Eating Disorder Credentialed Care
Kerryn O'Brien is a Registered Psychologist, qualified Dietitian and ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Mental Health Clinician (CEDC-MH).
Her combined professional background provides an understanding of the psychological, nutritional and behavioural complexities of eating and feeding difficulties.
This integrated perspective supports individualised psychological treatment and collaborative care with GPs, dietitians and other health professionals.
Eating Disorder Psychologist Cairns
Therapy for Children, Adolescents, and Adults
Currently welcoming new clients in Cairns, with face-to-face and telehealth appointments available.
Eating and feeding difficulties can affect far more than food. They can influence physical health, emotional wellbeing, relationships, confidence and everyday family life.
At Diaita Psychology, we provide compassionate, evidence-based psychological treatment for children, adolescents and adults experiencing eating disorders, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), selective eating and mealtime anxiety.
Our approach is individualised, collaborative and focused on reducing distress, supporting recovery and building a more positive relationship with food.
Eating Disorders & Feeding Concerns We Support
Feeding & Eating Concerns
Compassionate psychological support for children, adolescents and families experiencing selective eating, food anxiety, mealtime distress and feeding difficulties.
Treatment focuses on understanding the emotional, behavioural and developmental factors contributing to eating difficulties.
Evidence-based strategies support emotional regulation, reduce anxiety around food and mealtimes, and help families develop positive, sustainable eating experiences.
Parent guidance and collaborative care are incorporated according to individual needs.
ARFID & Feeding Difficulties
Individualised psychological support for children, adolescents and adults experiencing ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder).
Treatment addresses food-related anxiety, sensory sensitivities, fear of adverse consequences and restricted eating patterns.
Therapy focuses on building confidence and flexibility around food, reducing distress, and support nutritional wellbeing. Parent and family involvement is is recommended.
Eating Disorders
Diaita Psychology provides specialised, evidence-based psychological treatment for adolescents and adults experiencing anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and otherwise specified eating and feeding disorders.
Treatment focuses on understanding and addressing the thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that maintain eating difficulties, supporting recovery and developing a more flexible relationship with food and body image.
Treatment is individually tailored and may involve collaboration with GPs, Dietitians, Psychiatrists, and other health professionals.
Currently welcoming adolescent and adult referrals, with face-to-face appointments in Cairns and telehealth avaialable.
Evidence-Based Therapeutic Approaches
At Diaita Psychology, we provide individualised, evidence-based psychological treatment for children, adolescents and adults experiencing eating disorders, disordered eating, food-related anxiety and associated emotional difficulties.
Our eating disorder psychology services are available face-to-face in Cairns and via telehealth across Australia, providing accessible support for individuals and families seeking specialised psychological care.
Treatment is tailored to each person's developmental stage, psychological needs, eating difficulties and recovery goals. We recognise that eating disorders are complex conditions influenced by psychological, biological, social and environmental factors.
Therapy draws on evidence-based approaches to address eating disorder symptoms, emotional distress, unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours that maintain difficulties with food, eating and body image.
Treatment may include:
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Addressing unhelpful thoughts, emotions and behaviours.
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Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-E): A structured, evidence-based treatment specifically developed for eating disorders.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Supporting psychological flexibility, emotional acceptance and values-based behaviour.
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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Developing skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.
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Family-Based Treatment (FBT): Involving families in supporting adolescents experiencing eating disorders.
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Exposure-based interventions: Gradually addressing food-related anxiety, avoidance and restrictive eating behaviours.
Treatment is delivered collaboratively and, where appropriate, coordinated with GPs, dietitians, psychiatrists and other health professionals to support comprehensive care.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychological approach that helps individuals identify and modify unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours contributing to emotional distress.
CBT may support individuals experiencing:
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Anxiety surrounding food, eating and body image
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Perfectionism, rigid thinking and self-criticism
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Difficulties managing emotions and stressful situations
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Avoidance behaviours and food-related fears
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Low self-esteem and negative self-beliefs
Treatment focuses on developing practical coping strategies, psychological flexibility and more adaptive responses to challenging thoughts and emotions.
Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy (CBT-E)
Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-E) is a specialised psychological treatment developed for eating disorders.
CBT-E addresses the psychological processes that maintain eating disorder symptoms, including restrictive eating, dietary rules, concerns about weight and shape, and patterns of binge eating or compensatory behaviours.
Treatment may focus on:
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Establishing regular and adequate eating patterns
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Reducing rigid dietary rules and food avoidance
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Addressing overvaluation of weight, shape and eating
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Developing strategies to manage eating disorder thoughts and behaviours
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Reducing the influence of perfectionism and low self-esteem
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Building sustainable strategies for recovery and relapse prevention
CBT-E can be used in the treatment of several eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, with treatment adapted to individual clinical needs.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) supports individuals in developing psychological flexibility and responding more effectively to difficult thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Rather than attempting to eliminate every distressing thought, ACT encourages individuals to develop a different relationship with their internal experiences while moving towards personally meaningful goals.
