Somatic Healing for Binge Eating & Food Addiction | Clarissa Kennedy

10 snips

May 13, 2025

In this intriguing discussion, Clarissa Kennedy, a clinical social worker and food addiction expert, shares her journey of overcoming anorexia, bulimia, and alcoholism. She explores how ultra-processed foods hijack our brains and critiques traditional treatment methods for ignoring the body's role in recovery. Clarissa emphasizes somatic practices as key to healing binge eating at its roots. Listeners will also discover practical techniques to reconnect with their bodies and the need for compassionate, individualized approaches to eating disorder recovery.

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ANECDOTE

Recovery Led By A Food Addiction Realization

Clarissa Kennedy described her personal recovery from anorexia, bulimia, laxative use, alcohol, and prescription opiates.
Learning about food addiction in treatment was the turning point that unified her struggles and shifted her recovery path.

INSIGHT

Binge Eating As A Brain-Based Disorder

Clarissa explains binge eating and food addiction as brain-based disorders involving dopamine and impaired control circuits.
She argues that continuing exposure to ultra-processed foods prevents brain healing and perpetuates dysregulation.

INSIGHT

Sensation Shapes Thought

Clarissa reframes embodiment as tuning into bodily wisdom where sensations create thoughts, not vice versa.
She emphasizes internal wisdom over external instructions like diet rules or body-size ideals.

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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

Please like, subscribe, and share this video with anyone who might find it beneficial. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for more resources and support on your recovery journey!

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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.