Support for Parents & Caregivers
Empowering Parents Through Recovery
We know that there is nothing more painful to a parent than to watch their child struggle and not feel equipped to help. We also know that eating disorders impact the entire family unit.We aim to empower parents through their child’s recovery. We provide information about eating disorders, skills for dealing with challenging emotions, techniques for re-feeding, and strategies to help deal with and/or prevent burn out.
Our entire team is trained in family-focused care, meaning that they understand the need to support parents as well as children. We take a strict no-blame approach to working with parents. We do not endorse the idea that parents cause eating disorders, in fact, our philosophy is that parents, when properly equipped with knowledge and skills, can be tremendous assets in their child’s recovery.
We use an empathic, non-blaming, non-judgemental and supportive approach with all the parents we work with.
Holistic Support Services for Parents & Caregivers
Meet & Greet
Our Meet and Greet services offer a free, 15-minute phone or video call, giving you the opportunity to assess whether a specific therapist is the right fit for you or your loved one before committing to a full session. This is a no-pressure chance to ask questions about the clinician’s experience, treatment modalities, availability, and more, helping you make an informed decision about your care or the care of your loved one.
Whether you’re seeking support for yourself, your partner, or a family member, a Meet and Greet is a great way to start. Reach out today to schedule your call and take the first step towards finding the right therapist for your needs.
Psychological Counselling
Discover a supportive, non-judgmental environment where your experiences as a parent or caregiver are understood. Our compassionate psychological counseling employs evidence-based methods like DBT and CBT to help you navigate the complexities of supporting your loved one with an eating disorder, addressing the underlying issues and fostering a path toward lasting recovery.
Nutritional Counselling
Transform your loved one’s relationship with food through personalized nutritional guidance. Our experts work closely with parents and caregivers to provide practical strategies and support, helping you navigate eating challenges, encourage intuitive eating, and foster a healthier approach to nourishment for your child.
Peer Support
Peer support offers non-clinical, judgment-free connection from someone who has lived experience with an eating disorder—someone who truly “gets it.” It’s a space for understanding, encouragement, and hope, whether you’re in recovery or supporting a loved one. While it doesn’t replace professional care, it complements it by fostering trust, empathy, and the reminder that you’re not alone.
Occupational Therapy
Help your loved one overcome physical barriers to eating with our specialized occupational therapy services. We assess and address sensory sensitivities while developing personalized strategies to enhance their eating experience and overall well-being, ensuring a supportive approach tailored to your family’s needs.
On Demand Video Series
Groups
Connect with other parents and caregivers who understand the challenges of supporting a loved one through an eating disorder in our supportive group settings. Our therapeutic groups provide a sense of community, allowing you to share experiences and find collective strength, helping you feel less alone on your journey to support your child’s recovery.
Psychological Counselling
At Alberta Wellness, we understand that supporting a loved one with an eating disorder can be both challenging and emotionally taxing. Our services for parents and caregivers are designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to effectively support your child or loved one through their recovery journey.
We provide emotion-focused family therapy and skills training to help you navigate complex family dynamics and improve communication. Our approach centers on managing the emotional aspects of your relationships, enabling you to foster a supportive and recovery-oriented environment at home.
Our support extends to caregiver assistance, even if your loved one is not currently a client with us. We offer education and practical strategies to boost your confidence in your role, while addressing the emotions that arise from supporting a loved one. Additionally, we provide guidance for siblings to help them cope with their own feelings and stressors related to having a sibling with an eating disorder. By gaining a deeper understanding of eating disorders and recovery, you can contribute to a compassionate and informed family environment.
Nutritional Counselling
Navigating the challenges of mealtime and food consumption can be daunting for parents. We offer caregiver support, even if your loved one isn’t currently a client with us, empowering you to feel confident in your skills and knowledge when it comes to supporting your child’s nutritional recovery at home. Our services include teaching parents how to create a recovery-focused environment, helping you understand and navigate your child’s complex nutritional needs. Additionally, we provide valuable information and education about eating disorders and recovery, ensuring you have a deeper understanding of your child’s experiences and challenges.
