GMP Therapy

01/04/2026

Reason 24 is because of the unique pressures faced by LGBTQIA+ communities.

So many conversations about eating disorders still centre a narrow experience — missing entire communities who are struggling, often invisibly.

In Australia, around 1.1 million people are living with an eating disorder. When disordered eating is included, that rises to over 16% of the population.
In Victoria alone, that’s over 286,000 people.

Within this, LGBTQIA+ people are disproportionately affected.

Research shows:
• LGBTQIA+ people are more than twice as likely to experience an eating disorder
• Trans people are up to 11 times more likely
• Some studies suggest a six-fold increase in prevalence

For many LGBTQIA+ people, body image isn’t just about appearance — it’s tied to identity, safety, belonging, and acceptance.

There can be pressure to conform to certain ideals — to be seen as “valid” or “desirable.” For some, this intersects with gender dysphoria, making things even more complex.

Add experiences of stigma, discrimination, violence, and minority stress, and it’s clear eating disorders don’t exist in isolation.

Yet many LGBTQIA+ individuals don’t see themselves reflected in support spaces — making it harder to reach out or feel understood.

Eating disorders don’t discriminate — but access to support often does.

Bodies are not a requirement for belonging or proof of identity. You don’t have to change to be worthy of love, safety, or recognition.

This is another reason I’m raising funds for EDV — supporting more inclusive, accessible care for all.

If this resonates with you or someone you know, you’re not alone — and you deserve support that honours all parts of who you are.

If you’d like to support, the donation link is in the comments or bio.

30/03/2026

Reason 25 of my is because
of the pressure on mums to “bounce back” after having a baby.

I sit with so much frustration at this one and want to scream at the systems in society that reinforce this! You are stealing some of the most raw, vulnerable and precious times in a mother’s life by placing unrealistic expectations on her and her body.

We hear it everywhere — how quickly someone “got their body back,” what they’re doing to lose the weight, how they look just weeks or months after giving birth. It’s often framed as admiration, but underneath it carries a very clear message: your body should return to what it was before, and quickly.

The early months (and years) after having a baby are already a time of enormous change — physically, emotionally, and psychologically. There is identity shift, sleep deprivation, hormonal fluctuation, and the ongoing adjustment to caring for a new human.

When the focus becomes shrinking the body, it can pull attention away from what actually matters in that season: recovery, bonding, nourishment, and support.

For some, this pressure can contribute to body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, or feelings of shame — at a time when compassion and care are most needed.

Bodies are not meant to “bounce back.”
They adapt, they heal, and they carry the story of what they’ve done.

And those early seasons with a baby are not something to rush through or reshape — they are something to be supported through.

This is another reason I am raising funds for EDV. They provide free, accessible support and create spaces where these experiences can be explored without judgement. They are also working to challenge the harmful narratives that fuel this kind of pressure.

If this resonates with you, or someone you know, you’re not alone — and these conversations matter. Loving your body is the most radical form of defiance in a world that profits from self doubt.

If you’d like to support this work, the link is still open to donate:
https://eating-disorders-foundation-of-victoria-inc.grassrootz.com/edv-bayoffires-2026/gemma-parkinson

25/03/2026

I’ve watched the recent documentary “Inside the Manosphere.” And I’ll be honest, the language, the rhetoric, the mindset… none of it shocked me.

I see it every single day. I sit with boys who repeat those lines. Who consume that content. Who are slowly being shaped by it.

And yes, it’s confronting. It’s aggressive. At times, it’s outright disgusting. But here’s the part people don’t want to talk about…

These boys are not just choosing this out of nowhere. They are finding it. And they are finding it because they are lost.

▪️ Three out of four suicides in Australia are men.
▪️ Su***de is the leading cause of death for boys aged 15–24.
▪️ Only 30% of people accessing mental health services are male.
▪️ Boys make up 80% of school suspensions.
▪️ They fall behind in literacy by Year 3, and many never catch up.
▪️ They are 40% less likely to finish Year 12.
▪️ They are overrepresented in risk-taking, road deaths, substance abuse and violence.
▪️ 90% of violent offending in Australia is committed by males.
▪️ And one in three Australian men report having no close friends.

