MB Counselling and Coaching

MB Counselling and Coaching I'm Megan, accredited therapist & clinical supervisor. Specialising in eating disorders, trauma, OCD & neurodivergence.

Follow for free weekly evidence based education & practical strategies for adults, children and parents.
đź“ŤFareham, and UK online.

It’s that time again… time to step away from work and social media for the weekend.This week I’ve been sharing informati...
04/07/2026

It’s that time again… time to step away from work and social media for the weekend.

This week I’ve been sharing information about Type 1 diabetes, eating disorders, and the wider impact they can have on mental health, including friendships, school, self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

My client and I worked together to create this series, sharing her reflections and what she wanted others to know. She gave fully informed consent throughout the process and approved every post before it was shared. This project was only possible because of the trusting therapeutic relationship we have built over many years, and because of where she is in her own therapy journey. She wanted to help raise awareness and reduce stigma. We have both found the experience incredibly insightful, and I am so grateful that she chose to use her voice to educate others. Of course, this is not the norm due to the confidential nature of the therapeutic process, and it is not something you will see me do very often.

Next week I’ll be doing something a little different before returning to my usual focus on eating disorders.

I’ll be talking about AI, how I use it to support my business, how it can be used ethically in private practice, particularly as a neurodivergent therapist, and why I believe it’s important to have a balanced, evidence-based conversation about both its benefits and its limitations.

Have a lovely weekend, and thank you for following along. đź’™

As we come to the end of this series, my client wanted to leave you with one final message.Type 1 diabetes is so much mo...
03/07/2026

As we come to the end of this series, my client wanted to leave you with one final message.

Type 1 diabetes is so much more than blood sugars, insulin and carbohydrate counting. For many people, it is also grief, burnout, guilt, loneliness and the invisible weight of having to keep yourself alive every single day.

As a child, misconceptions, jokes and a lack of understanding left her believing she was defined by her condition. As she grew older, diabetes burnout, fear of appointments, isolation and the relentless mental load took a significant toll on her mental health.

One reflection particularly stayed with me:

“I am learning that diabetes is a part of me, but it is not all of me.”

That sentence captures so much hope. Recovery isn’t about pretending life with Type 1 diabetes is easy. It’s about untangling years of shame, challenging stigma, and recognising that a diagnosis should never define a person’s identity.

Thank you to my client for trusting me to share such personal experiences. I hope this series has helped people better understand the emotional reality of living with Type 1 diabetes, particularly for children and young people.

If there’s one thing to take away, it’s this: educating ourselves, choosing our words carefully, and showing compassion can make a lifelong difference.

Shared with full consent. Educational content only and not a substitute for individual medical or psychological advice.

Type 1 diabetes affects far more than blood sugar.For children and young people, living with Type 1 diabetes means makin...
02/07/2026

Type 1 diabetes affects far more than blood sugar.

For children and young people, living with Type 1 diabetes means making countless decisions every single day. Monitoring blood glucose, calculating carbohydrates, giving insulin, managing highs and lows, and trying to fit in with friends can become emotionally exhausting.

Many young people describe feeling:
• Different from everyone else.
• Anxious about blood glucose levels.
• Frustrated by the constant demands of diabetes.
• Guilty when things don’t go to plan.
• Burnt out from never getting a break.

These feelings are often invisible to those around them.

Mental health and diabetes are closely linked. Children and teenagers living with Type 1 diabetes are at increased risk of anxiety, depression, diabetes distress, burnout and eating disorders. Recognising these struggles early and offering compassionate, non-judgemental support can make a real difference.

This week I’m sharing the reflections of one of my clients, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a young child. With her full consent, she has allowed me to share her experiences to help raise awareness of the emotional impact of growing up with diabetes.

I hope these posts help parents, professionals and young people understand that managing Type 1 diabetes is about so much more than insulin and blood sugars.

Sometimes, the greatest challenge isn’t what others can see, it’s the emotional burden carried every single day.

