The Eating Disorder Therapist

Talking about Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders, with Patty Cabot

Before I launch into this week’s episode, I just want to mention a trigger warning as my guest this week talks about sexual abuse. In the episode, we don’t go into the details of the specific abuse, however, this episode may still be triggering for you, if you, or someone you know has experienced abuse. Make sure you take care of yourself. If this is not the right time, you may wish to give this episode a miss.

Today I am talking to Patty Cabot, author of the book ‘Not That Girl Anymore’ and someone who is passionate about raising awareness around sexual abuse. Starting in her teens, Patty battled drastic weight fluctuations and thought it was what prevented her from having romantic relationships. Desperate to break the cycle and open herself to love, at age 38 she started working with a therapist specialising in eating disorders. The therapist believed Patty’s weight changes and her relationship with food were a symptom of childhood sexual abuse, and only by resolving it could she have the love she wanted.

In the episode today, Patty talks about sexual abuse and the link with eating disorders. She explores the shame and secrecy experienced by sufferers. She talks us through her healing journey and the different therapies that helped, along with meditation and other tools.

Patty showed incredible tenacity and resilience in healing, walking a therapy journey that spanned 12 years. She has emerged the other side with deep self-awareness, has healed her relationship with food and is open hearted and feeling her emotions, in way that she never dreamed possible.

This is truly inspiring episode about what is possible with healing. Let’s get to the conversation.

 

To find out more about Patty:-

Website: https://www.pattycabot.com/

Book – Not That Girl Anymore: https://www.pattycabot.com/not-that-girl-anymore

 

Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

 

 

Supporting Parents: When a Child of Any Age has an Eating Disorder, with Jane Reagan

Today, I’m talking to Jane Reagan. Jane is a Boulder, Colorado based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who believes that understanding food choices, food quality and one’s relationship with food can lead to greater awareness, improved health and a more abundant life.

Jane is passionate about helping her clients find greater health, vitality and improved wellness through balanced nutrition.

She understands that food is meant to be enjoyed and loves helping people connect to the wisdom of their own bodies, while providing guidance with evidence-based practices for optimal nutrition.

Jane Reagan’s experience in the fields of nutrition and counselling spans 25 years.

Jane has helped thousands of clients understand how food impacts them physically, mentally and emotionally with a “food first” philosophy.  In addition to her private practice in Boulder, Colorado,  Jane Reagan is the creator of the Eating Disorder Recovery Roadmap for Parents, an online program which brings her decades of in-person nutritional and counselling expertise to a remote learning solution that allows parents who have a child (of any age) with an eating disorder to understand and successfully navigate the complex journey to recovery.

In the episode today, Jane does a deep dive into her eating disorder recovery programme for parents. She explores how lonely and isolating it is as a parent, when you have a loved one struggling. She talks about helpful and unhelpful ways of coping and communicating. She is a beacon of hope and support for all parents struggling and is incredibly passionate about whole family support on the recovery road. I hope that you enjoy the conversation.

To find out more about Jane and her work:

Website: https://janereagannutrition.com/

Program for parents: https://janereagannutrition.com/program-for-parents-of-children-with-eating-disorders/

 

Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

 

Understanding your Hidden Hungers with Dr. Melissa McCreery

Today, I’m talking to Dr. Melissa McCreery, Psychologist and Emotional Eating Coach.

Melissa helps women break cycles with emotional eating, overeating, and stress – not by hard work and willpower, but by simple changes that make life more enjoyable and create peace with food.

Melissa is a psychologist, a coach, and a writer. She is the host of ‘Too Much On Her Plate’ Podcast. She’s the author of The Emotional Eating Rescue Plan for Smart, Busy Women and her approach has been featured in places like The Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Fitness, Self, and Weight Watcher’s Magazine.

Melissa’s core values are compassion, open-mindedness, a passionate belief in growth and possibility, and deep respect for our humanity.

She will always take a stand for moving beyond what’s keeping you small or stuck – in your thinking, your behaviour, your beliefs, or in the world. Growth is challenging, and change can feel awkward and painful, but numbness, avoidance, and defensiveness only keep us trapped – or worse.

In the episode today, Melissa talks about her journey into working with clients with food issues. She explores hidden hungers – and what often lies beneath our turning to food. She talks self-criticism, self-care, overwhelm, emotions and more. She talks diet culture and losing your power. So much packed in this episode. I hope that you enjoy the conversation.

To find out more about Dr. Melissa McCreery: -

Website: https://toomuchonherplate.com/

Instagram: @toomuchonherplate

 

Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

 

 

A Deep Dive into the Psychology of Bulimia and What Helped in Recovery, with Jade Grantham

Today I’m talking to Jade Grantham. Jade is the author of ‘Accept That You Are Imperfect’ a book about her personal journey and recovery with an eating disorder, specifically bulimia nervosa that started when she was 12 years old and lasted for over 10 years. Jade’s book is not a self-help book but rather a raw account of her journey. I would highly recommend it. The link is in the show notes.

