Who Is Eligible for Sheena's Place Group Support and How Do I Get Started?

Updated

Sheena's Place offers free, professionally facilitated group support to people aged 17 and older who are affected by an eating disorder or disordered eating. You do not need a diagnosis or a referral to register. The recommended first step is to sign up for one of the monthly virtual info sessions, which explain the group programs before you commit to a registration.

Who can join

The eligibility criteria published by Sheena's Place are short and specific:

  • Age: 17 or older.
  • Situation: you are affected by an eating disorder or disordered eating. The site does not limit this to people with a formal diagnosis, and it does not require one.
  • Referral: none needed. You can register yourself.
  • Cost: the groups are completely free of charge.

The wording "affected by an eating disorder or disordered eating" is broader than a clinical diagnosis, so if you are unsure whether your situation fits, the info session is the place to ask rather than a reason to hold back.

How to get started

  1. Attend an info session. Sheena's Place runs monthly virtual info sessions and labels them "Start Here!" They are designed for people curious about group support, whether for themselves or for someone else. Registering for a session is the lowest-commitment way to learn how the groups work.
  2. Review the group options. The site describes five types of group support, along with eligibility criteria for each and how to register. Reading this before the session helps you arrive with specific questions.
  3. Register for a season. Registration is organized by season. For the Fall 2026 season, registration opens on Monday, September 14 at 12pm. The Fall 2026 Program Calendar is published on the site, so you can check which groups run and when before registration day.
  4. Check practical details. The organization is located at 87 Spadina Road in Toronto. If transportation, accessibility, or scheduling is a concern, the site's accessibility page and contact form are the right places to raise it.

What to expect from the groups

The support is group-based and led by professional facilitators rather than peer-only. The organization frames its purpose as inspiring hope, reducing stigma, raising awareness, and offering help and information at all stages of recovery. That framing matters if you are at an early stage, waiting for treatment, or supporting someone else: the groups are not positioned as a replacement for clinical care, and no diagnosis is required to take part.

Common sticking points

  • "I don't have a diagnosis." Not required. The eligibility wording covers disordered eating as well as diagnosed eating disorders.
  • "I missed the registration date." Registration is tied to program seasons, so the practical move is to attend an info session and watch the program calendar for the next opening rather than assume you have to wait a full year.
  • "I'm asking for someone else." The info sessions explicitly welcome people exploring support for themselves or for another person, so family members and friends can start there.
  • "What does it cost?" The groups are free. The organization states it relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations to keep programs free for members, so donating is optional and separate from registering.

If you are 17 or older and affected by disordered eating, you are eligible now. Register for the next virtual info session, read the five group descriptions, and put the Fall 2026 registration date, September 14 at 12pm, in your calendar.