, strengths-based approach, highlighting components of motivational interviewing and solutions focussed therapy. She brings empathy, compassion and understanding into her practice. Sarahs work is informed by Professor Janet Treasures’ framework, incorporating a collaborative skills-based approach.
Sarah is passionate about supporting Carers and family to support their loved ones through recovery.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys reading, writing and spending time with her family, friends and animals.
Amber DwinellWhilst working at EDQ, Amber has supported clients through one-on-one meal support sessions.
She endeavors to create safe pre and post meal environments by working with clients to develop their own tools to manage meal distress.
Amber is passionate about creating a safe space for sharing by building a strong sense of connection and trust. She utilises a strengths and values based approach to support and empower clients.
Amber recognizes that whilst individual recovery journeys are different, recovery is always possible. She enjoys gardening and being in the sun and values spending time with her friends and family.
Jane is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has experience of working with eating disorders, problematic substance use and trauma.
She believes all of us are experts on our own unique internal systems. She sees her role as a support for clients in accessing this knowledge and better understanding their responses to situations and to increase their capacity to choose responses that are more in line with their own values.
She utilises various modalities, including CBT, ACT and Internal Family Systems. She likes to bring humour into the counselling room alongside her honest and down to earth approach to life.
Megan is a graduate of the University of Queensland; she holds a Bachelor of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and a Master of Dietetic Studies.
Megan is a strong advocate for recovery, non-diet nutrition and body acceptance. She believes empathy, compassion and expertise are the foundation of supporting individuals with eating concerns.
Megan has undertaken research in the eating disorder field, works as a peer mentor with individuals pursuing recovery, and is active in the pro-recovery social media space.
Marina is the health promotion officer at EDQ. Having graduated with a double Bachelor degree of Public Health and Media and Communication; Marina assists in the branding, marketing and social media side at EDQ, along with coordinating events and managing volunteers.
She has experience in working in non-for-profit organisations, as a medical receptionist and administrator. Marina has previously completed placement with EDQ. Post-graduation, Marina is now in the process of completing her Masters in Public Health, while working alongside EDQ.
She is driven to create positive change for both the surrounding community and in the digital world. Marina is also passionate in voicing opportunities available at EDQ in hope of providing everyone an equal chance at receiving care and support.
Marina loves spending time with her family and friends, most of the time, this is done in our own backyard or while travelling. She loves hitting up the gym (most of the time), as well as videography and exploring what the world has to offer. She is also in the process of learning Arabic, and loves some good dad jokes and puns.
Melissa CherasMelissa is a registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and is an Associate Member of the Australian Psychological Society.
She has worked in the field of mental health for the past 9 years supporting children, adolescents, parents, families and adults with a variety mental health issues including eating issues. Melissa has worked across diverse contexts including corrections, non-government organisations, schools and private practice. She has also been involved with the commissioning of regional suicide prevention services and initiatives across the Brisbane North region.
Melissa’s approach is strengths based and person centered and she brings warmth and empathy to her work. As a carer and family coach, Melissa’s work is based on Professor Janet Treasure’s evidence informed collaborative, skills based approach. Melissa values that people are the experts in their own lives and aims to collaboratively work with family members and carers to provide the skills and knowledge they desire to support their loved ones.
Melissa is passionate about empowering family members and other key support people and has seen the positive impacts this can have on enhancing the recovery journey of individuals living with eating issues and other mental health issues.
Melissa enjoys spending time with her friends and family, travelling and being near the water.
Christophe LanglasséChristophe is an accredited mental health social worker with AASW and a practitioner in the Individual Clinical stream of EDQ’s services.
Practicing for 10 years in the fields of youth, disability, refugee, and mental health, Christophe is experienced in working with a diverse range of client backgrounds and is committed to ensuring mental health recovery is possible and reducing the stigma and shame associated with eating disorders. His broad engagement and understanding of mental health issues (mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, complex trauma, substance abuse) has lead him to wanting to make a difference in the field of eating disorders.
Christophe is particularly passionate about mental health recovery, believing that hope and recovery is possible despite the sometimes-overwhelming nature of illness. Like previous recovery work, Christophe draws upon authentic, strengths based, collaborative, and person-centred principles and draws heavily from community development and feminist practice frameworks.
More specifically, Christophe adopts the approaches of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Problem Solving, and creative expression to assist those with an eating issue work on their recovery. Christophe’s aim in practice is to make those who seek the service feel comfortable, listened to, and hopeful for the future so that a purposeful, therapeutic relationship can take place.
Christophe values time with his wife, young son, family and friends. He plays guitar for personal pleasure and occasionally plays shows when he has the time. Having Scottish and French heritage, Christophe is also a keen football fan and enjoys being part of the world cup football family. Going on camping trips and spending time in the garden are some of his favourite activities.
Rohie MarshallRohie is usually the first person you’ll meet or speak to at EDQ. She arranges contacts between clients, staff, and external organisations to ensure that everyone is supported in the way that suits them best. She also provides administrative support and event management.
Rohie has ten years of administrative and clinical experience in the dental industry and has recently completed her Bachelor of Public Health – undertaking her placement at EDQ before she moved into her current role.
She’s focused on improving client experiences in the health industry and sees facilitating referral pathways as a great way of doing this. Rohie is also passionate about diversity in practice and ensuring that clients of all backgrounds feel safe and comfortable accessing our services.
Rohie likes spending her free time outdoors. She’s usually planning a multi-day hiking or camping trip in the mountains somewhere, and on weekdays she’ll be heading to the climbing gym after work. She’ll also usually have a book on the go, and some music playing in the reception/library area – feel free to make some suggestions for her list!
