The Eating Disorder Therapist

Something a bit different for you this week. 16 Ways to Actually Love Yourself (When you Have No Idea Where to Begin)! I'm speaking as someone who has very much walked this path, finding self-worth after being in the very depths of the deepest well. The episode is inspired by an article by Laura Jane Williams who contributed to 'The Art of Loving Yourself', from the Stylist book - Life Lessons from Remarkable Women. I'd highly recommend it.  This is not only for females; the strategies are valuable lessons for all. It includes a whole range of inspiring tips that actually make self-love seem that little bit more accessible. I hope that you enjoy the episode.   Join the BOOK CLUB - https://patron.podbean.com/eatingdisordertherapist

Today, I’m talking to - Katie Beecher – Medical and Spiritual Intuitive, based in the U.S. I don’t know if you’ve heard of a medical intuitive before, but this is someone with psychic abilities, who uses these abilities for greater insight into some aspect of well-being. No one is suggesting that medical intuitives could replace consultations with doctors, psychiatrists, nutritionists, or any kind of medical professional. But if you value the role of gut instinct and following your own intuition, you probably get a sense of the incredible power in listening to this. Katie has had intuitive, empathic and medium abilities since she was a young child but was fearful of them until she entered therapy with a Jungian Psychologist for an eating disorder at the age of 16. Extraordinarily, Katie reached out for help on her own, independently from her parents., which was a brave and bold decision. Katie found that developing bulimia and depression, although taking her to a very dark place at the time, ultimately it was one of the best things that happened to her. Through healing in therapy, Katie learned how to connect to her intuition, accept and understand her intuitive and psychic gifts and find self-love and acceptance. This foundational healing work also inspired Katie for her later work with clients as both a therapist and medical intuitive.  Katie powerfully believes that connection to intuition, self-love and self-acceptance can be a channel for anything, including healing.  She has documented success with many illnesses including Lyme Disease (self-recovered), digestive issues, cancer, viruses, autoimmune diseases, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, adolescent and childhood concerns and other issues. Katie has also written a book about her work as a Medical Intuitive and how others can heal and enhance their lives using the same techniques she uses in her readings.  It is called Heal from Within: A Guidebook to Intuitive Wellness. It will be published by St. Martin’s Press in February, 2022 and is currently available for pre-sale. This is a fascinating insight into a different way of approaching healing. Katie’s story and work is inspiring and will offer reflections and encouraging perspectives that many of you will relate to. I hope that you enjoy the conversation. To find out more about Katie: Website: www.katiebeecher.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/beechermedicalintuitive   Instagram: katiebeecher_medical_intuitive Join The Eating Disorder Therapist Book Club HERE.

I'm thrilled to announce the launch of The Eating Disorder Therapist Book Club! If you already enjoy The Eating Disorder Therapist Podcast, joining the Book Club gives you access to 4 additional monthly podcast episodes and access to a supportive and encouraging FACEBOOK group, based around a different book. For this first month, we are reading: 'Perfectly Imperfect: Compassionate Strategies to Cultivate a Positive Body Image', by Amy Harman. In this first podcast, I introduce the Book Club, have a conversation with the author and do a deep dive into the topic of body image from chapter 1. This episode is on the main podcast, but going forward will be available to members only. To become a member, you would pay £5 or $7 per month. It's fantastic value for this extra support! Join HERE  https://patron.podbean.com/eatingdisordertherapist Request access to FACEBOOK group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/364499771924272 This is therapeutic support, not therapy.  Please do access additional support as needed via your GP or NHS 111 Mental Health Support.

Today I’m talking to Melanie Gibson, from Texas, USA; athlete, writer, corporate employee, eating disorder survivor and creator of the blog Little Black Belt. Melanie’s healing journey has been intrinsically linked with the sport of taekwondo. She began taekwondo training at age ten, then took a 22-year break, before returning to it in her early thirties. Melanie is a second degree black belt and is a third degree black belt candidate. Melanie began having body image issues around the age of 13, this leading to restrictive eating and later over-exercise and binge eating, through her teens and into her twenties. The eating issues calmed somewhat for many years, although body image struggles remained. Melanie loved sports and being active but this was also a way to manage body image concerns. Then in February 2021, at the age of 41, Melanie returned to therapy after experiencing multiple stressors in 2020 (not only a global pandemic but an anterior cruciate ligament tear, surgery, and grueling workplace demands). Her identity as an athlete, martial artist and all-fit person came crashing down. Melanie found herself returning to restricting food and obsessively weighing again and was diagnosed with atypical anorexia nervosa. Thankfully, today, Melanie is now doing much better and, on a journey, to overcoming her eating disorder. In this episode, she talks about her working on her mental health and eating disorder over the years, through taekwondo, therapy and other tools, moving towards a place of true recovery and healing. Melanie’s book: - Kicking and Screaming: a Memoir of Madness and Martial Arts is available wherever books are sold. Do get a copy! I hope that you enjoy this conversation. To find out more about Melanie: - https://littleblackbelt.com/ https://littleblackbelt.com/get-the-book/ Email: mdgwrites@gmail.com Twitter: Melanie Gibson Author / @TaekwondoLBB Instagram: @melaniegibsonauthor 
Facebook: Melanie Gibson Author

Today, I’m talking to Dr Chloe Bedford – registered Counselling Psychologist, also known to many of us as @the.running.psychologist on Instagram. Chloe has over 10 year’s experience of working in the NHS with adults, children, adolescents and their families. Much of her work today involves working with teens and children with eating disorders. Her work draws on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and psychodynamic models. She is also a strong advocate for self-compassion. You may have seen Chloe’s encouraging posts on social media, with messages about all aspects of mental health with particular emphasis on – post baby body, running after having a baby, body image and managing exercise in a healthy way. In this episode, Chloe talks about her work in eating disorders with children and teens, describing the similarities and differences between children and adult models. She also shares some fantastic tips on engaging with exercise in a constructive way to benefit mental health, boosting body image and managing activity after having a baby, when there is often much pressure to shrink back down. I hope that you enjoy this conversation. To find out more about Chloe: Instagram: @the.running.psychologist Website: https://www.marathonpsychology.com/   If you'd like to support this podcast, please do enroll in my Patron.

