In this week’s episode, Han is joined by Marlene van den Berg. Marlene is an Occupational Therapist and therapeutic team manager at Akedo, Montrose Manor, a specialist eating disorder clinic. Marlene has worked in mental health for over 18 years, working with clients with acute & chronic mental health conditions, eating disorders, addiction concerns, and personality disorders. Marlene also hosts an outpatient support community: Healing Spaces Wellness and has a specific interest in group intervention and holistic, healing processes. As an Occupational Therapist she is passionate about supporting clients to find within themselves the motivation to live fully in all the areas of their lives; to engage in activities and processes that lead to inner and outer wellbeing and to encourage them to become their most authentic, healthiest selves.

This week, we discuss:

• The Montrose Manor approach, and how this differs from standard forms of treatment.
• Realising your eating disorder is a sign that life feels difficult, prompting you to take care of yourself.
• How Montrose Manor helps clients understand their struggles and develop personalised coping tools to manage their eating disorders and prioritise self-care.
• How Montose Manor helps their clients to step away from their eating disorder and the community they are part of within the treatment centre.
• The importance of developing life skills during eating disorder recovery.
• The difficulty of "getting rid" of your eating disorder, and the importance of refining life and freedom without an eating disorder life can bring.

To find out more about Montrose Manor, you can visit their website here or email them at [email protected].

Please note that this podcast explores topics some individuals may find difficult to hear and should not be used as a replacement for professional advice. If you need further support after this podcast, please consider talking to someone you trust. You may also wish to reach out to your GP or mental health professional.

We've included a list of additional support options in case you need them:

Samaritans are here for whatever you are going through. You can call free any time, from any phone, on 116 123.

FirstSteps Eating Disorders is an eating disorders charity for children and their families, young people, and adults affected by eating difficulties and disorders. You can call them on or email [email protected].

Beat Eating Disorders is an eating disorder charity offering support for those with or supporting someone with an eating disorder. You can call their helpline for free on 0808 801 0677 (England), 0808 801 0432 (Scotland), 0808 801 0433 (Wales), 0808 801 0434 (Northern Ireland).