We have a new BDD webinar Series launching in January 2021.

Please read our Newsletter to see what’s coming up next month and register your attendance:

December Newsletter

Webinar Series from the BDD Foundation to provide extra support during this difficult time.  Please read our Newsletter to see what’s coming up this month:

Our Newsletter

After two successful rounds of our pilot project which has seen Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (CBT-BDD) adapted to a group setting for the first time, we are happy to announce that we will be running another programme this year as part of the project’s third phase. 

The unique feature of this group is that it combines the evidence-based therapeutic approaches – the same that you would find in the NHS – with the lived-expertise of the group facilitators, which participants have said was “the most powerful element of the group”. 

One participant who took part in the programme told us how much the group has helped them to overcome fear and anxiety related to their appearance, which has in the past held them back:

“The group was amazing to help me see that I am not alone, to gain perspective on how BDD affects my day to day life and to find compassion for myself and the group for how it impacts us, daily.”

The results from the last two have demonstrated an improvement both in BDD symptoms as well as in their overall quality of life. Because of the groups, participants have returned to work, returned to university, and even got engaged! 

Hannah Lewis, who is the Project Lead for the pilot, has said the following: “I’m really pleased with how successful the first and second pilots of the structured support group has been. It has been such a privilege to work with facilitators who have shared their own experiences of BDD and inspired others on the road to recovery. It has been really wonderful to see the participants engage with the therapy and overcome their anxieties – I’m now looking forward to helping even more people to overcome their BDD.

To express as interest in joining the next online group programme that will be starting this summer, please email hannah@bddfoundation.org

THEME: ‘YOUNG MINDS AND BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER: THE ART OF SELF-IMAGE’

The BDD Foundation is proud to announce that we will be hosting the third International Conference on Body Dysmorphic Disorder. It will take place on 9 November 2019 at Regent’s University London, Tuke Hall, Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4NS from 9am to 5pm.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

KEYNOTE BY PROFESSOR DAVID VEALE: ‘The Bullies Worm Their Way Inside Your Head’

The keynote speech this year will be delivered by Professor David Veale, who will be addressing the topic of Bullying. Professor Veale is one of the world leading experts in Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

SCREENING OF NEW BDD ANIMATION: A short animation by Salvador Maldonado, a triple bafta award winning and Oscar nominated animator and voiced by a young person with BDD.

This year, all delegates will be invited to the first public screening of an animation about BDD which was commissioned by the Foundation as part of a project aimed at raising awareness and understanding of the condition.  The animation is voiced by a brave young person who describes what it is like to have BDD, receive treatment and start on their journey for recovery.

KEYNOTE BY TANYA GOODIN: ‘Digital Detox and the effects of Social Media on BDD’.

Tanya has spent her entire career focused on the interaction between people and technology. First as an award-winning digital entrepreneur, now as a digital detox evangelist, tech ethicist, and author. For 20+ years she was founder and CEO of one of the UK’s first digital marketing agencies, now she is a digital consultant to brands and schools and founder of digital detox movement Time To Log Off.

Attendees will get the opportunity to choose from and attend a selection of workshops & speeches at the BDD Conference 2019:

(Please note: All workshop/speakers are subject to change and are to be confirmed on the day. Many but not all workshop/speeches will be available on the livestream webinar – details of Conference Programme to be confirmed shortly.)

1. Keynote: The Bullies worm their way inside your head by Professor David Veale.
2. Keynote: Digital Detox and the effects of social media on BDD by Tanya Goodin.
3. Keynote: Young Minds & BDD: past, present and future by Dr Amita Jassi from the Maudsley Hospital.
4. Shame and Identity in BDD by Dr Nicole Schnackenberg.
5. What to expect from treatment for BDD by Benedetta Monzani and Anne Marie O’Connor.
6. Motivation for Treatment workshop led by individuals who have been through successful treatment for their BDD.
7. Suicide and Prevention workshop by the charity Papyrus.
8. Inspirational Speeches of Recovery & Hope
9. New BDD Animation (yet to be titled) by Salvador Maldonado and voiced by a young person with BDD.
10. Interactive Charcoal Drawing and Habit Reversal workshop for Compulsive Skin Picking by Liz Atkin and Simon Darnley.
11. Exercise Addiction & Muscle Dysmorphia by Sean Houlihan and Dr Rob Willson.
12. Support Groups
13. Disordered Eating in BDD
14. Coping with & supporting someone with BDD by Martin Anson and a parent with lived experience
15. & more

Please note in order to reach out to more people, we will be filming the speeches and some of the workshops. Please be assured that the camera will be solely focused on the speakers and that all filming will be sensitively and discretely carried out. If you have any concerns about this, please do not hesitate to approach one of our volunteers on the day.

WEBINAR/LIVESTREAM

No matter where you live you can now attend the conference via the internet with the option to attend via WEBINAR/LIVESTREAM for a reduced ticket price.

If you wish to attend the conference this way, you will be emailed prior to the event with a password to gain access to the LIVE broadcast stream of the International Conference on Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Live broadcast will be from 9am – 5pm GMT. 

