I provide support to parents/caregivers and family members who have a loved one with an eating disorder. I am not a therapist or psychologist or social worker, but I have 11 years lived experience as a caregiver of a child who has now recovered from an eating disorder and a great deal of related professional experience in the world of eating disorders*. I conduct my sessions virtually via Zoom, so I am able to offer support to anyone, anywhere, as long as we keep the time zones in mind (I'm on Mountain Standard Time.) If you are interested in connecting, the intake form is at the bottom of this page.
Having a loved one with a mental illness is a lonely journey. Family and friends are often unsure how to help. Shame and stigma can compound the problem and parents can feel completely isolated at a time when they most need connection. Having an empathetic, knowledgeable and nonjudgmental guide can make a huge difference and I feel so honoured to connect with caregivers during this intense and vulnerable time. I can help you connect with resources, navigate the system, understand the illness, anticipate some of what may come, normalize what you are feeling, and teach you skills to help preserve your relationships and assist your loved one's recovery. It has always been my belief that parents are integral to recovery and recent research confirms that when parents are properly supported and educated about eating disorders, recovery rates are greatly improved, regardless of the age of the person dealing with the eating disorder. So, the best way to help your loved one is to make sure you are fully supported!
My background and training:
I am trained as a family peer support worker through Canadian Mental Health Association's School of Peer Support. This training is only open to those who have lived experience as a caregiver who has actively supported a loved one with mental health or substance use disorder. The training covered the ethics and competencies of peer support as outlined by Peer Support Canada, as well as a variety of topics including: how peer support is different from treatement or therapy, sharing your lived experience appropriately to assist others, professional boundaries, active listening skills, inspiring hope and resilience, stages of change and the recovery process. As everyone in the class had lived experience with mental illness or substance use, we learned a tremendous amount from each others' journeys. The year-long training concluded with 80+ hours of practicuum placement and supervision.
I have also completed training in mediation, conflict resolution, emotion-focused family therapy, and most recently an introduction to Polyvagal Therapy. I use all of this, as well as my past professional and board experience in the world of eating disorders and mental health to assist parents and other caregivers navigate the system and advocate for their loved one. I currently serve as a board member on the National Iniative for Eating Disorders (NIED)
*Past experience includes: founding Executive Director for the Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta (EDSNA.ca), author of a book on families who overcame eating disorders, former Family Support Specialist with Alberta Wellness Center for Eating Disorders, former Vice President of the Eating Disorder Foundation of Canada, former workshop facilitator for Mental Health Foundations and Recovery College Coordinator for the Canadian Mental Health Association of Edmonton, and former Trustee for Edmonton Public Schools.
Feedback from clients:
"Months ago, I found a guiding light in my dark journey of being a caregiver to my daughter with ED. After years of trying to help her, I felt isolated, was drowning and had lost all hope for her recovery. I met Sue in a group Caregiver Workshop. I learned about her workshop from a support group I dreaded attending. Talking to others about my daughter's ED made me feel anxious and guilty. That was the first thing I shared with Sue. Through the workshop, I learned to accept help for myself in order to be able to support my daughter. Working with Sue 1:1 has given me the courage I needed to keep hope. She has taught me emotional coaching techniques, has helped me break down overwhelming situations, has helped me organize my thoughts, has given me the voice I need to stand firm to my daughter's ED while loving her unconditionally, has made me feel safe and validated. She is tremendously resourceful, up to date with therapeutic approaches, kind, and compassionate. She has been my rock at times of storm." M, California, USA
"Speaking with Sue weekly has been a lifesaver for me. Often, my daughters ED feels as if I am swimming in murky waters, speaking with Sue gives me the clarity that I need when making decisions about her treatment options and every day decisions about her health. Sue's past experience with her own daughter, has given me hope for the recovery of my daughter with Anorexia Nervosa." -S. California, USA
"Thank you for offering help to our family long before we even enrolled in this course. When we first connected on LinkedIn, and you had no idea who I was, I knew that I had found a gem of a human, and a friend, as you were so generous with your extraordinary wisdom. Eight classes later, plus your book that I'm now enjoying, and I still find so much lasting value in all your insights. You ALWAYS have something interesting and worthwhile to contribute or add, which is a testimony to your earned knowledge about eating disorders and your obvious flair for group facilitation." -K, Edmonton, AB
"When I joined (Sue's Group for Caregivers) , I was pretty sure it was going to be more of the same info that I had gotten from other groups, but it was so much more! It's going to take me some time to digest all of the handouts you sent, but I'm excited to get working on it. This is exactly what I needed! You both shared so much information that I believe is going to help us be in the best situation to help (our daughter) move forward. I think the biggest difference between this group and other groups I've been involved in is your sessions on self care, hope and post trauma growth. (Our daughter) can pick up on our energy, and if we are stressed or exhausted, it makes her feel like a burden and the disorder takes over. The emotion coaching and validating has been a huge help." -C, Calgary, AB
Having a loved one with a mental illness is a lonely journey. Family and friends are often unsure how to help. Shame and stigma can compound the problem and parents can feel completely isolated at a time when they most need connection. Having an empathetic, knowledgeable and nonjudgmental guide can make a huge difference and I feel so honoured to connect with caregivers during this intense and vulnerable time. I can help you connect with resources, navigate the system, understand the illness, anticipate some of what may come, normalize what you are feeling, and teach you skills to help preserve your relationships and assist your loved one's recovery. It has always been my belief that parents are integral to recovery and recent research confirms that when parents are properly supported and educated about eating disorders, recovery rates are greatly improved, regardless of the age of the person dealing with the eating disorder. So, the best way to help your loved one is to make sure you are fully supported!
