Celebrating an Eating Disorder Recovery-Aligned Passover

Passover is a time of tradition, reflection, and family gatherings. It can also present unique challenges for those navigating eating disorder recovery. With certain dietary restrictions, such as abstaining from eating leavened breads, and family meals, individuals in recovery may find themselves grappling with conflicting emotions and triggers during this holiday. However, with mindful planning, support, and self-compassion, it is possible to honor both religious traditions and the journey toward healing. 

Here are some strategies for navigating Passover while staying aligned with eating disorder recovery.

1. Focus on Meaning: Understanding the significance of Passover and its traditions related to food can provide clarity and context. Take the time to explore the reasons behind food traditions and how they tie into the spiritual and historical aspects of the holiday. This reflection can help shift the focus from food-related anxieties to a deeper appreciation of tradition.

2. Communicate with Supportive Individuals: Reach out to a trusted rabbi, family member, treatment team member, or friend who understands your journey in recovery. Discuss your concerns openly and seek their guidance on how to participate in Passover rituals while prioritizing your recovery. They may offer valuable insights and support to help you navigate any challenges that arise.

3. Focus on Flexibility, Not Perfection: Recognize that recovery is a journey, and it's okay to adapt traditions to suit your needs. Strive for flexibility rather than rigid adherence to dietary rules. Allow yourself the freedom to make modifications that support your well-being.

4. Self-Compassion and Forgiveness: Be gentle with yourself throughout the Passover holiday. It's natural to experience moments of struggle or setbacks, but it's essential to practice self-compassion and forgiveness. If you find yourself feeling guilty or overwhelmed, remind yourself that you are doing the best you can in a challenging situation. Every step you take toward prioritizing your health and well-being is a victory worth celebrating.

5. Seek Professional Support: If you find that Passover triggers significant challenges or exacerbates disordered eating behaviors, don't hesitate to reach out for professional help. At Lift, we provide guidance, support, and coping strategies tailored to your individual needs. Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, and you deserve support on your journey to recovery.

Remember that you are not alone, and there are resources available to help you navigate this challenging time with grace and resilience. 

At Lift Wellness Group, we offer various and distinct levels of care that are designed to support you. Our team of compassionate and highly trained clinicians and staff are here to support you in your recovery. 

Outpatient Services: Working with a Lift therapist or dietitian will provide individualized care as you navigate mental health, disordered eating, or eating disorder recovery.

Our Adult and Adolescent Day Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are highly structured and comprehensive programs that focus on holistic healing and recovery from mental health and eating disorders.

Our admissions team is here to lend a listening ear and find a program that is the best match for you. Connect with us today at (203) 908-5603.

Click here for more on eating disorder treatment.

5 Tips to Navigate Body Dysmorphia

It’s not uncommon to wish you could change certain features about yourself sometimes. Maybe you’re not always happy with the way you look, but you don’t give it much thought. Most of us accept the fact that we’re flawed human beings, and it’s often easy to accept and even embrace those flaws.

But, for someone with body dysmorphia, that isn’t the case. Body dysmorphia is a mental illness that causes individuals to obsess over a perceived physical flaw. The flaw likely isn’t realistic or as “extreme” as the person makes it out to be. However, it’s all they can focus on.

Many people with body dysmorphia become obsessed with things like weight, hair, or facial features. They might spend hours each day trying to “fix” the flaw or even go to extreme lengths, like cosmetic surgery.

Sound familiar? The first step toward combatting body dysmorphia is recognizing there’s a problem. Let’s cover a few more tips you can use to navigate the condition and feel comfortable and confident in your own skin again.

1. Get the Help You Deserve

One of the best things you can do for yourself when you have body dysmorphia is to work with a mental health specialist. Therapy is a great way to better understand the condition. A therapist can also help you determine where it stems from while giving you actionable advice on how to fight back.

Body dysmorphia can make it easy to want to isolate yourself. You need a healthy support system. That should include family and friends, but it should also include someone who can guide you through an effective treatment plan.

2. Write in a Journal

Sometimes, jotting down your negative thoughts and feelings can make them feel less overwhelming and powerful.

The next time you look in the mirror and think something negative about yourself, write it down. Write about how you feel, what you see, and why. Journaling is a good way to organize your thoughts. It can also help you distract yourself long enough that those thoughts don’t feel so controlling.

Plus, a journal lets you track how far you’ve come in your healing journey.

3. Practice Self-Care

It’s not uncommon for people with body dysmorphia to feel guilt or shame over some kind of physical feature. You might lack self-compassion, so you don’t care for yourself as you should.

Everyone deserves self-care. Try to do something that benefits your well-being every day, for example: move your body, prioritize sleep, eat a variety of foods and spend time outside. Find small things that make you feel good, and you’ll start to realize how essential those daily moments of self-care are to your mental health..

4. Connect With Others

Body dysmorphia impacts more people than you might think. In addition to one-on-one therapy, consider joining a support group.

Connecting with others going through the same condition can make a big difference in your outlook and treatment. You’ll recognize that you’re not alone in the way you feel. You’ll also hear about other people’s journeys and see how others are coping. If you’ve ever felt like healing is hopeless, a support group can help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.

5. Set Small Goals

Setting small goals for yourself as you try to overcome body dysmorphia will help to boost your motivation. Work with your therapist to discuss the goals that are important to you. As you reach each milestone, celebrate yourself. Recognize how far you’ve come, and know you’re strong enough to keep moving forward.

If you’re struggling with body dysmorphia, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Having a healthy relationship with your body is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Click here for information on eating disorder treatment.

Brain Chemistry & Eating Disorders - What's the Connection

There’s no one underlying cause that triggers an eating disorder in a person. Research has shown that it’s often a variety of factors. Genetics, environmental, social, and psychological factors can all play a role.

No matter the cause, most people recognize that eating disorders can do serious damage to the body. Food restriction of any kind can lead to a weakened immune system, extreme fatigue, and an increased risk of disease. Eating disorders can also cause damage to your muscles, skin, and internal organs.

While it’s often easy to see what eating disorders do to the body, there is an unseen harm done to the brain.

Unfortunately, there’s a greater connection between eating disorders and brain chemistry than you might think. So, what do these disorders actually do to the brain?

