Fareham Counselling Centre · Hampshire

Counselling & CBT for Anorexia Hampshire

Gentle, paced support that works alongside your GP or care team — in Fareham or online.

Support you can use right now

You do not have to be at any particular stage to deserve help. These services are free and confidential, for you or for someone you are worried about.

You do not have to be "ill enough"

Anorexia is a serious illness, and it is also one that can be recovered from, at any age and at any stage. Many people put off asking for help because part of them says it is not bad enough yet. That thought is part of the illness, not a fair reading of your life.

Counselling in Fareham, or online, offers a calm, confidential space alongside your medical care, where nobody weighs you or watches what you eat. We work with people at every point, including those waiting for NHS treatment, those who have finished it, and families who do not know what to say.

A client and counsellor talking warmly in a counselling session in Fareham
No weighing. No food diaries. A space to be a person, not a patient.

How anorexia can feel from the inside

Everyone's experience is different, but people often describe something like this.

A constant critical voice Feeling in control when nothing else is Rules that keep getting stricter Guilt that never quite lifts Feeling you do not deserve help Dreading being talked about Pulling away from people Exhausted by the noise in your head Part of you wanting to stop

Anorexia is not a choice, a diet or vanity. It is a mental illness with a physical toll, and it is nobody's fault. If you are reading this for someone else, that same care applies to them.

A calm pier stretching out to sea

How much room is left?

One of the cruellest things about anorexia is how much space it takes up, until there is not much room for anything else. Recovery is not only about food. It is about getting the rest of your life back.

Recovery is rarely a straight line, and it does not have to be done alone or all at once. Most people start with one honest conversation.

Where we fit alongside NHS care

Anorexia affects the body as well as the mind, so medical monitoring matters. Please see your GP, who can check your physical health and refer you to an NHS eating disorder service. For children and young people, NHS services usually work with the whole family, and referrals are meant to be quick. Our counselling sits alongside that care, not instead of it, and we are glad to work with whatever your NHS team suggests. If you are unsure where to start, Beat can talk it through with you on 0808 801 0677.

What counselling can offer

Sessions are talking only. There is no weighing, no meal planning and no inspection of anything.

Somewhere to be honest

Say the things that are hard to say at home or in a clinic, without anyone reacting badly.

Separate you from the illness

Learn to notice which thoughts belong to anorexia, and which are yours.

Work on what feeds it

Anxiety, perfectionism, control, trauma or how you learned to feel about yourself.

Build a life worth recovering for

Friendships, study, work and the things anorexia crowded out.

A forest by the sea at sunrise
★★★★★

“They have always been patient and taken as much time as needed to build a trusting relationship. They have been very supportive through the most difficult times.”

Nicky, Winchester
No weighingAnd no food diaries to hand in
Alongside the NHSWe work with your GP and clinic
From £72Counselling. CBT £90
In person or onlineFareham, Hampshire, or by video

Questions about anorexia support

A woman smiling at home
What is anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa is a mental illness in which anxiety about eating, weight or body shape leads someone to limit what they eat, in a way that affects their physical health and their life. It can affect anyone, of any age, gender or background, and it is treatable.
Do I need a diagnosis before I can come?
No. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral or any particular test result to talk to us. Many people come while they are still unsure whether what they are going through counts. It counts.
Can counselling treat anorexia on its own?
We will always be honest with you about this. Anorexia affects the body, so it needs medical monitoring and often a specialist NHS team. Our counselling works best alongside that care, supporting the emotional side, and we will say so if we think you need more than we can offer.
Will you weigh me or ask about food?
We do not weigh anyone, and there are no food diaries or meal plans here. Your therapist will follow your lead on what you want to talk about. Many clients say it is a relief to have one hour that is not about numbers.
My child may have anorexia. What should I do?
Speak to your GP as soon as you can, and ask about a referral to your local NHS eating disorder service for children and young people. Early help makes a real difference. The Beat youthline is 0808 801 0711, and Beat also supports parents on 0808 801 0677. We can offer support for you as a parent while that is happening.
Can you help after NHS treatment, or with a relapse?
Yes. Many people come to us after being discharged, or when things start to slip again. A relapse is not a failure, and picking things up again early usually makes it much easier.
Is counselling confidential?
Yes, what you share stays between you and your therapist. The only exception is if your therapist is seriously worried about your safety, and they will talk to you about it first wherever they can. Your therapist will explain all of this in your first session.
How much does it cost, and can I have sessions online?
Counselling starts from £72 a session, and CBT is £90 for 50 minutes. Sessions can be in person in Fareham or online by secure video, at the same price. Your first 15 minute call is free. See all our prices.
Sunlight coming through a tree in a forest

One honest conversation

A free, confidential 15 minute call. You can call about yourself or about someone you love, and you only share what you want to.

Book my free call Call free 0800 970 4776
Free, confidential, no obligation