Group Information
Our groups offer a unique healing opportunity for parents and caregivers, as realizing you are not alone in your journey can be incredibly empowering. Hearing from others who share similar and different experiences can spark new coping strategies and provide broader perspectives on the challenges you face. Participants benefit from a safe, supportive, and informative environment where you can acquire valuable skills to support your child’s recovery while also taking care of your own emotional well-being.
Decisions about whether groups will run are made four days before the start date, so if you’re interested in joining a group, we encourage you to register as early as possible to ensure it takes place.
Groups for Parents & Caregivers
In Home Meal Support Coaching
If your loved one is living at home, the majority of their meals will occur in your shared environment. Our in home meal support is specifically tailored for parents and caregivers of individuals with eating disorders, providing coaching services to equip you with the essential skills needed to support your loved one during mealtimes.
As your child transitions from in-patient care, where they received significant support during meals, they will continue to need that same level of assistance at home. Our coaching is designed to help you feel confident and capable in providing the crucial support they require during this important time.
Mealtimes can be stressful and challenging, often leaving caregivers uncertain about how to assist or encourage their loved one to eat. Our coaching offers effective strategies by modelling techniques that empower you to support your child during mealtimes, creating a nurturing and positive dining experience. With the right tools and guidance, you can make a meaningful impact on your loved one’s recovery journey.
Where: Calgary NW, Calgary SW and Cochrane, AB
Cost: is variable depending on location and needs.
Packages Available Include:
Occupational Therapy
Our Occupational Therapy (OT) services for parents and caregivers are designed to empower you with the knowledge and skills needed to support your child’s recovery from eating disorders. We provide clear, actionable information to help you understand the complexities of your child’s eating difficulties and offer targeted training and coaching to enhance your ability to support their recovery journey at home. Our therapists work with you to create a recovery-focused environment, ensuring that your home is conducive to healing and growth. We also guide you on what practices and attitudes to avoid, such as unhelpful pressures around meal times, to foster a supportive atmosphere that encourages positive change. At Alberta Wellness Center, we are committed to equipping you with the tools and insights needed to be an effective ally in your child’s path to recovery.
For more details on how our Occupational Therapy services for parents and caregivers can support you and your family, visit our OT services page to learn more and start making a difference today.
On Demand Video Series
Support starts with understanding. Our on-demand educational video series is designed specifically for caregivers and family members of individuals struggling with eating disorders. Led by our co-founders, Dr. Amanda Stillar and Dr. Michelle Emmerling, these accessible, evidence-based resources offer practical tools, emotional support strategies, and expert guidance to help you better understand your loved one’s experience and feel more confident in your role as a caregiver.
Available anytime, with 6 months of access.
EmpowerED Caregiving: On-Demand Skills for Families Supporting a Loved One with an Eating Disorder
Format: Pre-recorded video series | Access: 6 months | Cost: $35
Learn the skills. Strengthen the connection. Support the recovery.
Caring for a loved one with an eating disorder can feel overwhelming, especially when big emotions—like anxiety, shame, or anger—take center stage. The EmpowerED Caregiving series is designed to give parents, partners, and caregivers practical, research-informed tools to navigate these emotional moments with greater confidence and compassion.
Facilitated by Dr. Amanda Stillar, PhD, Registered Psychologist, AWCED Co-Owner
The EmpowerED Caregiving series is led by Dr. Amanda Stillar, a Registered Psychologist with extensive experience supporting families impacted by eating disorders. Drawing on her expertise in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Dr. Stillar provides compassionate, evidence-based guidance to help caregivers build stronger emotional connections and become active supports in their loved one’s recovery journey. Her approach combines clinical knowledge with a deep understanding of the challenges families face, offering both validation and practical tools to navigate the path forward with confidence and care.Grounded in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), this pre-recorded workshop series focuses on emotion coaching—a concrete, teachable skill that helps families respond to emotional distress in ways that support both healing and connection.
