Fiona Yassin is the International Program Director at The Wave, holding multiple credentials including being a registered Psychotherapist and Accredited Clinical Supervisor in both the U.K. and UNCG (Registration number #361609 National and International Council of Psychotherapists). She is EMDR trained (EMDRIA) and practices as a Trauma therapist (Registration number #10000054651).
Fiona’s expertise includes being a member of the International Chapter of IAEDP, with training in CBTe (Oxford Group), FREED (King’s College, London), TF-CBT, RO-DBT, and GPM. Her specializations cover the treatment of Eating Disorders and Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as families in High Conflict Divorces and Psychiatry across the female lifespan.
Additionally, Fiona holds the distinction of being a Fellow of APPCH, a senior accredited Addiction Professional, and a member of The Association of Child Protection Professionals. She is also trained in MBT (Child and Family and Adult) and Reflective Parenting with The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families, and is a Member of The Australia and New Zealand Eating Disorders Association.
Fiona holds an MSc in Neuroscience and Mental Health awarded by King’s College London, where she received The Dean’s Award. She is currently completing an MSc in Psychiatry at Cardiff University Medical School and is a PhD Candidate in Mental Health Research at Lancaster University. Outside of her professional pursuits, she enjoys spending time with her three cats, going for long walks on the beach, and appreciating the beautiful animals in her garden.
Some types of picky eating can harm a young person’s development. Picky eating may also be a symptom of underlying mental health concerns that require attention and support.
Dissociative identity disorder is a type of dissociative disorder. Teenagers may be diagnosed with dissociative disorders if they have regular experiences of dissociation that are distressing and affect their daily life. Sometimes teenagers may have dissociative experiences that are symptoms of a different mental health disorder. In this case, they may not receive a dissociative disorder diagnosis.
Traditional care for anorexia nervosa focuses on weight restoration as the core aim of treatment and measure of recovery. It reduces recovery to numbers: when
For a long time, eating disorders were thought to mainly affect women. Even in scientific research, fewer than 1% of published papers that relate to
Repeated nighttime binge eating – or eating a lot of food at night – is a type of disordered eating behaviour that can harm a young person’s physical and mental health. It’s also a symptom of different eating disorders, including binge-eating disorder and night eating syndrome.
Finding the right family therapist is essential. There isn’t a single type of family therapy that’s right for every family, and the personality and experiences of a therapist are also important. But finding the right family therapy and therapist can help families restructure and heal, creating resilient family systems that benefit every member.
Borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder are often confused – even by clinicians. However, although some of their symptoms are similar, the two disorders are very different. They have different symptoms, causes, and courses of illness – and require different treatments.
Disordered eating and eating disorders are both frequently used terms. You’ve probably heard them mentioned in articles, by doctors, or by schools. Disordered eating and eating disorders are already common among young people – and research suggests that both are increasing.
When a young person experiences a mental health crisis, they may have to take a substantial amount of time out of school. This can happen because their mental health symptoms make it too difficult to navigate their school environment or because their school cannot provide the support they need to stay safe while they are there. They may also take a break from school to focus on their recovery with intensive outpatient or residential treatment.
When parents separate or divorce, it shakes the family system. Families often begin a grieving process, experiencing changing emotions like shock, sadness, or anger. Separation itself – and the events leading up to it – can sometimes be traumatic for family members, including both parents and children.
Peer victimisation, often referred to as bullying, is a type of interpersonal violence or harm that takes place between friends or peers. Peer victimisation can involve physical violence, verbal insults, emotional manipulation, or relational harm, such as spreading rumours or social exclusion.
OCD is a serious mental health disorder that can have a big impact on a teenager’s daily life. However, it is treatable, and with the right support, young people can reach full recovery.
When a young person develops an eating problem, seeking professional support is the first step. It’s very difficult for someone to recover from an eating problem on their own, and treatment and support are crucial for both the young person and their family.
