Behind the Scenes

Why the name Whole Nourishment?

I think of Whole Nourishment as a three-legged stool representing physical, mental, and spiritual nourishment. Each leg is crucial because, without one, the stool will be lopsided. We often overemphasize physical and undervalue mental (understanding how beliefs, emotions, past experiences, and past trauma shape how you see yourself and the world today) and spiritual (acknowledging you’re in a relationship with yourself). Whole Nourishment describes the mind-body-spirit integration approach I take.

What drew you to behavioral food therapy?

I’ve always appreciated having emotional support and an objective perspective in my corner (and have worked with a therapist or coach on and off since high school). Ultimately a healthy relationship to food and body reflects feeling safe in the world. Behavioral food therapy addresses both our mental and behavioral health. On the deepest level, this work is about tuning into our nervous system, recognizing when it's activated or when it feels unsafe, and understanding how we respond to self-regulate and radically care for ourselves.

In my late teens and early 20s, I went through various life transitions including going to college and studying abroad. In the face of these new changes and challenges, I didn’t feel okay as I was. I found myself preoccupied with certain aspects of food, exercise, body, and identity. Underneath all that, lived undiagnosed anxiety and shallow self-worth. I came from an image-conscious and performance-driven culture and hadn’t yet learned the tools to not only acknowledge and allow uncomfortable feelings but also to self-soothe and self-validate.

Two other major life transitions led me to where I am today: living abroad for six years and starting and growing my own business at the very same time. These changes really challenged my mental health; I ebbed between feelings of insecurity, uncertainty, instability, and self-doubt. With both, I had to put myself out there which felt really raw and exposing.

All that to say, on a personal and professional level, I intimately understand the challenge of maintaining a compassionate connection to our emotions, body, food, and self in stressful transitions, uncertainty, and unfamiliar environments. And when I look back at these transitions, I can see clearly how food and body existed as a symptom, not the root cause. Because of these experiences and years of education and training, I can help my clients see how food played an important role in keeping them safe and regulated when they had no other resources. Then I can help them become resourced and attuned in a more holistic and nourishing way — both with food and other areas of their lives.

How do you live a thoughtful, intentional life?

I really value and prioritize simplicity. When I’m feeling saturated, anxious, or overwhelmed, I write the old-fashioned way: pen to paper. I don't write all the time, but I turn to journaling when I need it. I also prioritize quiet space and gentleness in the day. That may look like driving or walking my dog in silence when I have lots on my mind and need to hear my own voice again, reading in bed, or not overscheduling my day. Another practice I value is regularly checking in with my nervous system and body so that I can make choices based on that feedback. Outside of working hours, I don’t like keeping the same daily routine because I want to be responsive to changing needs day to day. But I do love the ritual of Sunday morning farmers’ market trips, moving my body, and sipping on warm water or herbal tea throughout the day. I also have my own coach (we benefit from coaching and therapy too!).