We have state of the art equine facilities and are offering Equine-Assisted Mental Health and Psychotherapy in our program. Our practitioners employ a wide range of psychological and human development principles in working with participants alongside our herd of horses to address underlying psychological problems.

Permaculture Therapy provides a valuable framework for people to develop an understanding of their connection with the wider natural world. Permaculture is the practice of incorporating nature, gardening/horticulture/agriculture and animals into treatment and is well established as a useful adjunct to treatment in the care of people with eating disorders. Permaculture allows participants to learn about and practice growing food sustainably while giving them an opportunity to reflect on their own purpose and values.

Exercise and movement are important for physical and emotional wellbeing. Our Movement Therapy program is designed and monitored by exercise physiologists and incorporate different activities such as nature walk, yoga, guided stretch exercises and dancing. We understand the complexities that come with some eating disorders in the form of excessive exercise and strive to support our participants to develop healthy habits around movement and exercise.

“Expressive Therapies”, which incorporate Art, Music, Drama & Dance Therapy encourage creativity and focus on the non-verbal aspect of communication through the use of imagery, symbolism and metaphors as a link to psychological/emotional states. We believe any individual regardless of ability, disability, illness or health can engage creatively in the arts and use them to help restore health and wellbeing.

At Wandi Nerida we understand the importance of one-to-one sessions with a participant’s individual care team. However, one of the aspects that sets us apart is our focus on group therapy. We believe that social community is a powerful agent for change. Group Therapy fosters social connection and allows for peer feedback and reflection as well as accountability and support. Research has shown strong outcomes in routine clinical settings for psychological therapy delivered in a group format to clients with eating disorders.

At Wandi Nerida we take a “systemic approach” to treating eating disorders. This means that our treatment program considers all the factors in a participants’ context that may be maintaining the eating disorder and also draws on a participants’ environment to find support and solutions to help them recover from the eating disorder. Furthermore, we recognise that eating disorders affect not only the individual but impact whole families and communities. Our Family Therapy program therefore has both educational and therapeutic components to help families heal and draws on the strength in families to assist their loved one to recover from an eating disorder.

While treatment can feel like a safe cocoon, it is important to practice being in recovery out in the world. To help support you as you apply healthy coping skills in real-world scenarios such as going to the movies, getting coffee and snack, visiting museums, etc. Staff always accompany participants during these exposures.