Eating Disorders and Body Image

Eating disorders go beyond the behaviors we engage in to mold our physical appearance, so the focus at Little Bird may include reduction of behaviors and “getting rid of” the eating disorder but is primarily focused on understanding the function and nature of these very protective roles. My body image work is firmly grounded in principles of resisting anti-fatness, fat positivity and weight inclusive care. While everyone’s bodily autonomy and choices related to weight loss are respected, weight loss is not a focus at Little Bird. Body image work is dually focused on both the relationship we have with our bodies and the way our bodies show up in the world. Anti-fatness, weight stigma, disability and ableism frequently come up in my work with body image and eating disorders.

I also enjoy working with folks to process negative and traumatizing eating disorder treatment experiences that may have been caused by family based therapy, higher levels of care, and outpatient providers who were not eating disorder informed or weight inclusive.

Gender & Sexuality

I enjoy working with alongside folks who are wanting to further dive into their relationship with gender identity/expression and sexuality. This can include providing letters for gender affirming care, processing discriminatory barriers, exploring the meaning and roles these identities play in our life, and challenging a cisgender & heteronormative approach to relationships and identity. As we constantly grow and evolve, so does how we identify with ourselves and in our community.

I particularly love working with folks who are in the early stages of curiosity around gender and sexuality or are starting to question the role heteronormativity has played in their identity development.

College & Graduate Students

Beyond the initial transition of entering college or graduate school, there are additional concerns that persist throughout this stage of life. I enjoy working with young adults who are navigating the delicate balance of their personal wellbeing, relationships, and academic/work life in an environment that seems to only prioritize the later. For graduate students, some of these additional concerns may be existing in a space where they are both student and professional, drawing boundaries with those in supervisory roles, and examining the role of perfectionism and relationship between worth and productivity in their life. I particularly enjoy working with students at highly selective universities, having significant experience with University of Chicago and Northwestern students.

Family of Origin

While I rarely facilitate family therapy sessions, I do enjoy working with individuals who are wanting to address their relationship with their parents/caregivers as adults. There are new relationship obstacles that arise as we age and come into ourselves in adulthood. The focus of this in therapy is geared towards creating more mutually respectful relationships, addressing mother & attachment wounds, navigating the unrecognized hurt experienced as children, and creating healthy boundaries with caregivers. As an accompaniment to individual therapy, I find that family therapy and couples therapy are a well of resources for relational concerns and highly recommend these to clients. I do work with families on a very selective basis.

Other Common Issues

While I don’t claim an expertise with the following issues, these also commonly show up in the populations that I work with: children of South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Eastern European immigrants, first generation & international college students, healthcare professionals, chronic health conditions, late diagnosed Autistic and ADHD women, medical and law students, leftist political and community organizers, religious trauma (primarily, Catholicism) and racial trauma.