I’m really pleased to announce that I am now fully qualified as a Clinical Supervisor.I have worked in supervisory roles...
01/07/2026

I’m really pleased to announce that I am now fully qualified as a Clinical Supervisor.

I have worked in supervisory roles within eating disorder services for the past seven years, and this qualification allows me to expand my supervision practice to support a wider range of clinical work.

I offer clinical supervision for therapists, social workers, and nurses, using integrative, person-centred, and CBT approaches. My aim is to provide a supportive, collaborative space where you can reflect on your work, develop your clinical skills, and feel confident in your practice.

I genuinely enjoy being a clinical supervisor. I know how valuable high-quality supervision is, and one of the most rewarding parts of the role is seeing people grow in confidence, develop their skills, and thrive in their careers.

As I have now completed my qualification, my full supervision fee will apply to all new supervisees joining me. Existing supervisees who joined me during my training will continue on their agreed rate until the end of their 12-month period.

If you’re looking for a warm, supportive, and experienced supervisor, I’d love to hear from you.

When food becomes numbersOne of the things we don’t often talk about with Type 1 diabetes is the lifelong relationship i...
01/07/2026

When food becomes numbers

One of the things we don’t often talk about with Type 1 diabetes is the lifelong relationship it creates with food.

From childhood, many people with Type 1 diabetes are taught to count carbohydrates, calculate insulin doses, monitor blood glucose, and think carefully about every meal. These skills are lifesaving, but they can also change the way someone experiences food.

Today, my client shares her honest reflections on growing up with Type 1 diabetes, how carb counting became part of everyday life, and how this influenced her relationship with food during adolescence.

Every person’s experience is different, but by sharing stories like these, we hope to increase understanding of the complex relationship between Type 1 diabetes, mental health, body image, and disordered eating.

Thank you to my client for allowing me to share her story with permission. đź’™

Please read and interact with her reflections with kindness and compassion.

Diabulimia is a term used to describe an eating disorder in someone with Type 1 diabetes, where insulin is deliberately ...
01/07/2026

Diabulimia is a term used to describe an eating disorder in someone with Type 1 diabetes, where insulin is deliberately reduced or omitted to influence weight or body shape. Although not an official diagnostic term, it is widely used to describe this complex and potentially life-threatening condition.

The cycle shown in this graphic is often not simply about wanting to lose weight. For many people, it begins with diabetes burnout, feeling different from peers, body image concerns, perfectionism, overwhelm, or the relentless demands of managing Type 1 diabetes every single day.

Over time, someone may discover that omitting insulin leads to weight loss. This can reinforce the behaviour despite the serious physical and emotional consequences, making it incredibly difficult to stop without specialist support.

Common triggers may include:
• Diabetes burnout
• Feeling different from others
• Fear of weight gain or body image concerns
• Perfectionism and the need for control
• Comparison with others
• Feeling overwhelmed by the daily demands of Type 1 diabetes

Potential consequences can include:
• Recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
• Persistently high blood glucose levels
• Damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels
• Increased risk of infections
• Menstrual changes and fertility difficulties
• Worsening mental health, shame and isolation
• A significantly increased risk of premature death

The most important thing to remember is that diabulimia is not a choice or a lack of willpower. It is an eating disorder that requires compassionate, specialist treatment addressing both the diabetes and the underlying psychological difficulties.

Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing more reflections from a client about growing up with Type 1 diabetes, the challenges of managing it during childhood, and the wider impact it can have on mental health. I’m incredibly grateful that she has trusted me to share her experiences in the hope that others feel seen, understood and less alone.

“I soon figured out it would cause weight loss.”Those words highlight something many people have never heard of.Diabulim...
30/06/2026

“I soon figured out it would cause weight loss.”

Those words highlight something many people have never heard of.