PLEASE BE AWARE THE WEBINAR/LIVESTREAM BROADCAST ACCESS TICKET DOES NOT GIVE YOU ACCESS TO THE PHYSICAL CONFERENCE. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GAIN ENTRY TO THE BUILDING AT REGENT’S UNIVERSITY IF YOU ONLY HOLD A WEBINAR/LIVESTREAM TICKET.

To avoid disappointment please consider purchasing your ticket to the physical conference early as last year we were sold out in advance.

We look forward to seeing you in November for another successful event.

TO BUY YOUR TICKET NOW FOLLOW THIS LINK:

http://buytickets.at/thebodydysmorphicdisorderfoundation/294808

We are pleased to announce that our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Thursday 6^th June from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Orri UK on 14 Hallam St, London, W1W 6JG.

A charity’s AGM is held once a year and members of the charity can attend and vote. The aim of the AGM is to provide the charity trustees the opportunity to explain their management of the charity to the members. It also provides the members of the charity with an opportunity to ask questions before voting on business items on the agenda.

1. Re-appointment of Trustees
2. Minutes of the previous AGM
3. Chair’s report
4. Financial report
5. Questions/Comments to the Trustees

Please join us for a member’s social afterwards.

The event is free to attend.  However, we are entirely reliant on the generosity of our members so please consider a donation to The BDD Foundation. We are committed to raising awareness and finding more ways to help sufferers and their families. All money raised goes directly to fighting BDD.

It would help us to know numbers so please RSVP via EventBrite by clicking this link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bdd-foundation-agm-2019-tickets-60462709592

We hope to see you in June!

Warmest regards,

The BDD Foundation Trustees

FAQs

Disabled Access? 

Unfortunately, no, as Orri is housed in an old building. The meeting is held on the fourth floor via stairs with no elevator. Please let us know by emailing kitty@bddfoundation.org if this presents an obstacle to you attending the AGM.

What are my transport options getting to the event?

By public transport:

Nearest Tube/Overground stations:

Orri is almost equidistant from Great Portland Street, Oxford Circus and Goodge Street underground Stations.

Is parking available?

Parking in central London is limited but there are pay and display spaces.

There are large car parks nearby:

The NCP Car Park in Weymouth Mews W1B 1QE or Bolsover St W1W 5EE or Q-Park on Queen Anne Mews W1G 9HF.

After the success of our first pilot, which adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (CBT-BDD) to a group setting for the first time, we are happy to announce that we will be running a similar programme again from the beginning of May.

The main feature of the group was that it combined the evidence-based therapeutic approaches with the lived-expertise of the group facilitators, which participants said was “inspiring”.

One participant who took part in the programme told us how much the group has helped them to overcome fear and anxiety related to their appearance, which has in the past held them back: “Before the group I was doing a lot of mirror checking and avoided leaving the house…now I’m not doing as much because I now know it makes me feel worse if I do it […] I’ve been able to see more friends, and I feel more confident about the future.”

Hannah Lewis, who is the Project Lead for the pilot, has said the following: “I’m really pleased with how successful the first pilot of the structured support group has been. It has been such a privilege to work with facilitators who have shared their own experiences of BDD and inspired others on the road to recovery. It has been really wonderful to see the participants engage with the therapy and overcome their anxieties – I’m now looking forward to helping even more people to overcome their BDD.”

In order to allow even more people with BDD to take part in this programme, the next iteration will be based online and for a longer period of 20 weeks.

If you would like to express an interest in joining the group or find out more information, please contact Hannah@bddfoundation.org

Two new audio series to listen to, which discuss Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and how it can be effective in treating BDD.

Let’s Talk About CBT
This is a podcast about cognitive behavioural therapy: what it is, what it’s not and how it can be useful. Dr Lucy Maddox interviews experts in the field including people who have experienced CBT for themselves. A mix of interviews, myth-busting and CBT jargon explained, this accessible podcast is brought to you by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.

CBT for Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Most of us have some worries about how we look, but what if those worries get so bad they stop you being able to go out?
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a serious problem but it can be overcome, as Gareth explains. Gareth and Prof David Veale talk to Dr Lucy Maddox.

For the first time, the BDD Foundation is harnessing the clinical expertise from its Trustees – and leaders in the field – Dr Rob Willson and Professor David Veale, in order to launch a guided therapy group. The group will entail tried and tested approaches to overcoming BDD, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

The project will mean that more people will have access to evidence-based treatment for BDD, which is crucial as we often hear that accessing sufficient support and treatment is often a challenge for those with the condition.

The group will have both the advantages of a peer support group whilst having the structure of evidence-based clinical approaches.

Hannah Lewis, who is the Project Lead for the pilot, has said the following: “This is an incredibly exciting time in terms of broadening the treatment available for people who have BDD. As a lesser known mental illness, it is crucial that we run pilots like these. Guided group therapy is a very progressive move in the field of BDD treatment, and can ultimately mean that we can reach more people and support them to overcome BDD. As someone who has lived experience of BDD, I can understand the frustrations of individuals who are struggling to access appropriate treatment. The BDD Foundation is embarking on an incredibly exciting journey and I am so excited to be a part of it.”

The group will last for 12 weeks and will take place in Central London on Wednesday evenings, the first being on the 5^th September.

 If you would like to express an interest in joining the group or find out more information, please email Hannah@bddfoundation.org

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