In the episode today, Jade talks us through her healing journey. If you would like to hear the longer version of this, in today’s show notes, I have linked her recent episode on George Mycock’s podcast (Myominds) where she talks through this in a lot more depth.

I see Jade as someone who has really done some deep recovery work, so I wanted to delve more in this episode into the psychology of eating disorders, as I’m personally very interested in this, and I hope that you as the listeners will get so much value from it.

In today’s conversation, Jade talks about the predisposing factors that led to the development of bulimia as a coping strategy and then exploring what kept her stuck in perpetuating cycles of bulimia for so long. Jade talks candidly about bulimia as a coping mechanism, exploring her deep ambivalence about change, as bulimia was helping her for many years, albeit in a dysfunctional way.

Jade talks about quasi-recovery, when she was in a more orthorexic phase. I think this is something many of us can be vulnerable to falling into, particularly with the influence of wellness culture. She talks about motivation for change and the value of close relationships on the healing journey. Jade talks about therapy and what really helped her recover and how she stays well to this day.

It’s a truly inspiring episode. I hope that you find it helpful.

To find out more about Jade: -

Instagram: @jadegrantham1

Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Accept-That-You-Are-Imperfect/dp/1399974807

Myominds podcast episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/myominds-stories-ep-2-jade-grantham/id1532716451?i=1000664111656

 

Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

 

 

9 Reasons You're Binge Eating with Actionable Steps for Change

Binge eating is not simply scoffing an extra biscuit, with your morning coffee break.

Instead, it involves eating fast, an extremely large amount of food (more than you would eat for lunch or dinner). It’s usually in secret and can feel like a dissociative or ‘out of body’ experience. You are fully present and grounded on earth, but it can feel as though a demon has swept over you and taken all rational decision making away.

Binge eating can fleetingly bring euphoria and pleasure. This is short-lived before guilt, shame and self-loathing descend like a dark cloud. Plus, the physical consequences of feeling over-full are deeply unpleasant and sometimes painful.

Binge eating can happen across eating disorders and within disordered eating. This means if you have: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder or OSFED (Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder) – binges can occur.

Why do people binge? Listen to the full episode for 9 reasons with actionable steps for change. This audio was originally created for Substack. See the link below for the written article.

 

Harriet's Substack: https://substack.com/@theeatingdisordertherapist

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

 

Unlocking Deeper Change in Eating Disorder Recovery, with Sabrina Magnan (Food Freedom Coach)

Today I’m talking to Sabrina Magnan, a Food Freedom & Intuitive Eating Coach, based in Montreal, Canada. She helps chronic dieters heal their relationship with food & their bodies, and develop realistic and lasting health-promoting habits.

Sabrina has been on her own food healing journey through her battle with orthorexia, disordered eating, body dysmorphia and yo-yo dieting. Having experienced this for many years, she deeply understands what it’s like to have your entire life revolve around food & your body.

After discovering what actually works in recovery, to stop feeling out of control around food and understanding the psychology of behaviour change, Sabrina now supports women all over the world to help them find true health, free from obsession & guilt. If you would like to hear Sabrina’s story, she has been a previous guest on the podcast and the link is in the show notes.

In this episode today, Sabrina introduces us to a valuable tool that can be used in eating disorder recovery. She talks us through the Pyramid of Logical Levels by Robert Dilts which is from NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming). In the discussion, Sabrina explains how we often get stuck with behavioural changes, not realising how our values, beliefs and identity can be significant barriers to change.

Sabrina talks us through this incredible model with fantastic clarity and precision. Grab a pen and paper (if you’re not driving) and you can construct your own pyramid and delve into change on a far deeper level, whilst understanding your blocks. So much value packed in this conversation. I hope that you enjoy it.

 

Sabrina's previous episode on the podcast:-

https://harrietfrew.podbean.com/e/eating-disorder-recovery-finding-your-why-for-change-intuitive-eating-and-body-image-tips-with-sabrina-magnan/

 

The Dilt Behavioural Pyramid

https://www.nlpschool.com/the-logical-levels-of-learning/#

 

To find out more about Sabrina: -

Food Freedom Academy (Enrolment for January 2023 Group Currently open): www.sabrinamagnan.com/academy

Instagram: @Sabrina.magnan.health : https://www.instagram.com/sabrina.magnan.health/

Podcast: www.sabrinamagnan.com/podcast 

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

 

Supporting Children with Food Neutrality with Katie Shepherd and Lara Paciorek (Food Explorers)

Today I’m talking to Katie Shepherd and Lara Paciorek from Food Explorers based out of Connecticut and Massachusetts, USA.  Katie founded Food Explorers in January 2018, after leaving a job as a Retail Dietitian with no back up plan. While that job wasn't the right fit, Katie discovered the joys of children’s cooking classes and how it combined her love of food and working with children.

Food Explorers started as a little side dream, and has a grown in a full-time, ever-growing company with multiple instructors, over 100 summer camps, and an immeasurable number of community partners, schools and recreation departments that, make the Food Explorers mission possible.