ACT may help individuals experiencing eating disorders, food-related anxiety and emotional distress by supporting:
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Greater acceptance of uncomfortable emotions
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Reduced avoidance of challenging experiences
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Increased psychological flexibility
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Mindfulness and present-moment awareness
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Values-based decision-making
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Greater confidence in managing uncertainty
ACT may be incorporated alongside other evidence-based treatments when clinically appropriate.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a skills-based psychological approach that can be particularly helpful for individuals experiencing emotional dysregulation, distress and difficulties managing overwhelming feelings.
DBT-informed interventions may support people whose eating behaviours are influenced by emotional distress, impulsivity or difficulties tolerating uncomfortable experiences.
Treatment may include developing skills in four key areas:
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Emotional regulation: Understanding and managing intense emotions.
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Distress tolerance: Developing safer and more effective ways of coping with difficult situations.
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Mindfulness: Increasing awareness of thoughts, feelings and behaviours without judgement.
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Interpersonal effectiveness: Strengthening communication, relationships and personal boundaries.
DBT skills may be integrated into eating disorder treatment to support emotional wellbeing and more adaptive coping strategies.
Family-Based Treatment (FBT)
Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is an evidence-based approach for adolescents experiencing eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa.
FBT recognises the important role parents and caregivers can play in supporting nutritional rehabilitation, recovery and the gradual return to age-appropriate independence.
Treatment may involve:
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Supporting parents and caregivers to assist with eating disorder recovery
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Reducing eating disorder behaviours within the family environment
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Strengthening family communication and collaboration
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Supporting adolescents through challenging mealtimes
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Gradually restoring independence as recovery progresses
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Addressing developmental and emotional needs
Family involvement is tailored to the young person's clinical presentation, developmental stage and family circumstances.
Exposure-based psychological interventions can be particularly valuable for individuals experiencing Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), food-related anxiety and restrictive eating behaviours.
ARFID may involve significant food avoidance associated with sensory sensitivities, fear of adverse consequences such as choking or vomiting, or limited interest in eating.
Treatment is individualised and may involve:
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Gradually increasing tolerance of unfamiliar foods
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Addressing anxiety associated with food textures, smells, tastes and appearances
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Reducing fear of choking, vomiting or other anticipated consequences
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Supporting greater flexibility around eating routines
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Building confidence in managing food-related distress
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Developing practical strategies for individuals and families
Exposure-based interventions are undertaken collaboratively, at an appropriate pace, and with consideration of nutritional adequacy, sensory needs and individual readiness.
Exposure-Based Interventions for ARFID and Food Anxiety
Collaborative and Multidisciplinary Eating Disorder Care
Effective eating disorder treatment often requires coordinated care involving multiple health professionals.
At Diaita Psychology, psychological treatment may be delivered collaboratively with GPs, accredited practising dietitians, psychiatrists, paediatricians and other allied health professionals, where clinically appropriate and with client consent.
Our approach recognises the close relationship between psychological wellbeing, nutritional health and physical recovery.
By integrating evidence-based psychological therapies with individualised treatment planning, Diaita Psychology aims to support meaningful, sustainable improvements in eating behaviours, emotional wellbeing and quality of life.
Compassionate Care for Families
An Integrated and Collaborative Approach
At Diaita Psychology, treatment recognises the connection between emotional wellbeing, eating behaviours, sensory experiences and family relationships.
Therapy is tailored to each person's needs, developmental stage and treatment goals.
For children and adolescents, this may include working collaboratively with parents and caregivers. For adults, treatment may focus on psychological recovery, reducing eating disorder behaviours and developing a more flexible relationship with food.
Where appropriate, care is coordinated with GPs, dietitians, psychiatrists, paediatricians and other health professionals, with client consent.
Book an Appointment
Face-to-face in Manunda, Cairns, or via telehealth.
Medicare rebates may be available with an eligible referral.
Contact Diaita Psychology
hello@diaitapsychology.com.au
Location
120 Hoare Street, Manunda QLD 4870
Mobile: 0481 303 329
Referrals and Appointments
Currently accepting new clients in Cairns with no waiting list
Diaita Psychology welcomes referrals for children, adolescents, and adults experiencing eating and feeding disorders.
Eligible clients may be able to access Medicare rebates through an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan or another referral pathway.
The Peaceful Plates Method™
Developed by Kerryn O’Brien, the Peaceful Plates Method™ offers a practical framework for families navigating selective eating and mealtime anxiety. It is guided by four principles:
SAFE — Safety Before Eating
STEADY — Calm, Predictable Structure
SMALL — Tiny Brave Steps
STRONG — Confidence and Independence
The Peaceful Plates Home Program™
is a self-guided resource for parents and caregivers seeking practical ways to reduce mealtime pressure, support gradual food confidence, and create calmer, more connected mealtimes.
It is designed as a parent resource and does not replace individual medical, nutritional, or psychological assessment and treatment when these are needed.