STRIDES: Support to Recovery in Disordered Eating Service for 16-35s

The service is for people who are registered with a General Practitioner (GP) in Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Harrow, Hillingdon, and Brent.

Eating disorders affect people of every age, race, size, gender identity, sexual orientation and background. We are an inclusive service provider, our team consisting of a diverse range of staff, and we support people from all walks of life and communities, for example, people with disabilities, black or ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+, etc.

As we are a talking therapy service, we cannot accept referrals for individuals with high levels of medical risk relating to their eating disorder. However, we work in partnership with Vincent Square Eating Disorder Service and GPs to ensure that individuals referred to us with higher medical needs can access the appropriate level of support.

We are not a weight management service but if this is something you would like support with we recommend that you speak with your GP about local options.

We offer a range of evidence-based treatments for different eating difficulties. The interventions aim to help you understand your problems and provide you with the practical skills to regulate your eating, manage difficult emotions, and improve your body image in the long-term. They are delivered by specialist staff and can be accessed in different formats (for example, video-call or face to face sessions).

Laura Fialko (she/her), Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Team Lead

Laura is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and leads the STRIDES team.

She has worked in the NHS with adolescents and young adults since 2010 and is passionate about early intervention and helping people access treatments that work when they first need help.

Apostolos Polymerou (he/him), Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

Apostolos is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. He is passionate about early interventions and supporting young people to improve their mental health.

Claire Carrington (she/her), Trainee Psychological Therapist and Clinical Nurse Specialist

Claire’s role is a Mental Health Practitioner and the Duty Lead. Claire completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2009 before doing a MSc in Mental Health Nursing. She has worked with eating disorder patients since 2010 across various settings. Prior to joining STRIDES Claire worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Outpatient Liaison team at Vincent Square Eating Disorder Service.

Sandra Brooks (she/her), Trainee Psychological Therapist and Occupational Therapist

Sandra is a specialist occupational therapist for eating disorders. Sandra completed an undergraduate degree in Sociology in the USA and went on to complete an MSc in Occupational Therapy in southern England. She is experienced in working with patients with eating disorders in outpatient and day programme settings in London. Sandra is eager to advocate for meaningful activities of daily living and support individuals’ process of identity-shaping, through an occupational therapy lens within the STRIDES team. 

Eve Dore (she/her), Senior Assistant Psychologist

Eve is an Assistant Psychologist in the STRIDES team. She has previous primary care experience in IAPT settings. She is really proud and excited to be part of a team that aims to make effective support more accessible to people who are struggling with disordered eating.

Ailén Mahmoud (she/her), Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

Ailén is a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with the STRIDES team. Before joining STRIDES, she worked in NHS Talking Therapies services.

She is passionate about supporting people with body image issues and disordered eating. She is currently completing a doctorate in Psychology applied to Cognitive Neurosciences.

Lauren Blackstock, Senior Assistant Psychologist

Lauren is a Senior Assistant Psychologist within the STRIDES team. She has previous experience working with young people in tier 4 eating disorder services. Lauren is passionate about improving access to evidence-based treatments for disordered eating, and is proud to be part of an early intervention team focussed on this initiative.

Rachel Noon, Senior Assistant Psychologist

Rachel is a Senior Assistant Psychologist in the STRIDES team. She has previous experience working in the children/young people eating disorders team. She is passionate about early intervention in eating disorders and is proud to work for a team who offer effective and accessible interventions. 

Nice Kitapci, Senior Assistant Psychologist

Nice is a Senior Assistant Psychologist in the STRIDES team. She completed her undergraduate degree in the USA and went on to complete an MSc in England; she worked in a range of countries including Turkey and South Africa.

She has previous experience working with patients with eating disorders, and children in a range of settings. Nice is passionate about tailoring therapy to individuals’ needs and proud to be working within a team that offers early intervention, ensuring that everyone can access effective support.

Sara Desai, Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist

Sara is a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with the STRIDES team. Before joining STRIDES, she worked in NHS Talking Therapies services.

She is passionate about supporting young people with early interventions, to help them  have meaningful lives free from disordered eating.

King’s College NHS Health Centre

Address: 3rd Floor Southeast Wing, Bush House, 300 Strand, London WC2B 4PJ

How to get here:

• Closest tube: Temple, Holborn, or Covent Garden
• Train station: Waterloo (15-minute walk)

Westminster Talking Therapies Service – South Site

Address: 190 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1DX

How to get here:

• Underground: Victoria (Victoria, Circle, or District lines)
• Bus: Rochester Road (Numbers 2, 36, 185)

North Westminster Centre for Psychological Wellbeing

Address: 11 Praed Street, London, W2 1NJ

How to get here: 

Nearest Underground stations:

• Edgware Road (Circle, Hammersmith & City and District lines) - 3 minutes walking
• Paddington (Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & City and District lines) - 7 minutes walking, 10 minutes by bus 436, 36, 7

Bus stops and Routes:

• Edgware Road/Praed Street:  bus numbers 16, 36, 414, 436, N16
• Sussex Gardens: bus numbers 7, 23, 27, 36, 205, 436, N7, N205

Parking

• There is no parking on-site. There is street parking available near both premises.