My background and training:
I am trained as a family peer support worker through Canadian Mental Health Association's School of Peer Support. This training is only open to those who have lived experience as a caregiver who has actively supported a loved one with mental health or substance use disorder. The training covered the ethics and competencies of peer support as outlined by Peer Support Canada, as well as a variety of topics including: how peer support is different from treatement or therapy, sharing your lived experience appropriately to assist others, professional boundaries, active listening skills, inspiring hope and resilience, stages of change and the recovery process. As everyone in the class had lived experience with mental illness or substance use, we learned a tremendous amount from each others' journeys. The year-long training concluded with 80+ hours of practicuum placement and supervision.
I have also completed training in mediation, conflict resolution, emotion-focused family therapy, and most recently an introduction to Polyvagal Therapy. I use all of this, as well as my past professional and board experience in the world of eating disorders and mental health to assist parents and other caregivers navigate the system and advocate for their loved one. I currently serve as a board member on the National Iniative for Eating Disorders (NIED)
*Past experience includes: founding Executive Director for the Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta (EDSNA.ca), author of a book on families who overcame eating disorders, former Family Support Specialist with Alberta Wellness Center for Eating Disorders, former Vice President of the Eating Disorder Foundation of Canada, former workshop facilitator for Mental Health Foundations and Recovery College Coordinator for the Canadian Mental Health Association of Edmonton, and former Trustee for Edmonton Public Schools.
Feedback from clients:
"Months ago, I found a guiding light in my dark journey of being a caregiver to my daughter with ED. After years of trying to help her, I felt isolated, was drowning and had lost all hope for her recovery. I met Sue in a group Caregiver Workshop. I learned about her workshop from a support group I dreaded attending. Talking to others about my daughter's ED made me feel anxious and guilty. That was the first thing I shared with Sue. Through the workshop, I learned to accept help for myself in order to be able to support my daughter. Working with Sue 1:1 has given me the courage I needed to keep hope. She has taught me emotional coaching techniques, has helped me break down overwhelming situations, has helped me organize my thoughts, has given me the voice I need to stand firm to my daughter's ED while loving her unconditionally, has made me feel safe and validated. She is tremendously resourceful, up to date with therapeutic approaches, kind, and compassionate. She has been my rock at times of storm." M, California, USA
"Speaking with Sue weekly has been a lifesaver for me. Often, my daughters ED feels as if I am swimming in murky waters, speaking with Sue gives me the clarity that I need when making decisions about her treatment options and every day decisions about her health. Sue's past experience with her own daughter, has given me hope for the recovery of my daughter with Anorexia Nervosa." -S. California, USA
"Thank you for offering help to our family long before we even enrolled in this course. When we first connected on LinkedIn, and you had no idea who I was, I knew that I had found a gem of a human, and a friend, as you were so generous with your extraordinary wisdom. Eight classes later, plus your book that I'm now enjoying, and I still find so much lasting value in all your insights. You ALWAYS have something interesting and worthwhile to contribute or add, which is a testimony to your earned knowledge about eating disorders and your obvious flair for group facilitation." -K, Edmonton, AB
"When I joined (Sue's Group for Caregivers) , I was pretty sure it was going to be more of the same info that I had gotten from other groups, but it was so much more! It's going to take me some time to digest all of the handouts you sent, but I'm excited to get working on it. This is exactly what I needed! You both shared so much information that I believe is going to help us be in the best situation to help (our daughter) move forward. I think the biggest difference between this group and other groups I've been involved in is your sessions on self care, hope and post trauma growth. (Our daughter) can pick up on our energy, and if we are stressed or exhausted, it makes her feel like a burden and the disorder takes over. The emotion coaching and validating has been a huge help." -C, Calgary, AB
What I offer:
1) Free 15-minute consult
To see if I might be a good fit for you, I offer a free, 15-minute introductory Zoom call. During the call, I will share a little bit about myself and how family support works. You can share (if you wish) a little bit about the challenges you are facing and what you are hoping to get from the sessions. I will go over the sliding scale and answer any questions you might have.
