Our specialist eating disorder team has experience in working with children, teenagers and adults with a wide range of eating disorders and with those whose eating-related problems don’t fit neatly into any category.
Eating Disorders
What are eating disorders?
Many people, throughout their lives, will experience eating-related difficulties. Often these problems emerge in childhood or adolescence, but they can appear at any point throughout our lifetime. Eating disorders usually involve eating too much or too little, or worrying about your weight and physical appearance.
What help is available?
Individual psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy, and working with a dietician all are effective in the treatment of eating disorders. Treatment is guided by a thorough assessment and may differ between individuals based on personal need.
How does it work? (triage/ assessment etc.)
When you make an enquiry, you will be asked to provide some basic information about yourself and what you are struggling with. If you are enquiring about somebody else, for example, a child, you will be asked to provide some information on their behalf. You will then be invited to a telephone consultation where you can give a clearer picture, which will help our clinicians decide on the most appropriate course of action.
How much will it cost?
Costs differ between individuals and types of therapy. You will be given a clear idea of fees before any treatment begins.
Where can I find more information about eating disorders?
For more information about eating disorders, visit the NHS website at:
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/eating-disorders/overview/
Make an Enquiry
Complete our short enquiry form and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible
Our Specialists
Lesley Maroni
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, EMDR practitioner
Dr Darren Cutinha
CONSULTANT CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST AND FAMILY THERAPIST
Dr Tony Jaffa
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST
Dr Zaib Davids
CONSULTANT CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST
Lesley Maroni
Lesley Maroni trained as a child and adolescent psychotherapist at the Tavistock Clinic, after which she took up a highly specialist post in the Family Unit at the Cassel Hospital, assessing and treating parents with their infants and children. This work involved report writing and appearing as an expert witness for the courts.
Lesley has also had extensive experience treating severely disturbed adolescents and young people both in NHS inpatient units and in specialist community child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Her areas of expertise are in working with adolescents with eating disorders; those who self-harm; those at risk of suicide; those who have been physically, emotionally and/or sexually abused and who have recurring flashbacks, as well as seeing children and young people who are suffering from anxiety and depression.
To facilitate the successful treatment of PTSD and dissociation, Lesley has completed the training for EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing); this is a short-term treatment (approx. 7-8 sessions), recommended by NICE, which can be used with children, adolescents and adults.
Lesley has lectured and published widely on a range of mental health issues. Her publications include ‘Understanding your 4-5-year-old’ (Jessica Kingsley – part of the Tavistock Series ‘Understanding your Child’). Her most recent publication is a chapter entitled ‘The language of smell’ in the book ‘Towards Belonging’ (Karnac).
Maroni, L. (in press) ‘The language of silence: factors inhibiting the production of language. The Journal of Educational Psychotherapy. To appear in August 2021 edition.
Maroni, L. (2020) Book review ‘On Adolescence: inside stories’by Waddell, M. (Routledge, 2018). International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 101 (4): pp.835-837.
Maroni, L. (2015) ‘The smell of belonging’ in Briggs, A. (Ed.) Towards Belonging. Negotiating new relationships for adopted children and those in care. Tavistock Clinic Series. London: Karnac (Reprinted Routledge, 2018).
Dr Darren Cutinha
Dr Darren Cutinha is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Family Therapist. His specialist area of expertise is eating disorders.
Darren works mainly in the NHS, at The Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders, where he leads the outpatient service. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer and Course Tutor on the MSc in Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition at University College London (UCL). He trained in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Family Therapy at The Tavistock Centre.
Darren has expertise in the assessment and treatment of all eating disorders and related mental health conditions in children, adolescents and young adults. He is happy to see young people with or without eating disorders.
In addition to eating disorders, Darren has a particular interest and expertise in the treatment of depression, anxiety, stress, perfectionism, low self-esteem, body image concerns and self-harm; relationship problems at home, school, or with peers; and in supporting young people in the transition from CAMHS and school to university or employment.
As a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Family Therapist, treatments Darren offers include: Individual Therapy, using a mixture of psychotherapeutic approaches; Parent sessions, to offer support and develop specific parenting skills; Family Therapy; and Medication.
Darren has a longstanding interest in teaching and training. He is regularly invited to lecture and teach, both nationally and internationally. He has also made several television and radio appearances.
Dr Tony Jaffa
Tony Jaffa is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. His professional career has mostly been in the NHS in Cambridge where he was director of both the adolescent psychiatry unit and the Phoenix Centre for eating disorders. He also ran a range of community/outpatient clinics. He has published widely in the professional literature, has taught internationally and was Clinical Director of the Trustwide Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department.
Dr Jaffa has expertise in a wide range of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, relationship problems and the effects of trauma.
Dr Zaib Davids
Dr Zaib N S Davids has been a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at UCLH and Honorary Senior Lecturer at UCL for 15 years.
She specialises in the assessment and treatment of full range of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders including depression, self-harm, trauma, anxiety, adjustments to physical illness as well as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and psychosis.
She has extensive experience in the treatment of complex psychosomatic conditions.