Diabulimia is a term used to describe an eating disorder in someone with Type 1 diabetes, where insulin is deliberately reduced or omitted to influence weight or shape. Although not an official diagnostic term, it is widely used to describe this complex and potentially life-threatening condition.

For many people, it doesn’t begin with a desire to lose weight. It often begins with diabetes burnout, feeling different from peers, frustration, overwhelm, or the relentless demands of living with Type 1 diabetes. Over time, someone may discover that omitting insulin leads to weight loss, and this can become part of the eating disorder.

The physical consequences can be devastating. Repeated insulin omission can lead to dangerously high blood glucose levels, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), damage to the eyes, kidneys and nerves, and significantly increases the risk of premature death.

Behind the behaviour is often someone who is exhausted, frightened, isolated and struggling. Shame can make it incredibly difficult to ask for help.

I’m incredibly grateful to my client for allowing me to share her experiences. Her reflections remind us that living with Type 1 diabetes is about so much more than blood sugars and insulin. It can profoundly affect identity, relationships with food, body image and mental health.

If you are living with Type 1 diabetes and recognise yourself in these words, please know that support is available and recovery is possible. You do not have to face it alone.

Shared with full consent. Details have been adapted to protect confidentiality.

This week, my client bravely shares her experience of being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 7 years old.Together,...
29/06/2026

This week, my client bravely shares her experience of being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 7 years old.

Together, we hope to raise awareness not only of the impact of receiving a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis in childhood, but also of the complex relationship between Type 1 diabetes, mental health, and neurodivergence.

I first began working with this client during her teenage years and have had the privilege of supporting her into adulthood. We now have occasional check-in sessions, but over the years I have supported her through an autism diagnosis, emotionally based school avoidance, anxiety, disordered eating, chronic fatigue, and autistic burnout, alongside the daily challenges of managing her Type 1 diabetes.

With her full consent, we will continue to share further education and reflections throughout the week, exploring the realities of living with Type 1 diabetes and its impact on mental health. We hope these posts increase understanding, challenge misconceptions, and help others feel less alone.

I am incredibly grateful that she has trusted me to share part of her story. Please take a moment to read her reflections with empathy, kindness, and compassion. I hope her words resonate with those living with Type 1 diabetes, as well as their families, friends, carers, and professionals who support them.


I hope everyone has had a restful weekend. Next week I’ll be sharing information about a topic that doesn’t get talked a...
28/06/2026

I hope everyone has had a restful weekend.

Next week I’ll be sharing information about a topic that doesn’t get talked about enough: Type 1 diabetes, disordered eating, and the relationship between diabetes and mental health.

I’ll also be sharing reflections from a long term client on managing her own diabetes and mental health through childhood and now into adulthood.

It has been a privilege to watch them grow into adulthood and to witness the resilience they’ve shown throughout their journey not only with diabetes but their neurodivergence.

The reflections I share will be with the client’s explicit permission. Their identity will remain completely anonymous, and any identifying details will be omitted or changed to protect their confidentiality.

I hope this series helps raise awareness, challenges stigma, and supports those living with diabetes, as well as their families and the professionals who work alongside them.

We had so much fun at the Alanis Morissette gig. She is an absolute powerhouse. I’ve loved her music since I was a child...
27/06/2026

We had so much fun at the Alanis Morissette gig. She is an absolute powerhouse. I’ve loved her music since I was a child. I resonate with her lyrics, her intensity and the raw honesty she brings to her music.

She has spoken openly over the years about her own experiences with mental health and recovery. There’s something incredibly powerful about seeing someone use their experiences to create art that makes so many people feel understood.

It was also just really nice to get out, sing at the top of our lungs, and enjoy the atmosphere. Life can get so busy with work, family and responsibilities that it’s easy to forget how important it is to make time for the things that bring you joy and to spend that time with the people you love.

My voice is a little worse for wear today, but it was completely worth it. ❤️ Also, Powderham Castle and grounds is absolutely stunning.

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