Health at the Stowe

Address: 260 Harrow Road City of Westminster London W2 5ES

How to get here:

Nearest Tube Stations:

• Royal Oak Station (Circle and Hammersmith & City) 250m or 0.15 mile to Health at The Stowe
• Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo) 900m or 0.56 miles to Health at The Stowe
• Paddington: (Circle, District, Hammersmith and City, and Bakerloo) 1.1km or 0.68 miles to Health at The Stowe

Rail: Paddington (Elizabeth Line, Great Western Rail)

Bus stops: Nearest bus stop: Westminster Academy / Cirencester Street (routes 18 and 36)

CNWL Hillingdon Talking Therapies Service

Address: Beaufort House, Ground Floor, Cricket Field Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1QG

How to get here:

• Underground: Uxbridge (Piccadilly and Metropolitan)
• Bus: (Numbers 222, 331, 427, U1, U3, U4, U5, U7, U9, U10 and 607

Kensington and Chelsea Talking Therapies Service: St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing

Address: Exmoor Street, London, Greater London, W10 6DZ

How to get here:

• Underground: Ladbroke Grove
• Bus: 18, 316, 52, or 7

Brent Talking Therapies Service
Address: Bell House, 145a High Road Willesden, NW10 2SJ

How to get here:

• Underground: Kingsbury (Jubilee line) – 15 minutes walking, 8 minutes by Bus 204 or 324
• Bus stops and routes: Roe Green (204, 302, 324), Kingsbury Road (183, 302, 653, 683)
• Parking: there is limited parking onsite. There is also street parking available.

CNWL Roxborough Road

Address: 13-17 Roxborough Road, Harrow, HA1 1NS

How to get here:

• Underground: Harrow-on-the-Hill (Metropolitan Line)

Bus stops and routes: Harrow-on-the-Hill station (Numbers 140, 182, 186, 258, 340, 640, 114, 395, 483, H10, H9, H14, H17, HH19)

Please speak to your General Practitioner (GP) or other dedicated healthcare professional and ask them to make a referral on your behalf.

I’ve made a referral, what happens next?

A member of STRIDES team will call you within two working days of receiving your referral to arrange your assessment appointment. You will also be asked to complete and return a set of questionnaires before your assessment to help us better understand your needs.

Please note, if we feel that we are not the best service to support you, we will help refer you to the right service and discuss this with you during the welcome telephone call.

What will my first assessment appointment involve?

Your assessment appointment will last around an hour and will be an opportunity to discuss your eating difficulties and what you’d like support with. The assessment will likely cover the following areas:

• Your current eating routines and difficulties
• Your thoughts and feelings about your eating, weight, and shape
• Your physical health, including your weight
• Any other mental health concerns

At the end of the assessment there will be an opportunity to discuss your treatment options, your care plan, and for you to ask any questions.

Your assessment will last around an hour and will be an opportunity to discuss your eating concerns and what you’d like support with. The assessment will cover the following areas:

• Your current eating routines and difficulties
• Your thoughts and feelings about your eating and body image
• Your physical health, including your weight
• Any other mental health concerns

At the end of the assessment there will be an opportunity to discuss your treatment options and for you to ask questions.

We would encourage you to get in touch so we can discuss this with you. It is common for people with eating difficulties to think that they’re ‘not sick enough’ to warrant support, but seeking treatment as soon as possible can give you the best chance of recovering.

• Overcoming binge-eating (2nd edition) by Christopher G. Fairburn.
• Getting better bite by bite by Ulrike Schmidt and colleagues.
• Overcoming body image problems by David Veale and colleagues
• The Eatwell Guide
• Break Free from Eating Disorders: New workbook now available
• Best For You

• BEAT provides support and information to anyone affected by eating disorders, including sufferers, their family members and friends, professionals and anyone who wants to find out more about eating disorders - Beat website
• NHS Choices
  • Information about conditions, treatments and local services - NHS Choices website

Helplines

• Beat Adult Helpline (over 18s) 0808 201 0677 (Monday to Friday, 12pm to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 4pm to 8pm) or email help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
• Beat StudentLine 0808 801 0811 (Monday to Friday, 12pm to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 4pm to 8pm) or email studentline@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
• Beat 1:1 Webchat (Monday to Friday, 12pm to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 4pm to 8pm) access on this website
• Kooth.com (11-25 year olds) provides free, professional mental health support for those living across North West London, visit gov.kooth.com/nwlondon

• BEAT support for carers ​​​​​​
• FEAST 
• More Love – Eating Disorder Guide for Parents
• New Maudsley Guides for Caring for a loved one with an Eating Disorder

• If you feel you are in crisis or at risk of hurting yourself, please:
  • Attend your local A & E department or call 999.
  • Contact Single Point of Access Mental Health Crisis Line: 0800 0234 650 or email cnw-tr.spa@nhs.net (open 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year)
  • Other helplines
    • Samaritans is confidential listening service for people who are suicidal or in despair. Samaritans website Helpline: 116 123 (open 24 hours a day, seven days a week) or email jo@samaritans.org
    • Text SHOUT to 85258 for free 24/7 mental health text support

If you wish to provide feedback about STRIDES you can contact CNWL Patient Feedback and Complaints Service (PALS) on 0300 013 4799, email feedback.cnwl@nhs.net. You can also write to PALS at Patient Feedback and Complaints Service, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, 350 Euston Road. Regent’s Place, London NW1 3AX.

Please visit the PALS website for further details.