Frequently Asked Questions
What is a recovery coach?
A recovery coach is someone who supports people in recovery from a behavior that you want to practice reducing and/or eliminate. Sometimes a coach will have lived experience and sometimes they don’t.
I focus on supporting others to heal their relationship with food and body. This includes eating disorders, disordered eating, chronic dieting, binge eating, compulsive eating, overeating, "food addiction", embodiment and/or body image.
How is coaching different than therapy?
Coaches do not diagnose.
Coaches utilize peer support, education, and building new coping skills as means of joining you in your recovery.
Virtual appointments are possible with coaching, nationally and internationally. All sessions are by video for the foreseeable future.
What can you help me with?
Increasing your resiliency to improve your relationship with food and eating.
Learning how to manage your mental health (anxiety, ADHD, depression, etc.) while you recover.
Learning how to eat regularly - meal and snack planning.
Learning how to eat enough food regularly.
Education on how eating disorders are brain based disorders, not just a result of bad parenting or societal pressures.
Learning how to be in your body again.
Building compassion for yourself and reducing shame
Building self-care and stress relief into your life
Education on Health at Every Size® approach
Building or increasing your resiliency to living with weight stigma
Naming the ways that external systems of oppression impact your relationship with food and body
Supporting you in externalizing blame and anger
How often will we meet?
Typically, I recommend meeting weekly for the first 4-6 weeks so that I can get to know you and your life the best. This means we don’t have to spend every session catching up on what has happened in between appointments, and focus on what you need to discuss.
How do I pick the right coach for me?
This is a really personal decision. I suggest picking the person that you click the most with when you talk to them. Making sure you have similar values is important in building the trust you that need to work with a coach.
Do you work virtually?
Yes! I know there are many places in the world that accessing anyone familiar with eating disorder recovery and/or a fat liberation and Health at Every Size® approach can be very challenging!
Where can I see you in-person?
I am only seeing people by video currently.
Are you able to coach people internationally?
Yes! I’m happy to support people outside of the US! We can use my Zoom video conferencing with access to internet or a phone.
Do you work with people with eating disorders?
Yes, I work with people diagnosed with eating disorders I have 3 months of experience as an eating disorder recovery coach and 1 year of experience as a group therapist in the adolescent and adult partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) at The Eating Disorder Center of Portland, a Monte Nido Affiliate.
What if I already see a therapist, dietitian, and/or a doctor?
Great! I’m happy to be a complementary provider on your treatment team!
Payment Options
You can pay monthly or per session. My rate is $125 per hour. Sessions are one full hour.
I unfortunately do not have pay-what-you-can spaces available right now. I do offer many people pay what you can. I do not ask for income verification or an explanation. I just ask that you consider the access to resources that you have and be realistic. For example, if you are able to pay for travel and save money routinely that you pay my full rate. Whereas someone who is living paycheck to paycheck, has a high amount of debt, and is never able to save money would use the pay what you can offer. I trust that if you need the sliding scale rate that you will use it.
Capitalism sucks. Feel free to check back in 3 months to see if I availability for pay-what-you-can.
Do you take insurance?
No. Coaching is not yet a service that is supported through insurance.
What is meal support?
Learning new ways of being and interacting with food can be really, super hard. I can eat with you virtually as a way to support your recovery. Having someone there with you can make a positive impact on your ability to feed yourself.
We typically stay away from challenging discussions while eating, because the stress of eating can be difficult enough.
I am available for cooking and meal challenge support by video.
Will I be able to text and/or email you as part of coaching?
No. I’m not longer able to provide text support between sessions. Communicating about appointment times and days is still available by text or email.
What about confidentiality?
Everything you say stays between me and you. I will never give your information out to a third party. I do utilize consultation with an experienced therapist who I may discuss how I can best support you. If you’d like me to be able to speak to members of your team, you’ll need to complete a Release of Information form.
What if I'm lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, Intersex, questioning, non-binary, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, genderfluid, or genderflux?
Fabulous! I came out when I was 21 and identified as a lesbian for a long time. For several years now, I have identified as queer, because I feel it encompasses my sexuality the best. I came out as trans non-binary in 2018. While these labels feel itchy and constraining sometimes, they are the words that fit the best for me.
I welcome and celebrate everyone who is a part of the LGBTQ2SIA+ spectrum!
I continue to learn regularly in formal settings and on my own about experiences that differ from mine. I do not want to rely on my clients to educate me.
Are you familiar with different relationship styles?
Yes. I am familiar with non-monogamy and polyamory.
What if I want to talk about. . .sex or kink related topics?
I welcome discussion and exploration around sex and kink. It is important to me to normalize and reduce any shame around these subjects. Many of us have been raised in a toxic culture when it comes to consent, pleasure, recognizing and stating your needs.
Our relationship to food and body certainly does impact how we experience physical intimacy.
What are your qualifications?
Bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Cleveland State University.
2+ years graduate school for East Asian medicine and Chinese herbalism at National University of Natural Medicine.
Trained as a Peer Wellness Specialist
Former Qualified Mental Health Associate at The Eating Disorder Center of Portland as a group therapist for a year.
Started the Masters of Social Work program at Portland State University in September 2020 and I’m on track to graduate in June 2023.