The Effects of Anorexia

It’s important to note that there are different types of eating disorders. The most common are anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. These different types of disordered eating can impact the brain in different ways, so let’s break them down a bit further.

Anorexia might be the most well-known eating disorder. People with the disorder tend to “fear” food rather than enjoy it. They put an extreme restriction on their daily caloric intake and might think about food constantly simply because they’re anxious about it. People with anorexia are essentially starving themselves slowly. That can do serious damage to the body, but it also can trigger other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

Anorexia has also been linked to difficulty concentrating and disordered thinking in other areas of life. This is likely due to structural changes in the brain. Anorexia can cause certain areas of the brain to shrink. When your body is in starvation mode, it can lead to a reduction in brain tissue and disruptions in neurotransmitter behavior.

The Effects of Bulimia

Bulimia is an eating disorder often characterized by binge eating followed by “purging” in some way, typically through vomiting. While people with bulimia tend to have more of an interest in food, they typically become victims of the disorder because they’re trying to escape something. As such, bulimia is often linked to mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Consistent binging and purging can have serious effects on the brain. Bulimia can contribute to a loss of white matter in the brain, making it difficult for different areas of the brain to communicate with each other. It also causes chemical imbalances, especially when it comes to serotonin. That increases the risk of depression.

The Effects of Binge Eating

Everyone overeats now and then. There’s a difference between indulging once in a while and consistently overeating to the point where your habits become disordered.

Binge eating occurs when someone consumes extremely large amounts of food in a short time. Binge eaters often feel like their eating is out of control, and they can’t stop themselves from binging when an episode occurs.

For people who binge eat, the act of continual eating is due to the drive to maintain a pleasurable experience. Unfortunately, it can lead to an increased need for pleasure and an inability to stop impulsive behaviors. Over time, binge eating can also cause a lot of guilt and self-hatred.

What Can You Do?

If you or someone you know is dealing with any kind of eating disorder, seek out help immediately. Disordered eating isn’t typically something you can break free from on your own. Recognizing there’s a problem is a huge step, so take another one by talking to a mental health professional.

The good news is that, in most cases, the brain can eventually get back to a completely healthy state with the right treatment. Don’t wait to find that freedom again.  Reach out to us to learn more about eating disorder therapy and how we can help support you.

The Impact of Social Media and the Rise in Eating Disorders

Social media has plenty of benefits. It’s a great way to stay connected with people you love and don’t get to see often. It allows you to stay up-to-date with family and friends. For teens, social media is a fantastic way to “follow” friends and be in the know about upcoming events.

But there are also plenty of downsides to social media. Everything from cyberbullying to comparison issues has seen a rise as social media has increased in popularity.

Another problem sometimes associated with social media is the rise in eating disorders. One study from 2020 found that young people who use social media are actually more likely to develop an eating disorder.

But what’s the connection? What does social media have to do with the rise in disordered eating?

The Age of Influencers

Social media is no longer just about connecting with friends and family. Many people make a living on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, working as influencers. Some of those influencers gain their fame by claiming to be experts in health, fitness, and/or nutrition. While some of them are legitimate and offer sound advice, others could be doing more harm than good.

Some influencers lead unrealistic lifestyles. They don’t practice realistic, healthy nutrition, and they encourage their followers to do the same. They might go so far as to do unhealthy things “behind the scenes” to make their bodies look perfect without telling their followers. Unfortunately, the goal of an influencer is to, of course, influence their fans. When they’re deceitful in what they’re doing, their followers might still try to be just like them, potentially harming their bodies with extreme diets or exhausting workouts in the process.

Comparison Issues

We touched briefly on comparison issues above, but it’s a big problem in the social media world. You might see a friend from high school looking thin and healthy and find yourself getting jealous. Or, you might think everyone in your family that you see online is “skinny,” and you want to look just like them.

When you compare yourself to others, it’s easy to become obsessed with beating them or being better somehow. It can take over your thoughts and make you obsessed with something like food or how you look.

It’s important to keep in mind that social media is nothing more than a highlight reel. You don’t know how many pictures someone had to take before finding one they liked to post. Very few people are going to post about the negative or hard things going on in their lives. Take what you see with a grain of salt, and try not to compare yourself to others.

Misinformation

There’s a lot of great, science-backed information on social media. But there’s also a lot of fake information. It’s important to discern fact from fiction, especially when it comes to statements about your health.

For example, don’t be quick to try an extreme diet, weight loss supplement, or exercise routine without looking at the science first. If you’re interested in those things, you’re probably already overthinking how you look. It could be easy for something like an extreme fad diet to take control and lead you down the path of an eating disorder.

If you’re already struggling with disordered eating or you’re having negative thoughts about your body, don’t wait to get the help you deserve. Eating disorders can do extreme damage to your physical and mental well-being. Reach out to us now to stop the problem before it spirals out of control in eating disorder therapy. The sooner you fight back against those thoughts, the easier it will be to have a healthy relationship with food and your body.

Filtering Reality: The Dark Side of Social Media's Beauty Standards

An increasing number of influencers and everyday users take to social media to discuss mental health matters, a once-taboo topic. However, despite the potential to facilitate productive discussions and positive change, certain aspects of these platforms—such as filters—may harm people's emotional well-being.

Click here to read more on Eating Disorder Treatment

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Dry: Why Hydration Matters This Summer

Summer Hydration Tips from our
Director of Dietary Services, Kelsey Riesbeck, RD.  

We sat down with Kelsey Riesbeck, RD, Director of Dietary Services at Lift Wellness Company, to learn how dehydration happens, who is most vulnerable, and how we can all do better in keeping hydrated and happy this summer! For 1:1 health strategies, tools and tailored guidance, you may schedule an appointment for dietary services with Kelsey and her team here.

Kelsey, experts always advise us to drink more water… can you tell us why? 

KR: When the body does not get enough water, it is not able to adequately perform its normal daily functions. Water is an essential nutrient that helps to protect the organs and joints, regulate body temperature, aid in digestion, and transport nutrients to cells among many other responsibilities. Without it, these functions have decreased efficiency. Symptoms of underhydration and dehydration may include lightheadedness/dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth/bad breath, increased feeling of thirst, persistent headaches, nausea, stomach pain, constipation, and decreased urination. Children will often display irritability and weariness. A great indicator of dehydration is urine color. Clear, pale urine is indicative of good hydration, while dark, amber colored urine may be a sign of inadequate fluid intake. Outcomes of consistent, recurrent dehydration can eventually contribute to lower social/emotional/physical performance, diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular/kidney disease, and decreased longevity.

