I have long wanted to assist people living with a destructive relationship with food and exercise.
As a high school teacher for 13 years, I witnessed young people, especially girls, fall into the traps of self-hatred and loss of control who then turned to dysfunctional behaviors in order to regain some sense of order in their lives. Friends and parents of these teens sought my assistance and intervention. I was able to help them turn it back around before things got too far gone. This gave me a profound sense of worth and satisfaction.
Furthermore, I am aware that certain traits of eating disorder patients can manifest early on. I see this in my work and have spoken at length with worried parents about these tendencies.
“There is a need to not only mentor clients currently battling dysfunctional eating behaviors but also to work towards preventing youth from ever going down that path.”
Nothing is foolproof, but I can offer tools to build a better relationship with body image, food, exercise and the whole self. From my experience as an educator, I have the knowledge to connect with and form trust with young people, a rapport that is vital to success in this field.
Adults and youth with eating disorders often concurrently experience activity disorders or turn to excessive exercise as a compensatory behavior when they begin a recovery program. Learning to approach physical fitness in a balanced and healthy way can be a tremendous support to recovery from an eating disorder, rather than a replacement for it. With my NASM certification, I can offer interested clients a means to factor in physical activity to their recovery programs.
EDUCATION
B.A. in European History, UCLA, Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude
M.A. in Secondary Education, History, Columbia University Teachers College
Certified Eating Disorder Coach, The Carolyn Costin Institute
Certified Personal Trainer, National Academy of Sports Medicine
Certified Behavioral Change Specialist, National Academy of Sports Medicine
