Jess’s story — from secrecy to self-compassion and self-discovery
How joining a Recovery Circle at Ianthe House Helped Jess to Open Up, Build Resilience, and Find Her Voice.
For years, Jess carried the weight of her eating disorder in silence. She had been to therapy before but had avoided addressing it head-on—convincing herself that she was 'managing'—but in reality, she was trapped in cycles of secrecy and self-judgment. It wasn’t until she joined Ianthe House that she found the safety to explore what eating disorder recovery could truly mean for her.
With us, together with her Recovery Circle, she discovered a different kind of support—a community where safety, connection, and compassion provided the foundation for healing. Through reflective sessions with her Recovery Circle and learning practical tools like EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), Jess began to take confident steps forward.
💡 Many women struggle to recognise their eating disorder, as internalised shame often leads to avoidance, self-minimisation, or a belief that they aren't 'sick enough' to need help
“I’ve found the strength and courage to openly talk about my ED for the first time.”
The Recovery Circle – Finding Strength in Connection
Upon joining one of our remote Recovery Circles Jess realised that connection was not just a part of recovery but a catalyst for healing. Finding a space where she could share openly helped her see that vulnerability was a strength, not a weakness. This shift allowed her to break free from the avoidance and isolation that had kept her stuck for so long.
“It’s really nice how everybody’s so supportive of everybody else…it just feels like such a safe space. Even though some of the stuff that comes up is really heavy, I think it almost brings a lightness. We were just cracking jokes and talking about our dating tragedies.
I wasn’t expecting for four out of six of us to be in sobriety recovery as well, and that gave an instant connection.”
⤷ how peer-support made the difference
Jess had always been hesitant to talk about her eating disorder, fearing judgment or misunderstanding.
She realised that sharing her story wasn’t just healing for herself, but also fostered a deeper understanding and connection with others in the group, allowing her to feel seen and valued for who she truly was.
She found that heavy topics could be discussed in a way that didn’t feel overwhelming, creating a balance between vulnerability and moments of lightness.
A shared experience of sobriety within the group deepened her sense of belonging.
📍 Recovery isn't just about addressing eating patterns—it's about breaking the cycle of isolation and self-judgment. Vulnerability within a supportive circle can transform fear and shame into connection.
🔗 How peer support transforms eating disorder recovery outcomes.
EFT For Eating Disorder Recovery — A Practical Tool for Emotional Resilience
Before discovering EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques, or ‘tapping), Jess often felt overwhelmed by her emotions, unsure of how to manage them in a way that didn’t spiral into self-destructive patterns. Learning EFT became a turning point, giving her a structured, step-by-step method to navigate difficult feelings with control and self-compassion.
“The step-by-step approach takes you on a journey. Combining the tapping with the therapy really provides you with tools you can fall back on in times of difficulty.”
⤷ key breakthroughs
Our step-by-step approach helped Jess to gradually integrate EFT into her routine—making it a consistent and reliable resource she could turn to in difficult moments.
When emotions felt too overwhelming, tapping gave her an immediate sense of grounding.
She found that EFT not only provided relief in the moment but also empowered her to break down intense feelings into manageable steps.
Over time, it became a bridge between emotional awareness and action, helping her respond to triggers in healthier and more constructive ways.
⤷ data snapshot
Her well-being and quality of life scores increased from 79% → 92% in within just six weeks.
📍 At Ianthe House, recovery isn’t about relying on willpower or discipline. It’s about gradually transforming your emotional responses to challenges—until you no longer rely on self-destructive coping mechanisms to navigate them.
Personal Growth and Reflections — Small Steps Toward Big Change
Growth in recovery doesn’t happen overnight—it happens in small, often subtle shifts that build momentum over time. For Jess, the process of self-reflection during psychodynamic sessions revealed habits and patterns that had once felt like second nature but were actually keeping her stuck. She began to recognise these ingrained behaviours and, more importantly, how she could start shifting them.
“The reflective piece has really helped me identify the behaviours that have become so normalised in my daily life that I didn’t even understand as problems to try and address.
It starts with one small thing to think about—identifying the triggers or the habits you’ve formed, with suggestions on how to try something differently. It’s helped me reflect on habits like holding back or being avoidant.”
⤷ How small steps formed a path forward
Jess hadn’t realised how deeply ingrained some of her behaviours were until therapy helped her reflect on them.
She began noticing how much she held back in conversations and how perfectionism had shaped her habits.
The reflective nature of the sessions helped her break down overwhelming thoughts into small, actionable steps.
Over time, she started to feel more confident in expressing herself and advocating for her needs.
“I’ve realised I feel more confident when I express myself, even if it’s challenging.”
The Power Of Small Acts Of Care In Recovery
Jess had spent years feeling like she had to handle everything on her own, so learning to feel cared for and supported was an unexpected element of the program for Jessie. She discovered that even small gestures of care and compassion, like our daily support messages, could help her feel less isolated.
“I love the messages. Sometimes they say things like, ‘Sleep well, Jess,’ and it just makes me feel like someone cares.”
⤷ how daily support made a difference
The daily check-ins and structured support messages give Jess a sense of consistency and reassurance.
Messages timed for the most challenging times of the day deliver the right motivation at the right time and remind her to be kind to herself.
Small thoughtful messages act as a reminder that someone was thinking of her and supporting her progress.
📍 Receiving care and compassion from others can often translate into learning to offer the same to yourself. Our support messages encourage self-compassion and kindness throughout the day, especially in the face of challenges.
🔗 Explore the role of daily support messages in eating disorder recovery.
Where Jess Is Now — A Journey of Empowerment
Jess’s eating disorder recovery is marked by courage, resilience, and self-discovery. She no longer feels alone in her journey and has built a toolkit of strategies to help her manage the ups and downs of recovery.
“I’m on a journey to discovering myself in such a different way. It’s made me feel quite positive and hopeful because it just feels like I’m on the cusp of a big change.”
⤷ key breakthroughs
Jess has learned to trust herself and respond to challenges with self-compassion rather than self-judgment.
Her ability to manage distress has significantly improved, reducing the intensity of emotional struggles.
She is actively engaging in recovery work, showing growth in confidence, emotional awareness, and self-advocacy.
The structured support of the Recovery Circle program and practical tools like EFT have helped her shift from avoidance to active healing.
This growth has not only bolstered her confidence but has also helped her embrace uncertainty with newfound optimism.
⤷ data snapshot
Her commitment to recovery (Active Tackling scores) increased from 14% → 53% within just six weeks.
📍 Jess’s journey illustrates the transformative power of connection, structured support, and that the courage to take one small step at a time leads to transformations greater than you could have ever imagined.
start your recovery journey with us today
At Ianthe House, we empower our clients to take charge of their eating disorder recovery, equipping them with the tools to build a personalised and sustainable path forward, guided by lived-experience mentorship and peer-support, every step of the way.
⤷ why choose a recovery circle?
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💛 work with an intimate, therapist-led group that provides expert therapeutic guidance and peer support every step of the way.
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💌 maintain momentum with structured, compassionate support and mentorship through every moment of your day.
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🧰 experience psychodynamic therapy, EFT, somatic therapy, psychedelic therapy and other powerful recovery tools at your fingertips.
📍 A full year in a Recovery Circle costs the same as just one month of intensive outpatient or two weeks of residential treatment—making long-term, structured support finally accessible.
