Eating disorders/food and body struggles

Creative techniques – I look for creative techniques to work on body image, self-compassion, and self-talk, which may include art therapy-inspired techniques, writing, talking, bringing in other family members, and more.

Somatic/body-based and “parts” approach – Food and body struggles tend to be somewhat complex as they are influenced by mental, emotional, cognitive, relational, and societal factors. Because of this, the healing work often needs to go beyond simple behavior change and talk therapy. I help clients address the deeper layers below the eating disorder’s thoughts and behaviors by working with the body as well as the mind and heart. This can involve looking at and addressing one’s trauma and attachment history in a holistic way, acknowledging the eating disorder may have developed as a brilliant survival mechanism when options seemed limited. I use “parts” language to recognize and appreciate the different parts of us that have developed over time to protect us in ways that may no longer be needed. We can work in ways that help complete stuck fight-or-flight responses and begin to show the body that it is now safe.

Development of healthy coping mechanisms – Together, we will find healthy coping mechanisms for you to incorporate into your life.

Collaborative care – I believe in working collaboratively with your healthcare team to provide you the best support. With your consent, when it appears to be helpful, I will gladly connect with your primary care provider, dietitian, psychiatrist, etc.

Referrals to create a collaborative team – Don’t have a team, but want to establish one? That’s okay! I can refer you to GREAT practitioners whom I enjoy working with.

Understanding – When it comes to food and body issues, I get it in a way that many people don’t. See my About Me page to learn more.

Size Acceptance and non-diet approach – I believe health comes in many shapes and sizes and I reject diets and weight loss as solutions for health. Additionally, I’m fully aware that eating disorders do not discriminate and can take many different forms. In a nutshell, I do not consider the size and shape of someone’s body to be an indicator of how healthy or unhealthy they are. I recognize that weight discrimination and fat-phobia are very real problems in our world. Part of our work together may involve learning about the impact diet culture has had on you or your loved one’s life and how to break free of it.

Family support – I can offer education, guidance, and a supportive space as you navigate how to care for a loved on with an eating disorder and process your own emotions around this experience.

Trauma and stressful life experiences

Education – Learning about trauma, adaptive survival responses, and how it shows up in the body can be an incredibly useful part of the healing process. I strive to help you gain understanding of what is happening in your body, and how these reactions make sense from a survival lens.

Parts work – We all have protective parts that develop to help us survive stressful or traumatic life experiences. By using “parts work” (through the Internal Family Systems model and the Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment approach), we can explore your survival system, which “parts” are being activated, and how we can update these parts. Sometimes our survival systems are working as if we are still living in past trauma and need some help with being brought to the present.

Body-based approaches – Since trauma lives in the body, we need to involve the body in the healing process. I aim to collaborate with you in gently and mindfully work with both the mind and body to help access deeper layers of processing and healing without re-traumatizing.

Couples

Safe place – I provide a safe place where you can communicate openly with a neutral third party.

Development of secure bonds and deeper connections from which you can:

• Communicate better
• Trust each other more fully
• Resolve conflict more effectively
• Improve intimacy

I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help couples achieve these goals. To learn more about EFT, see my FAQs page.