The peer support worker role seeks to complement other therapies and offer a safe, compassionate space to connect with a peer who understands the struggle involved with overcoming an eating disorder.
Lisa has a lived experience of eating issues and trauma, and holds knowledge and understanding around the difficulties associated with the journey towards recovery. Since having overcome these experiences she has volunteered as a mentor, recovery group facilitator and speaker within the Eating Disorders Qld space for many years.
One of EDQ’s most important values is that recovery is possible and Lisa is committed to empowering those in recovery by providing non-judgemental, compassionate support to break the shame and stigmas associated with having an eating disorder. Lisa values all individuals as experts of their own experience and seeks to reduce the isolation that is a key issue in the eating issues community.
A life that isn’t dictated by an eating disorder is possible and Lisa is passionate about supporting individuals on their journey to recovery. A visual artist and musician in her own time, Lisa has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and is currently completing her Masters in Social Work.
Mary-Ann has a Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Counselling) and works as a Carer and Family Coach at EDQ.
Mary-Ann has worked in the field of eating disorders for 6 years including short term support and group facilitation for people with eating disorders as well as carers, families and friends. For the past two years, Mary-Ann has supported carers individually and in a group setting, to help them improve their understanding of eating disorders and ways they can support their loved one.
Mary-Ann’s work is informed by Professor Janet Treasure’s work, and she is passionate about helping families work towards a collaborative approach to recovery.
Mary-Ann particularly enjoys facilitating the family skills workshop. Mary-Ann enjoys spending time with her family, being in the outdoors and by the water.
Belinda is a skilled, dedicated, culturally sensitive and passionate feminist Senior Social Work Clinician, who holds a BA (Health Sc & Soc. Services), MSocWK degree.
She has practiced in the field of Complex Mental Health, Dual-Diagnosis (Alcohol and/or Other Drugs), Trauma (Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence), and Eating Issues for over 17 years in the not-for-profit sector.
Belinda is experienced in leading teams in these complex areas, as well as navigating ethical and service delivery issues in a proactive and creative way within the boundaries of service and funding agreements and AASW practice standards. A natural progression of her career has been to move into a broader systems reform practice, pinpointing service delivery gaps for clients and implementing reform initiatives.
She has achieved this due to a strong natural ability to connect with various inter-disciplinary sectors and has developed substantial interagency connections with links across the NGO sector, public mental health sector and primary health care.
Belinda is a mother to two extraordinary young women, has been married for 28 years, and values spending time with her family. She has deep spiritual connections and is an avid paddle boarder.
Emily is an accredited counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association and a practitioner in the Individual Clinical stream of EDQ’s services.
She gained experience working as a case worker and counsellor in the areas of foster care, refugee and asylum seeker support, community development, disability services and youth support, prior to joining TEIC in a locum position in 2017.
Emily is passionate about reducing stigma and increasing understanding of mental health, specifically around eating issues. Emily takes a blended approach to her practice which respects and honours the client’s experience and strengths.
Emily is very close to her family and loves spending time and laughing with them. She also enjoys music, painting and travelling.
Emma is a registered psychologist with AHPRA and holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science.
She has worked in the field of mental health for the past 6 years with children, adolescents and adults providing assessment and therapeutic support. Emma started her career working as a support counsellor in eating disorders for families and carers and Emma has continued to work with eating issues in youth support and private practice alongside anxiety, depression, complex trauma, autism etc.
Emma is passionate about increasing awareness and understanding that any individual can experience an eating issue. Emma believes recovery from an eating disorder is possible and hopes to see increasing access to eating disorder services. She further hopes to be a part of reducing shame, isolation and stigma that surrounds eating issues and mental health and help individuals create a positive, compassionate relationship with their body, mind and whole self.
Emma’s framework is collaborative, strengths-based and person-centred. Emma’s goal is to help each individual feel safe and supported on their recovery journey. She works from a range of approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Expressive Therapies.
Emma enjoys spending time with her family, friends and dachshund, listening to music, road trips and sitting by the water.
Mel works in EDQ’s Family Carer program as a Coach and is an experienced and accredited counsellor with over 24 years’ experience working in the non-for-profit sector.
She holds a Masters in Mental Health specialising in art therapy and has worked across three Australian states and territories. Mel has spent the past 10 years working with both consumers and carers exclusively in the field of eating disorders. Prior to this Mel was a youth and family counsellor working with at risk young people and their families.
Mel has an eclectic and integrated approach to counselling and practices from a strength based, client-centred framework. Mel is also an educator and speaker and is passionate about playing a role in the prevention and early intervention of eating disorders and improving body image and self-esteem for all people.
Mel has been happily married for over 19 years and is the mother of two children, a dog and five chickens. Mel enjoys singing, playing the guitar and writing music as well as painting, sculpture, photography and dance. Mel enjoys spending her time with her friends and family and traveling at any and every opportunity.
Nat is a practitioner in the Individual Clinical stream of EDQ’s services, (Masters of Counselling), who has been working as a counsellor and case worker for over 10 years in the areas of homelessness, mental health, women’s services and eating issues.
She also is a qualified yoga teacher for both adults and kids. Nat see her work as an exploration with people to enquire and find healing, freedom and contentment in their lives. She works from a range of approaches and values the therapeutic relationship as restorative and a place for change.
Nat enjoys spending time with her family and animals (2 dogs, 2 cats and 3 chickens), camping and road trips to the Outback, playing football and being by the water.