Fascinating. And, if hydration is this critical, why do people struggle with drinking enough water?


KR: Most individuals fail to meet guidelines for adequate fluid intake as a result of a variety of factors. For example, poor daily routine and high stress work environments can play a large role in remembering or making the time to refill water bottles. Lack of high water content foods in the diet such as fruits and vegetables can also contribute to higher fluid needs coming from beverages.

So…exactly how much water should people drink regularly?


KR: General guidelines state that adult males should aim for 13 glasses of fluid per day, and adult females at least 9 glasses per day. This does not account for the portion of fluids coming from food, which make up approximately 20% of daily water intake. These guidelines of course depend on activity, medical conditions, weather temperature, age, etc.

Are there actually groups of folks who need more water than others? 

KR: A few examples of groups of people that may need more water compared to others would include pregnant and lactating females, athletes, individuals taking certain daily medications such as diuretics and blood pressure medications, and individuals that live in hot/humid climates.

Great to know! 
What kinds of things can exacerbate dehydration?


Dehydration can be exacerbated by illness (high fever, vomiting, diarrhea), increased sweating with activity or in hot climates, and high sodium diets among others. Coffee (in moderation) does not actually exacerbate dehydration contrary to popular belief. 

What are some conditions that may increase dehydration?

KR: Several groups are critically impacted by dehydration; and I will walk you through some of them below. 

1. Individuals with Eating Disorders Eating Disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa can increase risk for dehydration as a result of various negative behaviors around food. These behaviors may include laxative abuse, vomiting, and restriction of fluid-containing foods and caloric beverages. Some individuals also struggle with fears of excess water weight, and thus avoid water in an attempt to control body size.

2. Individuals with Diabetes Mellitus can also contribute to dehydration as it can cause high blood glucose (or sugar) due to the body’s inability to either effectively produce or appropriately use insulin. Insulin is the hormone which helps control blood glucose and convert food to fuel in the body. When insulin is low/absent, excess sugar spills into the urine and fluid follows- leading to increased urination and dehydration.

3. Individuals with Substance Use Disorders are unable to control their use of drugs, alcohol, or medication and may be more prone to dehydration. This can be due to the diuretic effects of some drugs such as alcohol, the lack of cognitive ability to remember to consume fluids, and excessive sweating from drugs such as stimulants. During detox, individuals may also experience dehydration from side effects such as nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive sweating.

4. The elderly may often struggle with adequate fluid intake due to decreased awareness of the physical sensation of thirst, memory impairment, reduced organ function, fear of frequent urination, and difficulty swallowing. Total body water content also gradually reduces with age, meaning older adults may naturally dehydrate quicker than their younger selves.

5. Cancer can increase risk for dehydration as a result of treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation. These drugs frequently lead to side effects of nausea and lack of appetite, making it difficult to consume adequate calories and fluids. Additional dehydrating side effects can include vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive sweating.

Thank you, Kelsey! So we take it that these populations need to be particularly thoughtful about water consumption. 

Before we go, do you have any tips to share about HOW people who wish to can increase their water consumption, beginning today? 

I love to help clients increase their water intake by making it more fun! Try adding fruit slices or ice made from juice to water or seltzer to add some flavor. Having a water bottle that is easy to drink from and carry can also help with consistency and remembering throughout the day. It helps to continue to build on existing habits, so pairing fruits and vegetables with meals and snacks can also be helpful, as they are mostly water! 

Body positivity feeling too lofty a goal? Embrace body neutrality instead.

Mary Dobson, MA, LMFT, CEDS

Here in the heat and the heart of summer, some clients and community members have reported facing internal struggles with body image. We’ve listened to clients share their goals of achieving body positivity, and difficulties achieving this aim. The Lift team would like to introduce a new concept (or remind you of one you may have forgotten,) by suggesting our clients consider embracing body neutrality over body positivity.

We sat down with Lift's own Andrea Ciarlelli, LMFT & licensed body positive facilitator, and asked her to walk us through the difference between these two concepts. The following is what she had to say. 

First of all, let’s go over the root of the term body positivity. The origins of the body positivity movement date back to the Fat Acceptance movement of the 1960s. The idea of ending fat-shaming served as the seed of a larger project of accepting and celebrating all bodies and body types. The Fat Acceptance movement was actually originally founded by fat, queer, black women, who wanted to liberate marginalized people and bodies. 

Today, many public-facing fat-acceptance advocates, including Lizzo, argue that the modern body positivity community excludes the voices and groups instrumental in its development, including larger people, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people of color. Some argue the body positive movement has been co-opted by mostly cis, thin white women. 

People of every size can and certainly do at times have body image issues (especially, but not exclusively, those with body dysmorphia or eating disorders), and there are many people without lived experience in fat or marginalized bodies who have contributed to the body positivity movement, so there should be space to recognize their contributions. At the same time, individuals with larger bodies and marginalized identities such as the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities cannot be left out of these conversations. While we commonly first think of body positivity in terms of body acceptance, there are concepts like body neutrality and Body Trust (TM) that are likely more inclusive to all. 

So, what is body neutrality and how can it be helpful? It's important to remember that whether an individual suffers from an ED or not, some days, we will not feel good or accepting about our bodies, and that is okay! Many of us have weight that fluctuates daily, monthly, or over life cycle, depending on hormones, age, metabolism, pregnancies, and activity level. We also all have days when self-esteem and self-love are lower, due to reasons related or not related to how we feel about our bodies. For example, if someone has an argument with their significant other or roommate before a meeting, they may have a negative thought track prevalent in mind and view every interaction after the argument as a personal attack, which can lead to assumptions and more pervasive negative thought patterns throughout the day, including body thoughts.  

