what is Ianthe House?

Ianthe House is a network of peer-supported eating disorder recovery houses that are run autonomously & democratically by their members with our support, providing safe & discrete accommodation & a nurturing community alongside your work with specialist care providers.

We do not offer individual treatment or care services and membership is not intended to replace or interfere with your work with licensed healthcare professionals, rather to complement it.

We are here to support you as your peers and partners in recovery, providing support, structure, compassion, inspiration and strength via our community and its resources.

what does Ianthe House offer?

  • Whilst not providing care, Ianthe Houses offer an option for peer-supported recovery & relapse prevention in a residential setting - offering routine, structure, emotional support, accountability & practical barriers to eating disorder behaviours at home. Accessible for the same price as renting alone, the cost of long-term, peer-supported recovery & relapse prevention is significantly reduced versus inpatient, intensive outpatient & residential care, whilst working well alongside these as a step down, transitional service.

  • A focus on peer-to-peer rather than practitioner-client relationships fosters a dynamic of trust, understanding, compassion and connection between equals. Peer to peer support has also been shown to improve treatment adherence and commitment to eating disorder recovery by eight times compared to other social support.

  • We are not care providers, but peers and partners in your recovery, just as your house members are. Recovery is a collaboration, we work together for each other and ourselves. No one holds authority over your recovery journey but you. To protect this dynamic, our houses are autonomously and democratically run and managed by community members as opposed to the Ianthe House team.

  • You needn’t put your career or life on hold to recover whilst living at your Ianthe House. We understand that recovery is a long term journey, not a destination. Protecting and continually improving your sense of wellbeing, security, agency and purpose is just as important to us, indeed, an important part of the recovery process.

  • 9 to 12 months or more are generally required to secure sustained, long-term recovery, with relapse rates of 40% for shorter time frames. Our secure tenancy agreements offer a way to access residential, peer-supported recovery over the long term. You can remain in your chosen home for as long as you want or need. As you become stronger & your relationship with your ED evolves, you can apply to help us support others earlier on in their journey, or even establish new houses.

  • Our homes look and feel like any other in the neighbourhood. The location of Ianthe Houses are protected and the nature of your tenancy is kept confidential.

  • Mandatory weekly group therapy sessions with your recovery circle are included in your membership. Your circle has the freedom to select your therapist together from our directory of independent and accredited specialists or to suggest preferred alternatives.

  • Our personal resources are designed to support your emotional well-being throughout your recovery and beyond, helping you to reconnect with your sense of self worth, identity, and purpose. Membership also unlocks discounted access to a collection of trusted coaching, wellness & nutritional offerings from our partners, empowering you to choose those you feel will best support you.

  • Connect with other professionals who share not only your recovery journey but your aspirations for career success and development. We host resources and events designed to support financial empowerment, conscious leadership, and networking to help you build a secure and inspired future.

how do I know if Ianthe House is right for me?

  • Commitment to recovery is essential for recovery success. It is a requirement of successful application & ongoing tenancy that you currently work with a personal therapist or outpatient service with a minimum of two hours of formal support per week. Weekly group therapy sessions with your house are a requirement.

  • We are unable to provide the level of care needed to support children and young people. Our service is designed for women who are unable to access support through CAMHS.

  • You feel you currently lack, or feel unable to ask for, the support & understanding you need from others at home.

  • You are transitioning out of an eating disorder program such as inpatient, intensive outpatient or residential treatment & feel in need of more space, time, support & structure around you to help integrate recovery into your life.

  • You need a way to access support & pursue your recovery journey without compromising work or other responsibilities.

  • You are excited to build mutually supportive relationships with others in recovery, to share your journey & recovery living.

  • You are ready to take accountability & responsibility for your recovery & the recovery of those around you. We are here to co-create the environment, structure & support you need for recovery. However, we rely on you to take the lead on what this looks like for you and your house initially & as this may adapt & evolve through time.

  • It takes great courage to trust others to share and support your recovery journey. You honour yourself & the courage of others in sharing vulnerability

  • Psychological safety is our number one priority. It is your decision whether or not, when or to whom you disclose to outside of the confidentiality of your circle & to respect & protect the needs of your house members in this.

  • You are committed to living at your Ianthe House for 9 months or more, to cultivate & nurture a safe, consistent, long-term container of support for yourself & your housemates.

when might Ianthe House not be right for me?

As Ianthe House is not a care provider & does not provide treatment, there may be times where we are unable to provide you with the level of care you need.

As such, we adhere to carefully considered eligibility criteria against the level of support we are able to offer –to ensure the admission of members that will thrive with Ianthe House & to minimise the risk of disruption or distress within our homes.

  • We require our community members to be under the care of a mental health professional and to maintain this throughout their tenancy. Please discuss your attendance with them before deciding whether you are open, ready and in the right place to both contribute and gain from shared recovery living. Please contact us should you have any questions about this.

  • If you have recently experienced periods of critical health risk due to eating disorder, it is likely that we won't be able to provide you with the support you need to keep you safe. It may be necessary for us to work together with your therapist to understand the right timing for you to join an Ianthe House.

  • Out of respect for your shared space and the recovery container it provides we do not permit room sharing with partners. This is to protect the healing nature of shared lived-experience of eating disorder recovery, to protect confidentiality and an open, trusting environment where members are safe to be vulnerable without fear of judgement.