Let that sink in. No close friends…. We are not looking at “bad boys.” We are looking at hurting boys.

The manosphere doesn’t just give them answers. It gives them certainty and status. It gives them a feeling of control in a world where they feel like they are failing. And for a boy who feels behind, rejected, or invisible, that is powerful.

That’s why it’s dangerous. Because it doesn’t heal them. It hardens them. It replaces pain with ego.

But if we only criticise it, we miss the point. These boys don’t just need to be told what not to follow. They need something better to follow.

At JCP, we work with young men who sit right in this space. And what we see is this:

- They don’t actually want to be toxic.
- They want to feel respected.
- They want to feel capable.
- They want to feel like they matter.
- They want to win.

And if we don’t show them a healthy way to do that, they will find an unhealthy one.

We need to give young men an alternative that is just as strong, just as compelling, but grounded in something real.

This isn’t a fringe issue. It’s not “a few bad kids on the internet.” It’s a generation of young men trying to work out who they are… and being met with the loudest voices, not the best ones.

We can be angry at the manosphere. We can call it out, and we should. But if we stop there, we lose the boys. The real work is giving them something stronger to stand on.

Because if we don’t lead them, someone else will.

18/03/2026

15/03/2026

Reason 26 of my is because GLP-1 medications are making a lot of noise in the body image space right now.

Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 medications help regulate blood sugar and appetite. Many people taking them experience significant weight loss, which is one reason they’ve moved quickly from medical settings into mainstream conversation.

Add celebrity stories, speculation about who is or isn’t using them, and the constant stream of “before and after” posts online — and it’s not surprising that GLP-1s are becoming part of the broader cultural conversation about bodies.

In therapy rooms, we’re noticing this too.

People are talking about what it means for their own bodies, their self-image, and the pressures they feel in a culture that continues to place a lot of value on weight and appearance.

For some people, GLP-1 medications can be an important and helpful medical treatment. At the same time, the cultural conversation around them can amplify harmful body image messages — that thinner is better, that bodies should be controlled, or that there’s a “right” way to look.

Body image is rarely just about bodies.
It’s about identity, comparison, belonging, and the messages we absorb over time.

If the GLP-1 conversation — online, in the media, or among friends — has stirred up thoughts or feelings about your own body, you’re not alone. These are important conversations, and they deserve space, curiosity, and compassion.

This is another reason I am raising funds for EDV. They run a range of free programs and provide a lived experience lens, a safe and judgement free space to have these exact conversations. They are also working hard to lead change in harmful narratives. Be part of this change, donate today 👇🏼

https://eating-disorders-foundation-of-victoria-inc.grassrootz.com/edv-bayoffires-2026/gemma-parkinson

15/03/2026

Vulnerability is a fickle friend.

Some days it feels like your greatest strength.
Other days it feels like you’ve just handed someone the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I’ve learned that lesson more times than I care to admit.

When you choose to be vulnerable you step into a space where people see the real you. The doubts. The struggles. The moments when you don’t have the answers. The days when you question whether what you’re doing even matters.

And that can feel bloody uncomfortable.

But here’s what I’ve come to understand through the work I do, the communities I sit with, and the thousands of conversations I’ve had.

Vulnerability is not weakness.
It’s emotional intelligence in action.

It takes awareness to recognise what you’re feeling.
It takes courage to name it.
And it takes strength to share it with others.

Some people will misunderstand it.
Some will dismiss it.
Some will use it as a reason to question you.
But the right people… the people who truly understand connection and leadership… they lean in.

Because vulnerability gives others permission.
Permission to speak.
Permission to feel.
Permission to say “I’m not okay today.”

In rural, regional and remote communities especially, we’ve been taught to toughen up, get on with it and keep the emotions to ourselves.

But the strongest conversations I’ve ever witnessed didn’t start with bravado.
They started with honesty.
With someone brave enough to say,
“This is how I’m actually feeling.”
And suddenly the room changes.
The walls come down.
The masks slip.
The real conversation begins.

Vulnerability might be a fickle friend.

But when it’s grounded in self-awareness and purpose, it becomes one of the most powerful tools we have for connection, leadership and change.