Today I’m talking to Caroline Drummond-Smith; business owner and coach at Zest Health Coaching and also a mother of three. Caroline helps people to have a healthy relationship with food and their body; to enjoy life; work on habits and change; take responsibility and become their fullest selves. Caroline spent many years suffering from an eating disorder, maintaining an unhealthy weight and strictly controlling her food. Sadly, in this time, she caused damage to her body and missed out on so much. She was also terrified about who she would be without the eating disorder, as it had become so much of an integral part of her identity. Today, Caroline has fully recovered and works as a coach, using her experience in a such a positive way to support others, having a deep understanding of people’s struggles and the battles they are facing. Caroline has done some vital recovery work on making herself a priority rather than an optional extra. She now values her body in a completely different way and acknowledges all the wonderful things it can do. She has learned to nourish her body and treat it with love and kindness, after years of abuse. This is a story that inspires incredible hope and possibility for recovery. Caroline shares her journey through the depths of anorexia, her long recovery journey, and the path to working as a health coach today. I hope that you enjoy this conversation. To find out more about Caroline: - Website: https://www.zesthealthcoaching.co.uk/ Instagram: @zesthealthcoaching   If you'd like to support this podcast, please do enroll in my Patron.

Today I’m talking to Joanna Kandel, CEO and Founder of The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness. Based in the USA, The Alliance is a national non-profit organisation dedicated to the outreach, education, early intervention, support, and advocacy for all eating disorders. After recovering from a ten-year-long battle with various eating disorders, Johanna founded the alliance in 2000. In addition, she runs free weekly support groups, mentors individuals with eating disorders and their families, and helps thousands of people gain information and find the help they need. As a passionate advocate for mental health and eating disorders legislation, Johanna has spent a lot of time meeting with numerous members of Congress and was part of the first-ever Eating Disorder Roundtable at the White House. She is a proud member of numerous Eating Disorder Committees and has received many awards for her ongoing outreach and advocacy work, as well as appearing on national television and in magazines. Johanna’s book, Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder, was released by Harlequin Nonfiction in September 2010. In this episode, Johanna shares her recovery story; her journey to forming the Alliance and talks about the worldwide support it offers today. Johanna’s incredible passion shines through, offering hope, inspiration and encouragement about recovery. I hope that you enjoy the episode. How to find out more: - Website: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/ Twitter: @AllianceforEDA Instagram: - @allianceforeda and @johannakandel   If you'd like to support this podcast, please do enroll in my Patron.  

Today I’m talking to Marisa Peer - internationally award-winning hypnotherapist and Creator of the Multi-award winning Rapid Transformational Therapy ® (RTT®)’. Marisa is the founder of iamenough.com; international best-selling author; motivational speaker; personal development expert and leading celebrity therapist. She is a major contributor to the press and has appeared on numerous TV shows and media outlets. In this episode, Marisa shares her story in becoming a therapist, starting out with Jane Fonda, as a personal trainer and how many of these clients had underlying eating disorders. She talks about the common negative beliefs we hold and how to overcome them, as well as trigger events and delving into the unconscious to bring about lasting change. Marisa also offers inspiration on improving your relationship with food and your body in a sustainable way. I’m hugely grateful to Marisa for sharing her wonderful insights and expertise. I hope that you enjoy the episode. To find out more about Marisa Peer: www.marisapeer.com www.rtt.com www.iamenough.com twitter.com/MarisaPeer Instagram: @marisapeertherapy linkedin.com/in/marisa-peer/ https://www.facebook.com/marisa.peer.therapy/

Today, I’m talking to Angela Rawlinson – mother of six children, married and lives in Gloucester. Angela is here today to speak about her incredible story in her eating disorder recovery, alongside other mental health struggles. Angela is truly an inspiration, as only in lockdown last year, she was in the depths of an eating disorder, being underweight, struggling with numerous eating disorder behaviours, and feeling very hopeless and trapped. Just over a year later, Angela is in a very different place; having worked on underlying trauma, overhauling her lifestyle and relationships significantly and investing wholeheartedly in eating disorder recovery. And she has six children! You might know Angela from Instagram - @surviving_six_ ; she is also a mental health blogger, and is clearly a passionate advocate for spreading messages about eating disorder awareness and support. It's an inspiring and uplifting conversation that will give you an insight into the tools and daily practices that are a vital part of recovery. I hope that you enjoy the episode.  To find out more about Angela: - Instagram: @surviving_six_ If you'd like to support this podcast, please do enroll in my Patron.

This week, I’m talking about food and feelings. I explore how our early relationship with food develops, the emotional environment at home and how this all intertwines to influence the food and feelings connection. I explain how you can begin to tune into your emotions and find healthier ways of coping, rather than restricting or overeating. I hope that you enjoy this episode.   If you'd like to support this podcast, please do enroll in my Patron.