We all know that toxic positivity is when someone is constantly trying to point out the good in a situation, find the silver lining, a lesson, etc. and cannot acknowledge that sometimes things are unfair, life can be hurtful and there is harm being done. It can be difficult for people to feel safe to be their authentic selves around toxic positivity as it is invalidating and harmful as it takes away one's perception of what is happening. Body positivity can have a similarly negative impact, and effectively shame or gaslight people out of having any negative emotions/thoughts about their physical presentations.  

Examples like bullying and criticizing others are often given by clients. If a client reports having an "off" day, they may make comments about being unhappy in front of the mirror getting ready for the day, and log those thoughts automatically as a character deficit or being "disloyal" to their body positivity, when in fact, they just had an honest human moment of not feeling "good enough,” and were struggling with self-esteem and self-worth. We also see people living in larger bodies who endorse body positivity and/or body neutrality put down or bully others in larger bodies by making comparison comments and assigning hierarchy based on size or weight. This is extremely harmful as it is divisive to effecting change in fat-phobic, oppressive systems.

Body neutrality has benefits as it can be one tool in helping people find a neutral or accepting point of entry after having a lifelong experience of feeling uncomfortable in their body, not good enough, shameful or disgusted with their body. It can also help people seek community and have language around how to talk about some of these issues, specifically related to how we talk to parents, children, educators, physicians, etc. about bodies.

The Body Positive (TM) is a great program created by Connie Sobczak and Elizabeth Scott in "1996 to create a lively, healing community that offers freedom from suffocating societal messages that keep people in a perpetual struggle with their bodies." But the term Body neutrality could be more accessible to some people as they might not be able to hold both ideas- "my body" and "positivity" together for various reasons, such as trauma, distrust of the body, dissociation from body. Neutrality focuses more on acceptance of having a body and holding gratitude for the things it can do, as opposed to focusing on certain parts of the body and liking the way it looks. Both body positivity and body neutrality have blurred lines as some body positive work also focuses on gratitude for the body as well.  

Personally, I recommend reading up on both body positivity and body neutrality and exploring if learning to implement either or both would be helpful in practicing for yourself! If you’d like to explore your relationship with your body/body image, I am a licensed body image facilitator and am happy to offer 1:1 consult to discuss developing a peaceful, non-judgmental, and non-reactive relationship with your body. To schedule with me directly, click here.

Click here for more information on eating disorder treatment.

Binge Eating Disorder (For Parents)

What is Binge Eating Disorder

Almost everyone occasionally finds comfort in food and overeats on occasion. This is totally normal and typical for the fast paced, stressful world that we live in today. Emotional eating can be a way of sometimes coping with stress and is part of normal life. On the other hand, individuals struggling with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) may experience this at a more frequent and extreme level. This may include eating much more than most people would in a sitting on a weekly basis (at least 1 day a week for 3 months), feeling out of control and guilty around food, and eating until uncomfortably full with or without feeling physically hungry. BED is not associated with compensatory behaviors such as excessive exercise, purging, or fasting as is common in other eating disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia.

Signs and Symptoms

Since many children and teens struggling with BED feel embarrassed or guilty about their food behaviors, many do not reach out for support or share their struggles with family members. It’s important to look for key signs and symptoms that your child may be struggling such as:

• Large quantities of food missing, hidden wrappers, and sneaking food

• Eating unusually large amounts of food in a specific amount of time, such as over a two-hour period

• Rapid weight fluctuations

• Regularly skipped meals throughout the day

• Frequent isolation and eating in private

• Increased feelings of depression, guilt, or shame

How To Support

• Allow all foods to be available in the home. We tend to sometimes place moral values on our food, calling things “good” and “bad.” This is normal in the world that we live in today, full of diet advertisements and toxic food/body culture. It’s important to try to take these words away from food and understand that all foods can be healthy when eating in variety and moderation. By only allowing desserts on special occasions and labeling certain foods as “off limits,” it may trigger kids to eat excessively when given the option since they don’t know the next time they will be “allowed” to have it. It also puts a feeling of guilt for eating “bad” when in reality they are honoring their body’s physical and mental cues for hunger.

• Eat consistently throughout the day. Skipping meals may cause your child to feel overly hungry and out of control around food. This is the body’s natural reaction to extreme hunger; it is no longer able to sense its true cues and may end up leading to binging behaviors. Try helping your children with packing lunch for school and asking if they need assistance with preparing breakfast in the morning to keep on a consistent eating schedule.

• Speak positively about yourself. Children learn by example and tend to hold onto your words more than you might think. Showing your child that you can love and appreciate your body (and the food you eat) for what it does will help them try to feel the same way, especially with all of the bodily changes during puberty.

• Start the conversation. Instead of making statements around food such as “Are you sure you’re hungry for all of that?” and “Do you really want to be eating that?” try reframing your statements to focus on your child’s struggles. Asking questions/making statements such as “How can I support you right now?” or “It looks like you might be struggling, I’m here for you” can be helpful to open the conversation around the triggers and stressors in your loved one’s lives. It can be really difficult to reach out for support especially when feeling shame and guilt around eating patterns and body image. Showing that you care and accept them as they are rather than focusing on the behavior can be helpful for building trust and allowing them the space to talk.

• Practice movement as a family. Getting outside together as a family can be a great way to relieve stress and improve relationships and mental health. As the weather gets nicer, try going for walks with the dog, swimming at the beach, or playing sports as a family to continue to practice having an active and fun lifestyle.

• Seek treatment. Treatment for eating disorders is readily available by mental health professionals and can include many different courses of action. At Lift, you can seek out treatment that works for you and your loved ones including individual therapy, group therapy, parent support sessions, nutrition therapy, and psychiatry.

References:

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Written by Kelsey Riesbeck, our director of dietary services.

Click here for more information on Eating Disorder Treatment.

Weighing in on Holiday Stress & Food

The holiday season lies around the corner, and one dish is on the table for all: gathering with family! For many, family celebrations can be pretty stressful. Perhaps you have an aunt who comments on her latest fad diet, or a grandparent who tries to connect by goading and body shaming. Or, maybe your siblings want to bake cookies and you don’t yet trust in your recovery to eat a fear food intuitively without a subsequent shame spiral. You may even have a family of origin that insists you clear your plate, and watches your every bite to judge the progress of your recovery. Regardless of your situation, one thing is for sure: the holidays can be stressful, particularly when it comes to food.  

