Our Team Is Growing!

Happy Monday! This weekend was great. Friday night we walked to Fenway for Blaze Pizza and then came home and watched Meru on Netflix (so good if you’re into adventure documentaries!), Saturday we went to a distillery and then dinner at Franklin Cafe with friends and Sunday was church + grocery + dinner at our friend’s house where Pete made homemade pasta and brownie sundaes. It was as delicious as it sounds. I went to bed Sunday feeling so rested.

And I went to bed excited to share with you all an exciting addition to Real Life Women’s Health! I mentioned this briefly in an email newsletter I think a few weeks ago and here and there in some blog posts, but we have officially added a therapist to our Real Life Women’s Health team which I am soooo amped about. I’ve wanted to do this for so long. Both Cody and I collaborate with a lot of therapists (and physicians) who work with our clients – they are so integral to the healing process. I always thought it would be great to have an “in house” therapist available to clients to make the care they receive that much more comprehensive and cohesive. Of course, clients can work with whatever therapist/counselor that is the best fit for them, whether that’s with our practice or another therapist, but I wanted women to have the option. Even more so, I wanted to be able to provide more support – especially group support, so that is an exciting addition as well. Out new therapist, Liz, will be offering intuitive eating support groups of around 6-7 women this spring and I am SO EXCITED to be able to offer that in a virtual way.

This is all about us serving this community and you women best so if there is a service you’d like to see offered, please share in the comments or email me! We are always open to suggestions and as long as it’s feasible and ethical (legal stuff with telehealth is a pain in the butt) we will do our best! Liz is phenomenal and has loads of experience with eating disorders, intuitive eating and HAES.

Cody is guest posting tomorrow and then I’ll be back on Thursday with a “meatier” post and wrap up the week on Friday with a more personal post for you guys. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and your week is off to a semi-calm start. Let’s be real, Mondays are always a little crazy town. XOXO

Hello Real Life RD and Women’s Health community! I am beyond excited to be introducing myself and even more thrilled to be joining the RLWH team! I have been a follower of Robyn and her blog for a long time and as a therapist and coach I have also referred many of my clients to this space. I have both seen and experienced first hand the inspiration, hope, and understanding this space creates and am honored and delighted to be a part of it. So thank you guys and Robyn for letting me be here!

At the start of 2018 I listened to my intuition and took a major leap of faith in leaving my part time job as an Eating Disorder Specialist at a large medical setting to pursue my private practice full time. I began my practice two years prior with a mission to support women utilizing a Health at Every Size framework. I found myself being deeply fulfilled, invigorated, and grateful every day for the work I was doing and I wanted to do more of it! As I looked forward to 2018, the year I would be marrying the most supportive, compassionate man I have ever met and turning 30 years old, I decided this was my year to truly live my most meaningful and expansive life. A life aligned with my core values of compassion, presence, acceptance, and joy. I left my part time job, fully trusting in this leap, and it has been beyond what I could have ever imagined!

I reached out to Robyn after she posted a story on Instagram where she briefly mentioned wanting to add a therapist to her team. I wasn’t even sure if she said it or I dreamt it because I was doing that thing I try not to do…scrolling through social media late at night in bed. I shared my personal story with Robyn including my own journey in healing my relationship with food and my body. My journey began by attending a Mindful Eating Women’s Support Group which taught me about the power of living in the now and the power of sharing with other women who deeply resonate with one another. After the group I knew I still wanted to find more peace and fortunately, I found my way to the Intuitive Eating book. I was hooked after seeing the freedom and joy that this brought to my life and it became a specialization and focus of my own work with clients. When Robyn and I first chatted it felt absolutely magical, as if I was talking to a long-lost friend. Her passion for this work and her authenticity were palpable and we immediately clicked over our fierce desire to support and offer resources to women around the country.

My professional background includes attending graduate school at the University of San Diego where I received my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I fell in love with San Diego and settled here to start my career. My experience includes individual, couple’s, family, and group work in large medical settings, as well as residential and outpatient treatment centers, where I served as an Eating Disorder Case Manager, the Head of the Practicum Training Program, and the Clinical Lead of the Chemical Dependency Department. I also currently work as a contract therapist, creating and facilitating groups at Montecatini Eating Disorder Treatment Center.

In my work as a therapist and coach I strive to create a safe and warm space as I believe that healing and growth happen in relationships that are deeply accepting, compassionate, curious, and respectful and honor how different, yet incredibly similar our life experiences can be. I deeply believe that people can live the life they want full of passion, adventure, love, happiness, and whatever else they desire right now regardless of their body size. I absolutely love educating and helping women on the path to re-learning how to be intuitive eaters, as I believe that once we start eating intuitively we start living intuitively. I see first hand women begin listening to their inner wisdom and then make incredible shifts not just with food but also in their relationships, careers, self-care, hobbies, and passions. I continue to be amazed and inspired by this work and am deeply grateful this is the work I get to do in the world everyday! It doesn’t feel like a job in the slightest.

In my time outside of the office I am most happy spending time with my fiancé, my girlfriends, and my family. I grew up performing and feel most alive when I am on stage. I love dancing, Zumba-ing, and seeing as much live dance and theater as I can. I also have a love of travel, an obsession with Paris, and a love of wine tasting. Anybody else with me?? I feel the most grounded and present in nature and love being outside either hiking or reading a good book. San Diego certainly doesn’t lack in sunshine 🙂

I am overjoyed to be joining the this team and community and feel like I have found my people and my tribe! I am so excited to see where this journey goes and to have the opportunity to connect with each of you. Have a great week!