The Eating Disorder Therapist

Today I’m speaking to Janice Niersted–Keegan from Maryland, USA. Janice is a sign language interpreter, is a married mum of two and eating disorder recovery warrior. Janice started her first diet and compulsively exercising when only 11 years old. At 14 years old, her eating continued to be restrictive, and this developed into bulimia from 15 to 21 years. In the episode today, Janice shares about her recovery journey from bulimia, talking us through the combination of individual and group therapy that she experienced; the impact of diet culture and supportive friendship, and then onto how she developed a healthy relationship with movement, focusing more on what her body could do, rather than aesthetics. Today she enjoys trapeze and fully embraces joyful movement! She has also truly found her community and sense of purpose in the world. Janice has been recovered now for many years and in her job as sign language interpreter, her favourite type of interpretation is 12 steps addiction recovery and mental health. She also loves listening to podcasts, learning and reading about eating disorders and in personal growth.  I hope that you enjoy the conversation. To get in touch with Janice: - Janicelynn3@gmail.com   This week's sponsor: Amber Romaniuk amberapproved.ca 

Exercise has wonderful benefits for physical and emotional health. However, when exercise gets wrapped up in an eating disorder, it can become rigid, compulsive and frankly joyless. In this Bite Size episode, I explore factors that might indicate that your relationship with exercise may be unhealthy and how to begin to turn this around. I hope that enjoy it.

Today is a Bite Size episode exploring the seduction of chasing thinness and weight loss. Why do we do it? What makes it so compelling? How can we shift gears and view things differently? I hope that you enjoy it!

In this episode, I share my 7 tips to support you in making eating disorder recovery goals in 2023. Of course, you don't have to set goals just because it's the New Year, as recovery is an ongoing process and you can absolutely be inspired for change at any point. But for those of you who are seeking to prioritise change around eating and body image in 2023, this one is for you. I hope that you enjoy it!

Many eating disorder support interventions focus on behavioural change and symptoms only. These are valuable and necessary parts of the recovery process but in isolation, there is a risk of quasi-recovery with low self-esteem, core beliefs and deeper issues remaining. In this Bite Size episode, I consider the value of the deeper work and also bring some of my own experience into the conversation. I hope that you enjoy the episode.

In this Bite Size episode, I consider the differences between Orthorexia and finding balanced health. Many of my clients struggle with this and have a fear of letting go of super-healthy eating practices. I hope that you find it helpful. If you're enjoying the Bite Size episodes, do let me know. Thank you!

Today I’m talking to Eve Jones – a HCPC Art Psychotherapist specialising in body image and disordered eating. Her experience includes work in the NHS, education, charity, and private sector, and Eve also works in private practice online.   Eve studied Costume and Set Design at University but found herself unfulfilled by the course. She found that she loved thinking about how creative pursuits supported story telling and in the details of this, how an audience could truly get a sense of the characters or environments presented to them. This really began Eve’s own journey for finding meaning, realising that she wanted to work with people in a meaningful way. She wondered if her curiosity for noticing the details in storytelling could apply to working with people in a therapeutic context. So Eve went on to study Art Psychotherapy – and she would use her art-making practice to build model boxes to reflect on clinical work and her own private practice. She truly feels that she has found the right career path and enjoys this work so much. In the conversation, Eve explores her journey into Art Therapy. She explains how Art Therapy works, dispelling many myths around this and talks of the benefits, particularly in relation to eating disorders and body image. Eve is incredibly passionate about the work she does. This shines through in the episode, instilling hope and inspiration for navigating different recovery paths, whilst embracing creativity. I hope that you enjoy the episode. To find out more about Eve: - Instagram @arttherapywitheve   This week's sponsor - Altum Health www.altumhealth.co.uk

When you're in eating disorder recovery, it can be very difficult to deal with changes in your body. You might also feel incredibly anxious about others' commenting and inadvertently triggering you back into old disordered eating behaviours. This can be particularly challenging at Christmas, with the numerous social events going on and the exposure to numerous friends and family members. In this Bite Size episode, I explore 3 tips to manage this and stay rooted in your own recovery journey. I hope that you enjoy it.

This is a bite-size bonus episode! I'm exploring some of the key struggles that you may face over the Christmas period and some suggestions in navigating through this. The overwhelm of social events. Comments from others about your body. Managing Christmas dinner. Navigating tricky relationships. Thoughts on how a family member can support someone struggling. I hope that you enjoy it.

Today I’m talking to Brooke Heberling, author of the bestselling novel Protecting Her Peace. Brooke is a teacher, advocate, and eating disorder survivor who wants to use her story of recovery to help others know, that there is hope in fighting for freedom from the disorders and addictions that hold us hostage.  Brooke worked with Jessica Flint and her team at Recovery Warriors from 2017-2020 as Editor and Chief-Social-Media Director, and top writing contributor. She received the Humanitarian Award for her advocacy work in the eating disorder community from The Manna Fund in 2022, while also donating $13,000 to the Fund that helped her pay for her own eating disorder treatment in 2016 when she ran out of money but still needed time to heal.  Brooke is also an ex-ultramarathon runner who almost lost her life to exercise addiction and anorexia. She decided to get help when she saw her own two children beginning to use behaviours around food that she wished repeatedly that she’d never learned. Brooke went to inpatient treatment for seven weeks at The Carolina House in Durham, North Carolina in February of 2016, followed by further treatment at Atlanta Centre for Eating Disorders. It took Brooke eight months of treatment, but with hard work and hard truths, she came out a survivor.  Following her own journey, Brooke was determined to create the book that she needed at the start of her eating disorder journey. She recognised that there were already many non-fiction resources out there, but her heart needed to see proof from the survivors who paved the way before her in recovery. In Brooke’s book, Protecting her Peace, her main character, Ruby Blue, lives a story of perseverance and grit to encourage anyone suffering - that there is a way out of an eating disorder, while also enlightening the depths of the disease to those who may not understand it. It is a book that hits all the topics that many women face on a daily basis: marriage, motherhood, friendship, anxiety, depression, addiction, disordered eating, and disordered exercising. In this conversation, Brooke shares the ups and downs of her tumultuous journey in eating disorder recovery, and how she navigated through to find a place of true healing. She also talks about her book, the motivation behind this and how it can be a great source of information and support to anyone suffering with an eating disorder, and their families. I hope that you enjoy the episode To find out more about Brooke:- Instagram: @authorbrookeheberling  Book: ‘Protecting Her Peace’ by Brooke Heberling https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJNWT67Q/ref=ewc_pr_img_1?smid=A3TJVJMBQL014A&psc=1   This week's sponsor: Amber Romaniuk amberapproved.ca