Hello, my name is Maureen (Mo) Odam-Burt. I’m studying for an MSC in Counselling at the University of Bristol.   

As a qualified counsellor in private practice I help people who’ve got various forms of eating disorder. I’ve become personally and professionally interested in the way people seem to tell me their experiences of their eating disorder in the form of a story. This interest and my passion for counselling and research led me to make this the topic of my Master’s Dissertation.

SO WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN TELLING ME YOUR STORY?

The research for my dissertation will focus on your understanding of your experience of having an eating disorder within the context of the story of your life.

I’m looking for men / gay men who are 30 or older who’ve got some understanding of having an eating disorder whether or not there’s been any sense of recovery, with experience of bulimia and/or anorexia, whether formally diagnosed or not.

Depending on the response to my advertisement and my selection process I will send you a participant information sheet that gives you an outline of my research project. We’ll then have an introductory conversation at my counselling practice, or somewhere agreeable to us both, where I’ll give you further details of my project, deal with any ethical concerns you might have and invite you to join me as my co-researcher. You’ll be given a consent form to consider and sign if you’re willing to take part.

Next we’ll have a first conversation where I’ll ask informal open questions helping you tell me your experiences of having an eating disorder. I’ll then use your experiences as a reference point for carrying out my research.

You’ll be asked to come back for a second conversation where I’ll ask for your comments on my research findings and for your reflections and comments on our first conversation.

I’ll reflect and research some more and ask you to read your input, amending anything you think should be changed. You’ll be asked to choose a pseudonym for yourself and the research will be carried out in an ethical and confidential way.

Because the sensitive nature of my research may raise upsetting issues or bring to light new or unresolved thoughts and feelings, support is available from the SWEDA helpline. Any ethical concerns can be put to my university supervisor.

My research is person-centred and the research methodology asks you to “tell me about your understanding and your experiences”.

I’ll be your guide in the conversation process but you’ll be the director of your participation in my project.
If you’d like to participate or require additional information please contact me
Maureen Odam-Burt. Phone 01934 516516 mob; 07855 338676
or e-mail me at iluvwellie@hotmail.co.uk

My studies supervisor at the University of Bristol is
Professor Tim Bond. Phone 0117331 4485