Holiday Stress! We’ve all been there. 

So many holiday traditions are focused on food preparation and consumption. Sharing special foods evoke nostalgia and a sense of tradition for many who have never suffered from an eating disorder. However, those with food and body concerns may tend to isolate from family gatherings in order to protect themselves from feeling pressured, judged or stressed. Family members and allies of individuals in recovery have a responsibility to preempt and openly discuss possible triggers, and to minimize food related stressors in the environment. 

The holidays can certainly be taxing for reasons other than simply food. Gift-giving and financial concerns often add burden to individuals who already struggle with depression and anxiety. The American Psychological Association has stated that over the holidays. 69% of Americans are stressed by the feeling of having a lack of time, 69% are stressed by perceiving a lack of money, and 51% are stressed over the pressure to give or get gifts. For individuals managing stress, anxiety, or in early recovery, coping skills, managing expectations, and setting clear and direct boundaries will come in handy. 

How Can One Cope?

First, many who suffer from eating disorders are people-pleasers, which may lead to making commitments that they don’t feel comfortable with in order to appease loved ones. This can cause individuals to feel overwhelmed, resentful, or regretful. A therapist or trusted friend can be utilized to create a plan of traditions that bring joy, and traditions that do not carry personal meaning. Communicate about traditions you feel comfortable participating in, and even create some new traditions of your own! 

Second, be realistic. If family gatherings during the holidays follow unhealthy patterns, make a plan in advance, such as bringing your own car, taking space for fresh air when overwhelmed, making a phone call for support, or leaving early if need be. Creating personal boundaries is essential.

Finally, there are times that family members give unhealthy advice. If your anxiety is worsened by family drama, strained relationships, or loss, consult your therapist to discuss and role play tactful and gracious responses to redirect conversations away from unproductive topics, and to alleviate the stress and tensions of family gatherings. 

Written by Mary Dobson, with contributions from Jaqueline Hernandez 

Click here for more information on Eating Disorder Treatment.

LIFT Announces Launch of New Parent Training and Peer Support Groups

You’re the first to know of this new virtual programming, beginning April 26 We at LIFT are happy to announce the long-awaited launch of a new weekly training and support group for parents and loved ones of individuals suffering from eating disorders.

As part of our mission to improve eating disorder quality of care, we are especially passionate about providing family support and education. Families who are informed about eating disorders have better outcomes, and effective treatment is aided when family members can be a primary resource in recovery and assisted to cope during the crisis, to deal with the effects of the eating disorder, and to practice supportive parenting approaches. (Roles, BCMJ, vol. 47 , No. 1 , January February 2005.) This series, written and delivered by Mary Dobson, will consist of a seven week training on eating disorders designed to educate, coach, and empower parents on eating disorders, as well as connect parents with a supportive community of peers. 75 minutes will be broken into presentation, open discussion, and question and answer modules.

Mary Dobson is a certified eating disorder expert and licensed therapist. She will cover all aspects of eating disorder treatment, care and research. In this interactive training, families will learn how to create a home environment setting conducive to supporting their loved one with an eating disorder. Sessions will take place on Monday or Thursday evenings from 7-8:15 and space is limited. Please email 📧 mary@liftupwellness.com to register.

So Your Child Has an Eating Disorder. What Now?

We at LIFT understand that approaching the topic of food with children can be daunting for parents. While we can’t predict our children’s reactions, parents remain the most reliable support for their children, and early intervention has proven to be one of the strongest indicators of recovery. Eating disorders are serious disorders and trying for everyone involved. Support for each family member through this time can be crucial to full and successful recovery. 

First, trust your instincts! You as a parent can often sense when something is off. Often, individuals with eating disorders do not initially notice them. Your observation and swift response can be a powerful tool for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. You may find it helpful to educate yourself on the warning signs of eating disorders based upon the age and gender of your child. 

It is so important that you do not blame anyone for the development of an eating disorder. Risk and protective factors indicate that it is possible for any one of us to develop an eating disorder at any point in our lives. Instead of spending valuable time and energy in trying to assess and find a cause within the past, the best thing you can do for your child and yourself is to look to the future with hope and determination for recovery. 

Next, schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor. In this appointment you can either address the doctor together or privately. A meeting of this sort would be useful to express a list of your concerns to your doctor and receive professional referrals. In some cases the doctor may even recommend going more in-depth with vitals to make a record of it or refer out for more intensive laboratory work. A pediatrician who has known your child for a few years would also have the ability to look at their growth chart and assess the progress made in that regard since the feeding concerns began. This said, refer back to step one if you believe your doctor has chosen a more patience relying approach. It is common to see aspects of weight stigma played out within early assessment of eating disorders, regardless of whether your child is underweight. Your concerns are valid and deserve to be taken seriously. 

 It’s a good idea to see what kind of professional specialized support you can access within your area. You may choose to look on the internet, ask around your network (perhaps other parents have some ideas or experience with some professionals in your area), or ask your child’s doctor for a referral to an eating disorder specialist they may know of. 

This would also be a good chance to learn a little bit about the different levels of care which are available for those with eating disorders. In eating disorder care, there are of care: outpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), residential treatment (RTC), and medical hospitalization. Each is designed specifically to support the severity of the disorder at any point. It may also be worthwhile to learn a little bit about your insurance policy and understand both in and out of network benefits based upon your plan.

When going through the process of scouting and selecting a professionals help you should also be sure to ask any questions that arise for you so you can have the greatest sense of clarity going forth possible. Any professional who is a prospective candidate for treatment should be able and willing to answer the questions you have regarding themselves, treatment, and payment. You should be sure to get all of the clarification you need before proceeding forth so you are the as comfortable as possible and get a chance to understand procedures. 

Last and certainly not least, be sure that you yourself have proper support and care in place to get you through this time. Caring for a child with an eating disorder can be overwhelming and uncertain at times which can create a large sense of isolation. Be sure that you yourself are making sure your own needs are met, you are treating yourself with compassion, have people to rely on, and seek professional support if you feel it would be beneficial. There are many other places for support as well, such as support groups, friends or family who may have gone through similar circumstances with children, or a partner who is in the thick of it with you. There are also many online support groups such as through excellent books and websites. 

