Face to face support groups

Michelle facilitates Sydney recovery and carer support groups.

Michelle is a registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. A highly-experienced eating disorder clinician, Michelle often facilitates our groups, and is Manager of Butterfly’s Recovery Support Services.

Having worked in a wide range of settings including individual counselling and recovery and carer support groups and programs, Michelle also provides carer support services to the IOP Family Day and support counselling for Butterfly events featuring speakers with a lived experience.

Michelle is trained in evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Family Based Therapy (FBT) and Narrative Therapy.

Michelle uses a holistic approach to treatment and is passionate about working with carers and people with lived experience, advocating that full recovery is possible.

Archana is Butterfly’s Support Programs Coordinator.

Archana coordinates and facilitates Butterfly’s recovery and carer programs and support groups.

Prior to this role, she worked at the Butterfly National Helpline for three years.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Social Science (Counselling) and is currently finishing her Masters of Psychotherapy and Counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology.

She has training in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Person-Centred Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Enhanced, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Archana is committed to providing people experiencing eating disorders and their carers a safe and collaborative space to gain insight into their thoughts, feelings and behaviours in order to live a flourishing life.

Jessica facilitates recovery support groups.

Jessica has been a counsellor on the Butterfly National Helpline for over four years and also has taken on the additional role as a support group facilitator.

As a counsellor, Jessica understands the complex nature of eating disorders and uses her counselling skills to guide people with lived experiences.

Dedicated and passionate about working with eating disorders, Jessica is guided by her compassionate and curious nature to support those in need.

Jessica works to help you connect to your inner “nourishing-self” to realise your full potential, one that she believes is fully deserved.

Through her work she hopes to increase understanding and available support for people experiencing eating disorders.

Mihaela facilitates recovery support groups.

Mihaela is a Counsellor with a holistic and integrative approach and has a Master’s Degree in Psychology with University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She is also a Systemic Family Constellations Facilitator and a Reiki Master Teacher, and has training in Yalom Process Group Psychotherapy, Schema Therapy for Eating Disorders and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). Mihaela also has lived experience of an eating disorder, having been recovered for 17 years.

Her journey in the field of eating disorders has begun in Croatia where she was an Eating Disorder prevention group facilitator, implementing a 10-week prevention program called “Who’s that in the mirror?” with young adolescent girls in high schools. She has also founded Support Groups for Eating Disorders in Croatia with NET+, now Centre BEA.

Mihaela also has experience with addictions and mental health issues in inpatient and outpatient setting, and she has been a Counsellor at The Butterfly Foundation since February 2018.

Katie co-facilitates the Carer support group.

She currently works on the National Butterfly Helpline as a counsellor, which includes facilitating the ‘Understanding Eating Disorder Recovery’ online course helping Carers to develop practical skills to help their loved one through recovery.

Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts-Psychological Science, a Graduate Diploma in Counselling and is currently completing a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Katie is passionate about offering Carers insight into the complex nature of Eating Disorders and working with them to develop the important skills of self-care and supporting their loved one’s recovery.”

Georgina facilitates Hobart recovery and carer support groups.

Georgina is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, passionate about health, nutrition, and positive body image.

She grew up in Tasmania, and knew from a young age that she wanted to work in this sector.

She studied a Bachelor of Health Science at UTAS before moving to the ACT to complete her Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Since graduating in 2017 she has worked as a dietitian in the community, at Calvary Hospital and in private practice. She is very passionate about her current work with Butterfly, as she believes helping those struggling find support and the right care is so important.

She believe every BODY deserves to be well nourished and loved, and is a dream come true to work with this organisation

When not working, you can find Georgina exploring the beautiful island state, taking a dance class or performing in a musical.

Hobart support groups are supported by the Crown, through the Tasmanian Department of Health. 

Beth facilitates recovery support groups

Beth is passionate about helping people recover from eating disorders after having a lived experience for most of her life. She believes that everybody deserves to be able to discover a positive body image.

She studied Nutrition and Health Promotion at USC and is driven by HP principles; equity and empowerment for all. Beth has been a Peer Support Facilitator for 2 years. She began volunteering for Butterfly after moving to Tasmania from Sydney where she worked for the Eating Disorder Intensive Program for Adolescents. Beth believes working as a Peer Support Facilitator is an important part of breaking the stigma and showing people that they too can recover.

Jessica facilitates recovery support groups

The lived experience Jessica has with an eating disorder encouraged her to pass on the support she received to recover to others seeking help. It feels important for Jess to share with others the reality of recovery and that it absolutely is possible.

She is currently studying a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Psychology & Health Promotion) and working towards becoming a certified Psychologist specialising in the field of eating disorders.

Depending on the season Jess loves to curl up with cups of coffee and a good book, work on her art, or be outside running and hiking with friends and family. She feels incredibly grateful to live in Tasmania, after moving here from Queensland 3 years ago, and hopes to leave as much of a positive impact on the land as it has on her.

Rebecca facilitates Hobart carer support groups.

Rebecca has lived experience as a carer for her daughter who developed an eating disorder at 19.  Both Rebecca and her ex-husband work in the medical field, but they became frustrated at the difficulties of finding the right care for their daughter.

Rebecca and her daughter relocated to Sydney for 10 months following her daughters’ hospitalisation and participated in Butterfly’s Intensive Outpatient Program. Rebecca’s daughter is now 22, traveling the recovery road and doing well.

Despite the move to Sydney helping Rebecca and her daughter it was isolating to be far from home. This has led Rebecca to join as a support group facilitator because she is passionate about improving the availability of care to Tasmanian’s experiencing eating disorders.  She brings compassion and understanding to the support groups by providing experience-based support to carers.

Hobart support groups are supported by the Crown, through the Tasmanian Department of Health

Rhiannon facilitates recovery support groups

Rhiannon joined The Butterfly Foundation as a Peer Support Facilitator in Hobart in 2019. She tributes her personal involvement with TRED inc (Tasmania Recovery from Eating Disorders) in initiating her own recovery pathway and now advocates the value of lived-experience in support settings. Rhiannon is currently completing her Master’s in Social Work at UTAS.

Sarah facilitates recovery support groups

She experienced an eating disorder through her teen years. Sarah believes that she went through her eating disorder for a reason and that reason is to help other people recover from theirs.

Sarah is very passionate about caring for others and helping others succeed. She hopes to help others flourish in their recovery from an eating disorder and wants to share her story for good!