Oakdale offers a range of bespoke and psychologically informed assessment and treatment options for older adolescents and adults experiencing all ranges of eating based difficulties. This service is based on the core treatment pillars of psychological therapy, body based therapy and nutrition and specialist dietetic support and is trauma-informed in its approach.
Clients have the option of online or face to face appointments.
The service is led by Dr Helen McLay, Principal Clinical Psychologist, who has worked in NHS Eating Disorder Services for many years. For more information on Dr Helen McLay, please see our ‘Meet the Team’ section below.
This service has a multidisciplinary approach and understands that eating and body based difficulties show themselves in many different ways, can present at any weight, and are often hidden or ‘secret’, where weight can fluctuate hugely in a very distressing way. Whilst there is no one solution or quick fix, with the right support, careful assessment, and formulation of the whole person, with the option of a range of holistic treatment options provided by a collaborative team of experts, change is possible.
We endeavour to work with our clients to develop a range of personal and interpersonal resources and knowledge that can help them to feel confident, competent and capable of leading their best lives for long term change.
The service philosophy is based on the idea that there are three core pillars of change essential to treatment and that these pillars are interlinked and thus a change in one, will benefit the other.
The Oakdale Eating Difficulties Service is a multi-disciplinary team of specialist experts in the field of eating based difficulties and eating disorder recovery. We work together to provide bespoke and tailor made packages of care.
This service is lead by Dr Helen McLay, Principal Clinical Psychologist, who oversees all assessment and treatment planning, multidisciplinary work and psychological therapies.
Yoga Therapy, trauma-informed yoga and mind-body education workshops are offered by Sam Alexander-Vasey, Yoga Therapist and Wellness Teacher.
Nutritional rehabilitation, behavioural interventions to help manage disordered eating, and support for meal planning tailored to your goals and preferences are offered by Anna Daniels, Specialist Dietitian.
Principal Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Lead for the Oakdale Eating Difficulties Service
I began working for the Oakdale Centre, Harrogate, in early 2021, and in February 2023 was delighted to join the team as Clinical Lead in the development of a new eating disorder service. An exciting opportunity to offer a truly inclusive, holistic, non-pathologizing service – bringing together clinical psychology, nutrition, mindfulness and creative and body-based therapies.
I have over twenty years of experience within adult mental health services, specialist eating disorder inpatient and community services and a mix of both NHS and independent sector organisations. I qualified from the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2007, and one of my motivations for choosing clinical psychology as a career came from an awareness of a lack of adequate service provision in the important clinical area of eating disorders. I wanted to be part of the change process around the way mental health was viewed and treated and offer a holistic range of evidence-based services to truly meet the needs of this client group.
I have experience in service development, individual and group work, MDT work, teaching, training, supervision and consultation alongside specialist individual and family work. My work is integrative and trauma-informed. I am committed to recognising the strength of diversity and changing the way we view, treat and respond to mental illness.
More recently, I have completed additional training in Internal Family Systems to include working with addictive processes and eating based difficulties. I’m excited to bring this unique approach to my clinical work as recognised as a highly effective treatment model in this clinical area.
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Specialist Dietitian
Anna is an award-winning Registered Dietitian with specialist qualifications in food science, nutrition and dietetics. As a member of the British Dietetic Association, Anna’s expertise spans clinical and corporate healthcare, with a rich background in both private and public institutions. Featured in various media outlets, including online and print articles, magazines, radio interviews, documentaries, and television shows, Anna has the ability to communicate complex dietary information in an understandable manner.
With separate degrees in both Food Science and Nutrition and Dietetics, she possesses a unique blend of scientific knowledge and practical
experience. Anna’s passion for promoting healthy eating habits extends beyond traditional healthcare settings, and she works in a holistic and practical manner. She has a proven track record of engaging communities and individuals alike, offering practical diet modifications tailored to their needs.
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Yoga Therapist and Wellness Teacher
I am a Yoga Therapist and Trainee Integrative Yoga Psychotherapist. My clinical training has been with the Minded Institute, a global leader in mind-body education that provides an interface between yoga therapy, mindfulness, neurophysiology, psychotherapeutic principles, and evidence-based practice. Prior to training as a Yoga Therapist, I worked in the non-profit sector for 16 years, latterly as CEO, where I qualified as a Chartered Manager specialising in creating inclusive cultures with wellbeing at their heart.