In this series, you’ll learn how to:
- Confidently respond to intense emotions like anxiety, shame, anger, and fear
- Use emotion coaching techniques to de-escalate conflict and build trust
- Support your loved one’s emotional processing in a way that fosters recovery
- Strengthen your relationship while reducing feelings of helplessness as a caregiver
Whether you’re navigating the early stages of your loved one’s illness or looking to strengthen your role in their ongoing recovery, EmpowerED Caregiving offers meaningful tools you can return to again and again.
Ready to Get Started?
To register for this video series and receive access instructions, please contact the Alberta Wellness Center office directly. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Eating Disorders 101: A Foundational On-Demand Video Series for Families and Caregivers
Format: Pre-recorded video series | Access: 6 months | Cost: $35
Understand. Support. Empower.
When a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, it can be overwhelming to know how to help. Eating Disorders 101 is a 2.5 hour pre-recorded video series specifically designed for parents, siblings, partners, and caregivers who want to better understand what their loved one is going through and how to support them effectively.
Facilitated by Drs. Michelle Emmerling and Amanda Stillar, PhDs, Registered Psychologists, and AWCED Co-Ownders
Eating Disorders 101 is presented by Dr. Michelle Emmerling and Dr. Amanda Stillar, both Registered Psychologists with extensive experience in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders. With deep clinical expertise and a commitment to supporting families, they provide clear, compassionate, and accessible education to help caregivers better understand the complexity of eating disorders.
Together, Dr. Emmerling and Dr. Stillar guide participants through the essential knowledge needed to become more informed, confident, and supportive allies in a loved one’s recovery. Their approach combines evidence-based insight with practical strategies—offering a strong foundation for caregivers who want to respond with empathy and effectiveness.
In this webinar, you will:
- Learn the fundamentals of eating disorders and disordered eating
- Gain clarity around common myths and misunderstandings
- Discover what kinds of support are truly helpful—and what may unintentionally cause harm
- Receive practical tools and language to navigate this complex journey with empathy and confidence
- Explore how eating disorders affect the whole family, and how to care for yourself as a caregiver
Whether you’re just beginning to understand your loved one’s struggle or have been supporting them for years, Eating Disorders 101 offers a powerful foundation to help you show up with knowledge, resilience, and compassion.
Ready to Get Started?
To register for this video series and receive access instructions, please contact the Alberta Wellness Center office directly. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Peer Support
What is a Peer Support?
Peer support is a supportive, non-clinical relationship between individuals who share lived experience—in this case, experiences related to eating disorders. Peer support workers draw from their recovery journeys to offer emotional and social support, compassion, and hope. They don’t diagnose, treat, or provide therapy. Instead, they walk alongside others, meeting them where they are and reminding them that recovery is possible. At its core, peer support is about mutual understanding and empowerment. It provides a space free of judgment, where individuals can feel heard, validated, and less alone. By sharing their own lived experiences, peer support workers help foster connection, build trust, and inspire hope for healing and a life beyond the eating disorder.
Who Peer Support Is For:
- Individuals in recovery or working toward recovery from an eating disorder
- Those supporting a loved one (e.g., family members, caregivers, friends) who is impacted by an eating disorder
- People who are looking for understanding, connection, and hope from someone who “gets it”
- Anyone who is not in immediate crisis but needs emotional support and encouragement
Who Peer Support Is Not For:
- Individuals in medical or psychological crisis who require professional care or immediate intervention
- Those needing diagnosis, treatment planning, or clinical advice
- Individuals currently experiencing acute symptoms that need medical stabilization
Peer support is not a replacement for professional treatment—it complements it. It offers something uniquely powerful: connection, empathy, and the reminder that no one has to walk this journey alone.