Additional Resources: Knowledge is power! Access and utilize eating disorder resources, understand what it is your child is dealing with, and begin to formulate a plan to seek treatment. There are a multitude of resources out there from guides to eating disorders with parents, family doctors, and specialized therapists and nutritionists, and eating disorder information sites such as the National Eating Disorders Association, The Academy for Eating Disorders, and the National Institute of Metal Health. There’s a plethora of information out there, and its easy to get sucked into, remember that with the help of a treatment team and eventually your own child’s desire to heal there will be plenty of support. Be mindful that similar to WedMD, while the information is true it doesn’t always apply to your situation and it is easy for us to become anxious with all of the information presented. We wish you hope and healing on your journey. Feel free to reach out for guidance and support whenever needed. 

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So, You Have an Eating Disorder, and It’s Halloween

For those who suffer from disordered eating, food anxiety triggered by the upcoming holiday season may be enough to make them want to pack bags and shack up somewhere warm for the coming months. 

Halloween leads the festive three-month parade of family meals, social events, celebratory feasting, and for many, rationalized overindulgence. People struggling with eating disorders may agonize with how much to indulge, whether to abstain, how to self-regulate, and when to sit out of social events that could prove too pressured. Many clients report a fear of feeling judged or left out of rituals involving overconsumption, because their recovery requires them to follow a food plan and they’re not yet ready for intuitive eating. Some feel under a microscope in situations where struggles with fear foods cause stress and emotional distress. 

As always, success in eating disorder recovery looks slightly different for everyone. We treat clients in early recovery who will challenge themselves with a fear food this Halloween. We also treat individuals for whom self-care may look like abstaining from sugar, and this choice may make them worry about sticking out like a sore thumb on special occasions. It is the mere acknowledgement of these experiences that prime you to take the first step in understanding how to reclaim holidays like Halloween, and make them personally meaningful, so you can enjoy them in a new and healthy way. 

We always encourage clients to support and advocate for themselves in working through the fears and rigidity that have the potential to rob them of the joy of this special time of year. While food can be a bonding and culturally significant aspect of the holiday season, new rituals and traditions can be created that do not revolve around food and eating. Our dream for our clients is for them to participate fully in connecting activities and relationships, while operating free of food obsession. This may mean a period of time in new recovery in which additional supports are crafted, and boundaries drawn around what you think you can handle, in each step forward. Overconfidence can be as dangerous to new recovery as obsessive phobias can be. 

Collaboratively with your therapist and dietician, create an individualized plan to help get you through each holiday. A wise person once said, “fail to plan, and plan to fail.” Identify members of your natural support system that you can utilize for check-ins when things seem particularly hard. Plan to use an app such as Recovery Record, or food journal and call it over to your sponsor or therapist on difficult days. Create your own non- food focused plans, such as a pumpkin carving party, a foliage hike in the woods, a spooky movie night, “boo-ing” friends, corn mazes, or hay-rides. Bring your own car to events, and know that you may leave early, if you feel uncomfortable. Have a “safe” word with a trusted friend, to use in case you’re feeling an urge to use symptoms or behaviors. You can celebrate Halloween in new ways that suit you, with compassion and understanding that you are choosing new paths, because you hold the power to prioritize your own comfort and listen to your body and mind.  

Getting through Halloween may be difficult depending on where you are in your personal journey with food. This is just one day in the calendar, and however it goes for you, a new day will await you on November 1. Work at your own pace and focus on what feels right. Remember that with your commitment to your recovery, in time, the significance of food will fade into the background of the holiday season, and the emphasis will be entirely on sharing joy with those you love. Each holiday celebrated with self-respect will strengthen the quality of your recovery, and expand your range of coping skills and trust in your ability to self-care. As a rule of thumb, remember that all foods fit, in variety and moderation. Have fun, be safe and well, and have a Happy Halloween! 

Written by Mary Dobson and Natasha Pawa.

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What is the Health at Every Size Movement?

March is “National Nutrition Month,” so we at LIFT have asked our resident dietitian and certified eating disorder nutritionist to contribute her expertise. Below, she weighs in on the HAES (Health At Every Size) movement. 

Diet culture in the United States continues to run rampant and has negatively impacted how we view our bodies and food. Chances are, even if you have never tried a specific diet, the messages that our bodies need “fixing” or that specific foods are the culprit of obesity, are everywhere. For example, a study conducted on body image disturbance in 2015 showed that 50% of 13-year-old girls are dissatisfied with their bodies, and that percent increases to 80% by the time they are 17. And this doesn’t just apply to females- about 50% of men are dissatisfied with how their bodies look. Unrealistic cultural standards for body types as well as the extreme focus on dieting/weight loss leaves a disproportionate number of people unhappy with their bodies. When people are unhappy with their bodies, we go to great lengths to lose weight or change our natural shape. The diet industry makes $60 billion per year, capitalizing on the very insecurities that they often promote! 

Luckily in recent years, people have begun to take note of the toxic effects the current body/diet culture has on our lives. You may have seen an increased variety of body types in clothing advertisements like Target. You may have noticed some brands, such as Aerie, hire non-models to wear their apparel or prevent advertising images to be photoshopped. Maybe you started following body positivity promoters, such as Tess Holiday or Lizzo on social media. And if you have ever received treatment for disordered eating, an eating disorder, body image disturbance, body dysmorphic disorder, etc, you have likely heard about “Health at Every Size®” (HAES®). For those of you who haven’t, it is a new paradigm of how to achieve increased body/weight positivity and inclusivity. Here is more information about HAES® to help you combat diet culture and jump on the body positive bandwagon:

Health at Every Size® focuses on how healthy habits and behaviors are more important than a number on the scale. 

According to the Association for Size Diversity and Health, the HAES® model includes five major principles:

1. Weight Inclusivity: Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealizing or pathologizing of specific weights.

2. Health Enhancement: Support health policies that improve and equalize access to information and services, and personal practices that improve human well-being, including attention to individual physical, economic, social, spiritual, emotional, and other needs.

3. Respectful Care: Acknowledge our biases, and work to end weight discrimination, weight stigma, and weight bias. Provide information and services from an understanding that socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and other identities impact weight stigma, and support environments that address these inequities.

