Eating Disorder Carer Support
Carer support and family therapy for those supporting someone with an eating disorder.
When someone you love has an eating disorder, it affects everyone
Supporting someone through an eating disorder is one of the most emotionally demanding things a person can do.
You may feel shut out of the treatment process.
You may second-guess every meal, every comment, every moment of silence at the dinner table.
You may be exhausted in ways you can’t fully articulate because you haven’t been able to stop long enough to notice.
You may feel fear, grief, frustration, and fierce love—often all at once.
These are deeply human responses that deserve space.
Carer support exists because recovery is a team effort.
And teams work best when everyone is resourced, not running on empty.
A dedicated space for people who love someone with an eating disorder
Our Eating Disorder Carer Support and Family Therapy service is led by Bliss Jackman, a family therapist, Eating Disorder Carer Support Specialist, and someone who has lived this experience herself.
Bliss supported her own daughter through anorexia. Her dual perspective: professional and personal, gives her a quality of understanding that is rare, and a depth of empathy that is immediate.
This service is for:
‘Family’ members
Parents, siblings, partners, extended family, friends, flatmates. Basically anyone trying to understand, support, and find their own footing as a carer.
Those feeling lost
If you don’t know what to say at dinner, feel shut out of treatment, or can’t find the right words, carer support is for you.
Those navigating the system
Understanding care pathways, waitlists, treatment options, and your role within the team.
Those implementing FBT
Practical guidance for carers using Family Based Therapy at home, or preparing to.
Ongoing carers
For those in it for the long haul who need a regular space to tend to themselves as well as their loved one.
Those in crisis moments
Solution-focused single sessions are available to work through a specific challenge when you need it most.
Your loved one does not need to be an Eat Love Live client. No referral is required.
What family therapy and carer support can help with
Some carers seek a single-session consultation to work through a particular obstacle. Others value ongoing support to navigate the long-term nature of eating disorder recovery.
Both are welcome here.
Our carer support services may help families and carers in the following ways:
- Processing the emotional load of caregiving — fear, grief, frustration, hope
- Understanding the stepped system of eating disorder care in Victoria
- Navigating public and private treatment options
- Clarifying the roles within a multidisciplinary treatment team
- Learning about Family Based Therapy (FBT) and what it involves
- Practical strategies for implementing FBT at home
- Working through specific challenges in a focused, solution-oriented session
- Finding ways to refill your own reserves while continuing to show up for your loved one
- Making sense of your own responses to the illness and learning how to manage them without turning them inward
What happens in a carer support session?
Recognising that the needs of families and carers are as unique as the eating disorders their loved ones experience, sessions are personalised and tailored to those attending.
Sessions are dynamic and skills-focused, while remaining flexible to respond to emerging needs.
This may include:
- Emotional validation and space to reflect
- Practical strategies and collaborative problem-solving
- Guidance navigating treatment systems
- Support implementing Family Based Therapy at home
- Space to “refill your cup” and process the caregiving load
Whether you attend alone or with others from your family system, the focus remains on strengthening your capacity to support your loved one while also making room for your own experience.
Watch or listen to our Eating Disorder Carer Support Specialist, Bliss Jackman, speak about the role of carer support in this short video.
How sessions with our Eating Disorder Carer Support Specialist work
We offer face-to-face consultations at our Collingwood clinic and Telehealth appointments for your convenience and comfort.
Solution-Focused Single Session
A standalone 50-minute (or extended 80-minute) session designed to work through a specific challenge or question. No commitment to ongoing sessions. Many carers find this is exactly what they need to find their footing again.
Initial Family/Carer Consultation
An initial 50-minute session for those looking for ongoing support throughout their loved one’s recovery journey.
Ongoing Family/Carer Review Sessions
Dedicated space to adjust strategies, process what’s happened since last time, and building the resources you need to keep showing up for your loved one and for yourself.
Session fees
Solution-Focused Single Session (50-minutes) – $215
Solution-Focused Single Session (80-minutes) – $275
Family/Carer Consultation – Initial (50-minutes) – $215
Family/Carer Consultation – Review (50-minutes) – $180
We do not bulk bill.
Funding & Rebates:
Please note that family therapy/eating disorder carer support sessions are not eligible for Medicare rebates or private health insurance.
For full details on payment, cancellation, and outstanding account policies, see our Fees & Policies page.
Meet our carer support specialist and family therapist, Bliss Jackman
Bliss combines professional training in psychology, family therapy and peer work with lived experience supporting her daughter through anorexia.
She has worked across public and private eating disorder settings, most recently leading the lived experience team at CEED (Victorian Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders).
This service is designed specifically for the wider support network—not just parents, but partners, siblings, friends and flatmates. Sessions can include all, some or individual members of the family system.
With Bliss, you can expect carer support that is:
- Skills-focused and practical
- Grounded in evidence-informed approaches
- Responsive to real-time challenges
- Compassionate and validating
- Inclusive of diverse family structures
Frequently Asked Questions
You might be wondering...
Do I need a referral to access carer support?
No, you don’t need a referral from a GP, nor does your loved one need to be a former, current or existing client of Eat Love Live
Can I access carer support sessions through Medicare?
Family therapy/eating disorder carer support sessions are not eligible for Medicare rebates or private health insurance.
What's the difference between a single session and ongoing sessions?
A solution-focused single session is designed for a specific challenge, it’s a standalone appointment with no obligation to continue. Ongoing sessions provide regular space for you over the course of your loved one’s recovery. Bliss can help work out what’s most useful for your situation at your first appointment, there’s no pressure to commit upfront.
How does the session structure work?
Sessions are 50 minutes of direct time with your clinician, booked as a 60-minute appointment. The additional time covers care coordination and documentation that happens on your behalf. For full details on fees, rebates, and how sessions work, visit our Fees & Policies page.
How do I book a carer support session at Eat Love Live?
If you are interested in booking with Bliss, you can book online using her online booking link or call reception on (03) 9087 8379 to make a booking over the phone.
What if I'm not sure this is the right kind of help for me?
Please call reception on (03) 9087 8379 and have a chat or share a little bit about yourself in our Pre-Assessment Questionnaire, along with what you’re looking for and we will get back to you.
Let’s strengthen your support system so you can support your loved one.
If you’re feeling unsure, overwhelmed or stuck, a focused carer support session can help you move forward.
Or call us on (03) 9087 8379