And in a world where too many people are struggling in silence, that kind of leadership matters more than ever.

15/03/2026

Day 2 of our 40km hike complete! Another 10kms ticked off today ✅🥾

Feeling incredibly grateful for the beautiful scenery, sharing stories and laughter with great humans, a refreshing dip in the ocean, and taking a moment to celebrate what my body can do.

Movement, nature, connection — it really is powerful medicine. 🌿

Throughout the hike, I often found myself reflecting on my why — why this journey is so important. I’m doing this in honour of every client I have ever worked with, those I currently work alongside, and those I will work with in the future.
You matter ❤️

15/03/2026

Today’s
is because BMI is an inaccurate measure of health.

A single equation cannot meaningfully capture a person’s body composition, state of mind, physical capability or support networks. And, more importantly, numerical targets and measures always harm more than help in eating disorder cognitions. Whether low or high, BMI is NOT an indicator of physical and certainly not psychological health.

A judgement or evaluation of somebody’s health based on their body shape, size or BMI can be very harmful.

Body stigma is still deeply embedded in parts of the health and GP system. Many people report having legitimate health concerns dismissed or reduced to their weight. Others avoid medical appointments altogether after experiencing shame, judgment, or unsolicited weight-focused advice.

When healthcare becomes weight-centric rather than patient-centred, it can:
• Delay diagnoses
• Discourage help-seeking
• Reinforce disordered eating behaviours
• Increase shame and isolation

For people living with or vulnerable to eating disorders, these experiences can significantly worsen mental health and recovery outcomes.

We need to advocate for safer, weight-inclusive healthcare conversations. Support this message by donating today! Link in the comments 👇🏼

Todays post was wrote in collaboration the wonderful Dr 💛

14/03/2026

And we’re off! Day 1 of our 4 day hike raising funds for EDV.

Reason 28 - because it’s a great day to end diet culture!

Link in the comments 👇🏼

12/03/2026

40 Reasons Why — Reason #29
*shared with informed consent*

This week, as a therapist, I cried in session with my client. This wasn’t a little tear, it was a powerful moment where I sat with them as they let the emotion flow.

They said something that captured a moment of real change in their journey:

“It’s been really amazing to see all of these different bodies. It has actually really helped me to appreciate my body even more. These raw images. This raw beauty. And I say to myself, my body is normal because my body’s mine and it’s unique. For the first time in so long I was able to look at my body with so much love. And it felt so good. It felt so good to look at myself and just appreciate my body for what it is.”

This is a client who has been doing the hard work for a long time. The kind of work that happens quietly, week after week. And then one day something shifts.

To hear them speak about their body with love — after so long at war with it — was a powerful moment.

This is one of the reasons I’m raising funds for EDV.

Because recovery from eating disorders is possible.
Because moments like this matter.
Because sometimes the smallest shifts in how someone sees their body can represent years of courage and healing.

40 reasons why. This is reason #29.

❤️

Donate by following the link in the comments or the link on my page 👇🏼

11/03/2026

I’m going to be honest.

I’m sick of the yo-yo.

The anxiety.
The stress.
The uncertainty.
The broken sleep.

Some days I feel like I’ve got it all together. Other days… I don’t. And you know what? That’s normal.

Even people who talk about resilience still have to practice it.

Resilience isn’t about never feeling the pressure, it’s about having some tools before the crisis hits.

Because here’s the thing: too often we wait until burnout hits, anxiety spikes, or everything feels like it’s falling apart before we do anything. That’s like trying to build a dam in the middle of a drought. Way too late.

So I lean on a few simple things that help me steady myself before life gets heavy:

💤 Sleep: Treat it like the foundation it is.
🏃 Move your body: Even just a walk or a ride to shake the tension out.
🗣 Talk to someone: Not small talk. Be honest. Tell them how you really feel.
✋ Focus on what you can control: The next step, the next action, the next conversation.
🌄 Remember the bigger picture: You’ve been through storms before. You’ll get through this one too.

The yo-yo may never fully disappear. But the more tools you build before it drops, the steadier you become when life hits hard.

If the yo-yo’s swinging for you too, you’re not alone. And starting the conversation? That might just be the first tool in your toolbox.