Empowering Agency in Eating Disorder Recovery

In this episode, I sit down with Clarissa Kennedy—clinical social worker, founder of Reinvent Your Bliss Point, co-founder of Sweet Sobriety, and co-host of the Food Junkies Podcast—to dive deep into the intersection of trauma, embodiment, and ultra-processed food addiction.

With over 15 years of clinical experience and her own recovery journey, Clarissa shares a deeply compassionate, science-backed, and somatic approach to healing.

Here’s what we cover in the episode:

• Clarissa’s personal and professional story of overcoming addiction, eating disorders, and reclaiming her own embodiment

• Why ultra-processed foods hijack your brain—and how abstinence-based models can lead to true recovery

• How somatic practices and embodiment are key to healing binge eating and food addiction at the root

• What traditional treatments often miss—and why focusing only on thoughts and behaviors keeps people stuck

• A behind-the-scenes look at the 12-month study she and colleagues just published on its powerful results for food addiction recovery

• Practical ways to begin reconnecting with your body safely—even after trauma, disconnection, or long-standing patterns

If you’re ready to move beyond shame, restriction, and “willpower-based” recovery, this conversation will open up new, hopeful possibilities for lasting change.

🗣️ Contact and Follow Clarissa here:

Sweet Sobriety

https://www.sweetsobriety.ca

Food Junkies Podcast

https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com

Reinvent Your Bliss Point

http://foodaddictionhelp.ca

Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-up

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1556988/full

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00:00 — Intro: Embodiment and Safety

00:36 — Guest Introduction: Clarissa Kennedy

01:50 — Clarissa’s Personal Recovery Journey

05:14 — Discovering Somatic Work for ED's

06:14 — Why Traditional Treatments Fall Short

09:41 — Clarissa’s Definition of Embodiment

11:31 — Beginning Steps to Reconnect with Body

14:58 — Micro Practices to Build Awareness

17:08 — Why Micro Moments Matter

19:07 — Safety First: Resourcing the Body

20:40 — "BED is Disconnection, and Recovery is Coming to our Senses" Essay Section Read from Kristina's paper

25:15 — Numbing vs. True Relaxation

27:02 — Phone Addiction & Environment Triggers

30:43 — Hope for Somatic & Embodied Approaches

33:38 — Rebuilding Trust & Body Signals

36:01 — Recovery Timeline & Patience

38:17 — Clarissa & Colleague’s Research on Food Addiction

41:27 — Eliminating Ultra-Processed Foods

42:21 — Final Words & How to Connect with Clarissa

#FoodAddictionRecovery #FoodAddiction #BingeEatingRecovery #Embodiment #Somatic

Disclaimer: The information on this channel is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or therapy. The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Kristina Dobyns or Beyond Binge Eating.