4. Eating for Well-being: Promote flexible, individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and pleasure, rather than any externally regulated eating plan focused on weight control.

5. Life-Enhancing Movement: Support physical activities that allow people of all sizes, abilities, and interests to engage in enjoyable movement, to the degree that they choose.

Sometimes, people feel resistant to the idea that your weight does not have to be the deciding factor to determine if you are healthy or not. When encompassing and living with the principles above, being healthy takes on a whole new meaning. The focus is no longer on finding a quick fix to drop weight fast. It takes a gentle approach to honor your body shape and your body’s needs while promoting appropriate behaviors that encompasses all areas of health. I don’t know about you, but respectful care including eating and moving for my well-being to enhance my entire life sounds so much better than any crash diet out there! 

If you want to learn more and become part of the movement, signing the HAES® pledge is a great first step. You can also follow the #haes and #healthateverysize Instagram hashtags to see awesome HAES® content. If you want to dive deeper into these principles and learn about the research to back up the movement, check out the book Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon. I encourage you to join the movement, you will not be disappointed!

This article was contributed by Nicole Ferri, RD, CD-N, CEDRD, owner of Inspire Nutrition Counseling, a partner of LIFT Wellness Group. 

National Eating Disorders Awareness (NEDA) Week: What It Is, and Why It Matters

The week of February 24 to March 1 marks National Eating Disorder Awareness (NEDA) week.  

The 2020 theme for #NEDAwareness is “Come as You Are: Hindsight is 20/20.” This year’s theme is meant to convey that everyone’s story — no matter their identity or where they are on their journey to self-acceptance — is valid and worthy of representation. NEDA hopes that this theme will encourage people to reflect on any positive steps (regardless of how small) they have taken toward accepting themselves.   

NEDA is a non-profit dedicated 365 days/year to working towards supporting those affected by eating disorders. We at LIFT, who work in the trenches with eating disorders daily throughout the year, know how imperative it is that there is a week dedicated to reminding everyone of the devastating effects eating disorders have on our society—and people we love.

This year, several powerful organizations have teamed up to shed light on the health crisis caused by eating disorders. For one, Aerie and NEDA have joined forces with Aerie’s graphic tee, which will donate 100 percent of profits to NEDA.

Further, by sharing any untouched photo of yourself on Instagram and using the tag #AerieREAL @aerie, the retailer will donate $1 to NEDA. (Over the last four years, Aerie has donated over $11,000 to NEDA, and we have the ability to nearly double that amount this year!) 

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness AND will affect 30 million Americans at some point in their lives – yet misinformation continues to keep people from getting access to the right kind of help. 65% of American women struggle with subclinical disordered eating, which can be as damaging to mental and physical health as diagnosed eating disorders. Subclinical disordered eating is any behavior that may not yet fit the medical definition of an eating disorder, but can be a precursor to one, and worse, fuels diet culture and impacts genetically vulnerable individuals who may be susceptible and prone to full-blown disorder. For example, dieters fall into the category of subclinical disordered eating, and dieters are 18x more likely than non-dieters to develop an eating disorder. During NEDAwareness Week, communities across the country join the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) to raise awareness through social media campaigns, legislative advocacy, building lightings, local events, and many more activities. LIFT encourages you to visit the NEDA website to learn more. The National Eating Disorders Association Helpline is (800) 931-2237.

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How a dietitian can be part of your mental health journey

As a registered dietitian and a certified eating disorder specialist, I have encountered an expansive array of client demographics and backgrounds, and have also have worked closely with those struggling with mental health issues. I am truly amazed by the strength and courage individuals demonstrate when fighting their disorder or mental health issues. Seeing how diagnoses such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, and struggles with self-esteem and self-worth affect a person’s eating habits, I believe nutrition education and support can be an integral component of a person’s overall wellbeing. A nutrition professional can be a helpful addition to your team to help you feel your best, both mentally and physically.

Throughout my practice, I have seen clients struggle to trust dietitians and to make needed appointments. Perhaps they have felt worried that a dietitian might be judgmental or triggering. Or, they were overwhelmed or felt too depressed to get started. So, how can a dietitian be part of the equation when individuals are struggling with mental health issues, and the idea of talking with a dietitian just sounds scary? Below are some ways to get started in finding a professional who is a good fit for you!

First off, let’s clarify what a dietitian does and how one can be a beneficial member of your clinical team. A dietitian, often also referred to as a “nutritionist”, specializes in nutrition, eating habits, food practices, and various disease states that are affected by food and eating. When searching for a nutrition professional, make sure they have the following credentials after their name: RD (registered dietitian) or RDN (registered dietitian nutritionist). These credentials indicate that the person has completed coursework from an accredited program, has fulfilled specific dietetic internship hours, passed a national accrediting exam, and engages in continuing education. Dietitians are expected to provide evidence-based information while identifying ways to increase healthy/appropriate behaviors which can greatly decrease the amount of confusion and overwhelm around food and nutrition information we see daily. Many dietitians specialize in different populations and disease states, just like a doctor would. Make sure to be aware of specializations, as a dietitian specializing in adult renal disease may not be helpful if you are struggling from bulimia as a teenager. 

To help find the right dietitian for you, here are some tips when looking for someone who is sensitive to mental health, eating disorders, body image, etc:

• Do your research: make sure to check out the website, credentials, and specializations of the dietitian you are interested in meeting with. Be mindful if you get recommendations or a list of dietitians from your insurance:many dietitians who specialize in mental health and eating disorders do not take insurance. You may need to do your own research to find a specialist in your area. Remember, that it’s worth paying for a few sessions out of pocket and maximizing your time vs seeing someone who ends up making your situation worse!

• Ask questions: when scheduling your first appointment with a dietitian, make sure to ask about their experience working with whatever your current struggles are. If the dietitian sounds like they are unsure or are not confident in their responses, keep looking.

• Be picky: if you meet with someone and don’t hit it off, it’s ok to keep looking around. The point is to have a positive relationship with your dietitian to help promote positive change. It isn’t worth sticking with someone who isn’t helpful.

• Voice your concerns: make sure to be open and honest with your nutrition profession and express any questions, concerns, or issues. The more communication there is, the more effective your dietitian can be.

If you have thought about reaching out to a nutrition professional, now is the time! No matter what you are struggling with, focusing on having a positive relationship with food can change your life for the better!

