No matter where you are in your recovery journey, our groups can provide the support and skills you need to get there faster. Silver Linings Community Navigator and Registered Nurse, Jennie Mendoza, talks us through the options.
For teens taking their first steps towards recovery
For youth, age 12 to 17, our online Teens Online Support Group offers a safe space to be heard, and feel connection and validation. A formal diagnosis is not necessary to participate in this group.
“This online support group has provided a lifeline for many young people who are struggling with eating disorders, most commonly anorexia and bulimia,” says Jennie. “It is led by one of our younger facilitators, Sophie, who has lived experience of an eating disorder. This aspect is really crucial because young people often report feeling misunderstood, alone or in denial. Finding common ground with others can be very valuable.”
For adults taking their first steps towards recovery
For adults who have been newly diagnosed with an eating disorder, have recently developed an eating disorder, or who have never received treatment for an eating disorder, we have our online All Eating Disorders Support Group. This group is facilitated by one of our most experienced therapists, Lakshmi Krishnan.
“Like the group for teens, this is a safe space for sharing and exploring the often complex feelings which accompany an eating disorder,” says Jennie. “It is a place to learn about anxiety and the role that plays and for participants to receive informed feedback to support their first steps towards recovery.”
For those who struggle with binge eating
Whether you struggle with binging or binging and purging, our online Binge Eating Disorder Group for adults offers tailored support, led by a psychologist. This group discusses a range of topics to explore triggers, alternative coping skills and self-compassion.
“Binge eating disorder is the most common and least treated eating disorder. Aside from the obesity clinic, Silver Linings Foundation is the only organization in Calgary supporting people with this disorder,” says Jennie. “This group fills an important gap in the support landscape and is often a first step on the road to recovery.”
For parents and loved ones seeking community
For parents, grandparents, adult siblings and adult children, our online Parent and Loved Ones Support Group provides a space for those living with or close to anyone with an eating disorder a chance to connect and share positive experiences.
“This group is all about building a stronger community of support for those in recovery, by empowering their caregivers,” explains Jennie. “We encourage caregivers to share stories of success, resources and perspectives.”
For teens and adults seeking reflection and expression
For adults and teens who have already started on the road to recovery, our online and in-person Art Therapy Group provides a space for expression, learning and quiet processing. No art experience is required.
We recommend this group to those who have already taken the time to attend our Teens Online Support Group, our All Eating Disorders Support Group for adults or our Binge Eating Support Group.
“On the road to recovery, it can be valuable to expand our toolkit of coping and processing skills with new experiences,” says Jennie. “Art therapy often involves metaphor work, so taking something that you’re struggling with and turning it into an art piece. It can be really helpful to process complex emotions. Art therapy can also be a great way to relax and meditate.”
For teens and adults seeking physical nourishment through movement
For adults and teens who have already started on the road to recovery, our online and in-person Yoga Group provides a space for movement and body reconciliation.
We recommend this group to those who have already taken the time to attend either our Teens Online Support Group or our All Eating Disorders Support Group for adults or our Binge Eating Support Group.
“This is a restorative yoga class where the focus is on meditation, mindfulness and stretching,” says Jennie. “Often what we’re striving for here is not for people to love their bodies but simply to feel neutral about them, to appreciate them, and to accept them. This is a class for those who have already put in some therapy time in their recovery and are looking for new ways to move forward on that road.”
For those who want to better understand their relationship with their body image
Our Body Image Support Group for adults is for those further along on their recovery journey, looking to delve deeper into their thought processes, core values, and beliefs.
“People with eating disorders often think it’s all about their body but that’s not the case,” explains Jennie. “Eating disorders are about emotions and anxiety. Delving into a person’s core beliefs, their internal voice, maybe even memories from childhood, can help to put the final pieces of a full recovery together. This group is about working on yourself and increasing your resilience.”
Silver Linings Foundation is Alberta’s eating disorder resource, dedicated to advocacy and recovery. Our team are experts in the field of youth and adult mental health.
We offer online and in-person programs for teenagers and adults in eating disorder recovery as well as support for parents and loved ones caring for someone with an eating disorder. Check them out here.