Yoga Therapy takes a whole-person approach to supporting mental and physical health and wellbeing. It uses a broad range of tools and techniques from yogic teachings, including physical movements and postures, breathing practices and techniques, mindfulness and meditation and the rich array of yoga philosophy that underpins it all. Yoga Therapy is most commonly delivered as weekly 1-2-1 sessions where clients identify specific goals that they want to work towards, and the Yoga Therapist creates individualised treatment plans and tailored practices to help them achieve these. Yoga Therapy is a co-creation between the therapist and client, with both playing a vital role in the journey towards realising the goals identified by the client.
In addition to offering Yoga Therapy, I also leadsa range of workshops and group programmes on topics including Managing Stress, Resilience, Habits, Embodiment, Regulation and Coregulation and Mental Wellbeing.
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Psychological therapies target understanding, insight, unburdening of trauma and negative core beliefs whilst also offering psycho-education, improved coping and strategies for change. We offer a range of evidence-based approaches, including:
The team are committed to following NICE Guidelines in this clinical area whilst also ensuring a needs-led and bespoke therapeutic plan is available.
Yoga Therapy, trauma-informed yoga and mind-body education workshops are offered by Sam Alexander-Vasey, Yoga Therapist and Wellness Teacher. For more information about Sam, please see our Meet the Team section above.
Yoga Therapy helps individuals improve health and well-being by applying the teachings and practices of Yoga. It adopts a whole-person approach, integrating physical movements, breathing, mindfulness meditation, and yoga philosophy to support mental and physical health. This therapy fosters a deep connection with the nervous system, enabling effective stress management and self-awareness. Through these practices, individuals gain insight and develop a more compassionate relationship with their body and mind. No previous experience of yoga or meditation is necessary and all practices are tailored to individual needs.
Yoga Therapy is offered either individually or in small groups. If you would like to register an interest for a Yoga Therapy group, please email admin@oakdalecentre.org
For more information on Yoga Therapy at Oakdale, please click here.
Nutritional rehabilitation, behavioural interventions to help manage disordered eating, and support for meal planning tailored to your goals and preferences are offered by Anna Daniels, Specialist Dietitian. For more information on Anna, please see our ‘Meet the Team’ section above.
Specialist Dietetic Support includes tailored nutritional guidance for individuals recovering from eating disorders. This support addresses unique challenges, such as restoring nutritional balance, re-establishing a healthy relationship with food, and correcting nutritional deficiencies. Specialist Dieticians work closely with clients to develop personalised meal plans that align with therapeutic goals, ensuring gradual and safe progress. This approach also includes educating clients on recognising hunger and fullness cues, challenging food-related fears, and promoting balanced eating behaviours. Continuous monitoring and adjustments are made to support recovery.
For more information on Nutrition and Specialist Dietetic Support at Oakdale, please click here.
Self-Funded Assessment and Treatment Option
To self-funded clients, we offer a specialist and holistic assessment, undertaken by Dr Helen McLay, Principal Clinical Psychologist, to establish treatment goals. Typically this is 1-2 appointments and covers:
Following assessment, a formulation will be shared to provide a guide to inform a treatment plan. The treatment plan may include one or more of the three core pillars of change (psychological therapy, body based therapy, nutritional therapy)
For more information about fees please contact the centre using reception@oakdalecentre.org or call 01423 503080
NHS-commissioned services
In addition to self-funded treatment options, we are also able to offer larger service contracts outsourcing eating disorder specific psychological care packages. Oakdale has previously offered waiting list initiatives to support local NHS Trusts in CAMHS services. If you are interested in exploring this, please contact Dr Helen McLay helen.mclay@oakdalecentre.org
Dr Helen McLay is an experienced clinical supervisor who specialises in eating disorder focused work; her additional training includes EMDR and Internal Family Systems treatment models for addiction and eating based difficulties (levels 1 and 2). She is also available for consultation.
If you are interested, please get in touch via reception@oakdalecentre.org or call 01423 503080.
Self-Funded Assessment and Treatment Option
Medical monitoring
Please note, for self-funded cases, we do not offer medical monitoring around any eating disorder related risk and as such do not routinely work with those requiring this level of care.
How to make a referral:
To self-refer, please click here.
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