Written and Contributed By Nicole Ferri, RD, CD-N, CEDRD, Owner of Inspire Nutrition Counseling, a partner of LIFT Wellness Group.)

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Four Common Types of Eating Disorders

There is so much I want to convey to you about eating disorders. I have been a student of eating disorder recovery for the past seventeen years, working in the trenches with recovering people and absorbing, night and day, any materials, knowledge or behaviors that could be helpful to them. With this said, I need first to start at the beginning, assuming you are educating yourself for the first time about this fatal disease, and in need of a basic overview of this illness, which manifests in four major forms (below) and currently affects more than 24 million Americans. Eating Disorders are an array of mental disorders that display unusual eating behaviors or habits with serious health consequences. All eating disorders are rooted in an obsession with food, the shape of one’s body or body weight. Fascinatingly, eating disorders are mental health issues that become physical health issues, interfering with every aspect of a person's functionality, with a host of bodily implications as well as cognitive, psychological and social. Eating disorders are a leading cause of death in teenagers in the U.S.     

The symptoms of eating disorders can include food restriction, binges on food, and purging by vomiting or by over-exercising. The average age of onset is 18 years-old for both bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa and 21 years old for binge eating disorder. People tend to suffer for a minimum of seven years, if they survive the course of disease. Some are affected throughout the lifespan, spending years in and out of treatment facilities, or worse, never receiving the proper help at all. I will begin my overview by discussing Binge Eating Disorder, which is characterized by recurring binge eating episodes during which a person feels a loss of control and marked distress over his or her eating. Unlike bulimia nervosa, binge eating episodes are not followed by purging, excessive exercise or fasting. As a result, people with binge eating disorder often are overweight or obese.[1] 

Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by binge eating (eating large amounts of food in a short time, along with the sense of a loss of control) followed by a type of behavior that compensates for the binge, such as purging (e.g., vomiting, excessive use of laxatives, or diuretics), fasting, and/or excessive exercise. Unlike anorexia nervosa, people with bulimia can fall within the normal range for their weight. But like people with anorexia, they often fear gaining weight, want desperately to lose weight, and are intensely unhappy with their body size and shape.[2] 

Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by a significant and persistent reduction in food intake leading to extremely low body weight in the context of age, sex, and physical health; a relentless pursuit of thinness; a distortion of body image and intense fear of gaining weight; and extremely disturbed eating behavior. Many people with anorexia see themselves as overweight, even when they are starved or severely malnourished. [3] 

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – according the 5th edition of the Diagnostic Statistics Manual (DSM-5) is seen in my practice often in the pediatric population. Characterized by an eating or feeding disturbance (e.g., apparent lack of interest in eating or food; avoidance based on the sensory characteristics of food; concern about aversive consequences of eating) as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs associated with one (or more) of the following: significant weight loss (or failure to achieve expected weight gain or faltering growth in children), significant nutritional deficiency, dependence on enteral feeding or oral nutritional supplements, marked interference with psychosocial functioning. ARFID is made known as such when the disturbance is not better explained by lack of available food or by an associated culturally sanctioned practice, and the eating disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and there is no evidence of a disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced. To receive a diagnosis of ARFID, the eating disturbance is not attributable to a concurrent medical condition or not better explained by another mental disorder. When the eating disturbance occurs in the context of another condition or disorder, the severity of the eating disturbance exceeds that routinely associated with the condition or disorder and warrants additional clinical attention. ARFID goes beyond picky eating in toddlers, and needs treatment by an eating disorder professional therapist as well as a specialized nutritionist, and medical monitoring from a pediatrician who is educated in the condition. ARFID is not a phase and can morph into anorexia given the absence of treatment. The information I share is meant to provide a better understanding of four common eating disorders and to dismiss common misconceptions of what eating disorders are. It’s important to note that these are serious medical and mental disorders which do not work themselves out.  If you think you have an eating disorder or know someone who might have one, call us today or see a healthcare practitioner who specializes in eating disorders. See our website at www.liftupwellness.com.

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[1] Eating Disorders Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders.shtml

[2] Eating Disorders Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders.shtml

[3] Eating Disorders Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders.shtml

A Tailored Approach to Recovery from Food And Weight Issues

Do you or someone you know struggle in your relationship to food and body?

As a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist, I look at eating issues from both an intrapsychic and interpersonal framework. Your relationship with food and body does not merely impact you: it affects family dynamics, romanic relationships, career aspirations and parenting outcomes. Your food choices and amounts send a message about your self estimation to bosses, friends and loved ones.

Are you sick and tired of continuing to battle against your body? Whether you are facing a clinical eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder, or struggling with repeated dysfunctional patterns relating to food, exercise and body image, I will co-create a personalized action plan with you that sets you towards revolutionizing current behavior and unleashes a healthier, happier you.

Eating is a family affair. As the former director of a residential eating disorder treatment center,  I have expertise in treating food issues and body loathing, while triaging families in crisis. Children and adolescents take cues about food from parents, loved ones and peers. Often the entire family is in need of a reassessment of eating patterns. In these cases, I will gently work with you to get your family back on track. My approach is nonjudgmental and meet-you-where-you’re-at. Therapy is a journey that we are on together, and the goal is insight that drives behavioral change and an improved quality of life.

More than ever, societal demands place pressure on both sexes to maintain an unachievable physical ideal. Throughout the media, we see proof that Americans are obsessed with extreme food and exercise behavior. Our culture is obsessed with food: simultaneously glorifying and demonizing it. Learn to break free of the yo-yo of extreme eating and exercise behaviors, while finding balance and enjoyment in food, and love for your body.

I collaborate with the premier eating disorder experts in Fairfield County: registered dietitians, medical doctors and other specialists. I conduct comprehensive assessments of clients to determine a course of action that meets their specific needs and engage professional resources to support clients in their recovery process.

If you needed oral surgery, you would want a specialist to perform the procedure. Do not go to a generalist for help with you or your loved ones food and body issues. This is my field and my training is sophisticated and formatted to meet your unique situation.

Your life can be richer and more joyful. Your relationship with food and your body matters. You matter. I am waiting to take your call for a free phone consultation. Let’s talk change today.

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