The Explore and Restore Group is a weekly occupational therapy intervention on Nova Ward at Cygnet Elowen Hospital. Combining community-based social eating experiences with meaningful leisure activities, the group supports individuals with eating disorders to build confidence, challenge recovery barriers, enhance occupational balance, and promote independence and wellbeing.
 

Explore and Restore: Promoting Occupational Balance and Recovery in an Eating Disorder Service

Nova ward is located at Cygnet Elowen Hospital, supporting individuals with an eating disorder as part of a SEDU pathway. The Explore and Restore Group is a weekly occupational therapy group. Running for one hour each week, the group was designed to be accessible and inclusive, recognising that individuals may be at different stages of recovery and have varying levels of confidence in engaging with food, social situations, and meaningful activity.

The group is divided into two complementary pathways: Explore and Restore.

Restore focuses on re-engaging in restful and meaningful leisure occupations without guilt. Through activities such as crafts, music, and seated occupations, participants are encouraged to experience enjoyment, creativity, and relaxation while challenging unhelpful beliefs about productivity and self-worth. The group provides a supportive environment in which individuals can practise being present, connect with others, and develop healthier relationships with leisure time.

Explore offers opportunities to build confidence in eating socially within the community. Each week, participants visit a different local venue for a community snack, allowing them to practise recovery-focused skills in real-life settings. The group supports individuals to gradually increase their comfort with eating in public, navigate social situations, and engage with their local community in a meaningful way.

Together, Explore and Restore aim to promote occupational balance, social participation, and recovery. By providing opportunities to engage in valued occupations and challenge recovery barriers, the group helps individuals develop confidence, resilience, and independence. Feedback from participants has highlighted the value of having a choice of activities that meet differing needs, while still supporting shared therapeutic goals.

The group continues to be a positive addition to the eating disorder service, offering a practical and recovery-focused approach to supporting individuals both on the ward and within the wider community.

by Laura-Jane Pinner, Head of Occupational Therapy, Cygnet Elowen Hospital