2) Family Support, Mentoring, Education, Coaching
60-minute sessions via Zoom
Suitable for: Any adult (or couple) who is currently supporting someone with an eating disorder. I tailor the content of the sessions to meet your needs. I offer timeslots throughout the week (day/evening) and have some weekend spots as well.
Cost: Sliding scale ($55-$100/session)
3) Virtual Meal Support
I can attend meals virtually, to provide support and coaching to parents and caregivers who are supervising meals for a loved one recovering from an eating disorder. After rapport has been established, I can provide meal support without the parents present, to allow for some respite from this relentless and demanding task.
Please note: Meal plans need to be developed and evaluated regularly by a Dietitian with Eating Disorder experience. I cannot advise on appropriate calorie intake or nutritional needs.
Cost: Sliding scale ($50 per hour, pro-rated based on the amount of time I spend on the call)
4) Facilitated Conversations
Open communication can be challenging at the best of times, and it is not unusual for communication to become quite strained when an eating disorder is present. Using my training as a mediator and my unique understanding of eating disorders, I can help caregivers speak with each other as they manage the incredible stress, fear, and exhaustion that challenge families dealing with eating disorders.
Under some circumstances*, I can also facilitate conversations between caregivers and the person with the eating disorder.
*I would meet each person separately first to see if this is advisable or if other supports need to be put in place first.
Cost: Sliding scale ($55-$100/session)
5) Educational Workshops for Small Groups
I offer a number of workshops that may be helpful for the entire family, extended family, teachers, coaches, or other supporters.
These include:
You can learn more about my workshopsp by visiting this page
Please fill in the intake form below or send me an email (info@suehuff.ca) if you have any questions
1) Free 15-minute consult
To see if I might be a good fit for you, I offer a free, 15-minute introductory Zoom call. During the call, I will share a little bit about myself and how family support works. You can share (if you wish) a little bit about the challenges you are facing and what you are hoping to get from the sessions. I will go over the sliding scale and answer any questions you might have.
2) Family Support, Mentoring, Education, Coaching
60-minute sessions via Zoom
Suitable for: Any adult (or couple) who is currently supporting someone with an eating disorder. I tailor the content of the sessions to meet your needs. I offer timeslots throughout the week (day/evening) and have some weekend spots as well.
Cost: Sliding scale ($55-$100/session)
3) Virtual Meal Support
I can attend meals virtually, to provide support and coaching to parents and caregivers who are supervising meals for a loved one recovering from an eating disorder. After rapport has been established, I can provide meal support without the parents present, to allow for some respite from this relentless and demanding task.
Please note: Meal plans need to be developed and evaluated regularly by a Dietitian with Eating Disorder experience. I cannot advise on appropriate calorie intake or nutritional needs.
Cost: Sliding scale ($50 per hour, pro-rated based on the amount of time I spend on the call)
4) Facilitated Conversations
Open communication can be challenging at the best of times, and it is not unusual for communication to become quite strained when an eating disorder is present. Using my training as a mediator and my unique understanding of eating disorders, I can help caregivers speak with each other as they manage the incredible stress, fear, and exhaustion that challenge families dealing with eating disorders.
Under some circumstances*, I can also facilitate conversations between caregivers and the person with the eating disorder.
*I would meet each person separately first to see if this is advisable or if other supports need to be put in place first.
Cost: Sliding scale ($55-$100/session)
5) Educational Workshops for Small Groups
I offer a number of workshops that may be helpful for the entire family, extended family, teachers, coaches, or other supporters.
These include:
- Eating Disorders 101: an overview about eating disorders to get everyone "on the same page" and answer any questions
- Emotion Coaching: a skills-based workshop, to give families a new way to respond to their loved one's emotional reactions and behaviour.
- How to Stop Helping and Start Empowering: a very helpful transitional skill, as your loved one recovers
- Throwing Away Lunches and Saying I'm Fat: a workshop on disordered eating, and poor body image, which are often precursors to an eating disorder
You can learn more about my workshopsp by visiting this page
Please fill in the intake form below or send me an email (info@suehuff.ca) if you have any questions
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