After welcoming her baby boy, Jack, in July of 2021 and then embarking on the journey of baby led weaning and introducing foods and flavours, Katie dove even deeper into how our relationship with food can impact us from childhood. Working together with Lara, now the Assistant Director in the company, but previously teaching the cooking skills, the mission of Food Neutrality was introduced to their classes.

They hope to always inspire kids to explore new foods and flavours, teach them valuable cooking skills and more importantly to show children that food is meant to be enjoyed, not feared.

Exploring food encourages children to learn through sensory experiences, hands-on activities and working together to create delicious results. Children will have the freedom to explore thanks to their unique "food neutral" approach to teaching about food. 

In the episode today, Katie and Lara talk about Food Explorers, how it came about, how they work and their passion and mission behind educating young people. It’s a very inspiring business that really puts thought and consideration at the centre of teaching about relationship with food and body, also being very supportive of parents in the process. I hope that you enjoy the conversation.

 

Find out more about Food Explorers:

Website: https://food-explorers.com/

Instagram: @foodexplorersct

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

 

A Deep Dive into ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) with Dr. Marianne Miller

Today, I’m talking to Dr. Marianne Miller (all the way from San Diego) who has been in the mental health field for 27 years and has specialised in eating disorders for the last 12 years. Marianne was a full-time academic for 12 years and had a part-time eating disorder practice for much of that time (until she left the university) and went into private practice full-time in 2018. Marianne has guested several times on the podcast, mainly talking previously about binge eating.

Dr. Marianne loves working with eating disorders as a therapist and a coach. She takes a non-diet, feminist approach that helps people of all genders live empowered, authentic lives. She embraces the Health at Every Size model and is LGBTQIAA+ affirming. Dr. Marianne recently launched her Binge Eating Recovery online program. It helps high-achieving professionals regain their mental and emotional energy by shifting their relationship with food to be fully present in their life.

In this episode today, Marianne talks all about ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). I don’t think we have ever had an episode on this before. She explains what it is, who it impacts, who is vulnerable to developing ARFID, how to help someone heal and manage ARFID and also she tells us about her brand new course for professionals, sufferers and anyone supporting someone with ARFID. Marianne is absolutely passionate about this area of work, and you are going to learn so much from her. I hope that you enjoy the episode.

 

To find out more about Marianne: -

ARFID course:

https://marianne-miller-s-school.teachable.com/p/arfid-and-selective-eating

 

Website: http://www.drmariannemiller.com/

Eating Disorder Blog: https://www.drmariannemiller.com/blog/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmariannemiller/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drmariannemiller/

Membership program: https://www.drmariannemiller.com/binge-eating-101-class-1

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

 

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

A Deep Dive into Healing Chronic Pain, Trauma and Anxiety with Ella Matthews

Today I’m talking to Ella Matthews founder of Breath Body Mind. Ella is a West London Hypnotherapist specialising in Chronic Pain, Trauma and Anxiety Ella is also a Pain Neuroscience Educator, Buteyko Breathing Instructor, TRE (Trauma and Tension Release Exercise) Provider, NLP Master Practitioner, Yoga Teacher and Health Coach. She has over 20 years’ experience in helping people overcome chronic pain, eliminate anxiety and manage stress.

Originally practicing as a Sports Massage and Myofascial Release Massage Therapist, Ella retrained as a Cognitive Hypnotherapist in West London out of a deep desire to be able to help people out of pain.

In Ella’s spare time, she enjoys singing, dancing, reading, being by the sea, swimming, yoga and growing food.

In the episode today, Ella talks about her own journey in pain healing starting from when her mother was unwell to then dealing with her own spinal injury. Ella then talks us through the different approaches and techniques she uses in her practice. Ella does a deep dive into pain neuroscience education. She talks about Buteyko Breathing and TRE (Trauma and Tension Release Exercise). Ella talks about shifting negative self-talk. We even touch on manifestation, the reticular activating system and combining spirituality with science. So much packed in the episode. I hope that you enjoy it.  

 

To find out more about Ella: -

Website: https://www.breathbodymind.co.uk/

Instagram: @breath_body_mind    

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/bulimia-nervosa-online-course.html

 

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html

 

A Deep Dive into Control as Coping and Eating Disorders

I think that it's a cliche to say that eating disorders are all about control. I guess it is a cliche for a good reason - an eating disorder can be a coping strategy and life-raft to cling to, when life throws its unpredictable turbulence at your door.

In this podcast, I talk about an eating disorder as a coping strategy, exploring feeling in control and out-of-control and suggest different and more healthy ways of coping. I hope that you find it helpful.

 

Harriet Frew's current offers: -

Online 10 Steps to Intuitive Eating Course

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Online Breaking Free from Bulimia 

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/online-courses.html

Eating Disorders Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/eating-disorders-training-with-harriet-frew.html

Body Image Training for Professionals

https://www.theeatingdisordertherapist.co.uk/body-image-training-with-harriet-frew.html