meet christine: Eating Disorder specialist & Art therapist in Philadelphia, PA
It’s time to trust your inner wisdom.
You remember a time when you didn’t constantly hate your body, but those days feel like a distant memory. You want to change that, but you don’t know how.
You’ve come to the right place. I’m here to help.
I want you to truly hear this:
Your body does not define your worth.
Life is too short to be starving all of the time. You deserve a life of abundance and joy.
Many of today’s solutions for eating disorders take an all or nothing approach to change, leading so many to feel like they are failing at recovery. Some treatment approaches are cis/heteronormative, making queer folks feel misunderstood and left out of the conversation. Some recovery narratives are overly positive, which can feel out of touch when facing daily oppression.
I know that your circumstances are unique, so I help you address your eating disorder while holding space for how gender and sexuality may impact your relationship with food and your body. Your conflicting feelings, thoughts and needs in recovery can exist side by side. Every step we take is tailored to you and your unique journey.
In our work together, we’ll make space for your full story including your struggles, your strengths, your identity and your values. There’s no pressure to feel “happy” or “positive” in your journey because recovery is hard. I provide therapy that meets you where you are at with compassion and curiosity.
Hi I’m Christine (She/Her)
I help queer and trans folks just like you: folks that want to be kind to themselves and find joy in life again, but just need the support to get there.
I help my clients find freedom, self-compassion, and clarity by equipping them with the tools they need to trust what their body needs and listen to their inner wisdom.
First, we examine how societal standards and life experiences are impacting how you feel in your body. Then, we define what eating disorder recovery looks like to you. We’ll dig deep to uncover the emotional wounds from your past that might be negatively impacting your life. Through our work together, you’ll have the skills and confidence you need to have a healthier relationship with food and trust with yourself.
My training in eating disorders and trauma means I have the expertise you need and deserve when finding peace and acceptance towards your body. But at the end of the day, you want to know you’re working with someone who “gets” what it means to be a queer person struggling with an eating disorder, right?
I get it, I’ve been there too. Healing my own relationship with food didn’t happen until I understood how diet culture was affecting me. Intuitive eating and Health at Every Size were game changers for me.
As a queer cis woman, married to a trans woman, I have devoted my career to helping LGBTQ and transgender communities. I believe our identities are important to the therapy experience.
I know that sometimes you just want to quit because you feel misunderstood. So when we work together, you won’t just get a trained therapist. You’ll get someone who truly understands what you’re going through.
Therapy with me is…
01 Non-hierarchical
I work to reduce my role as a gatekeeper. Your identity, your pain, and your self-knowledge are valid. Every step in therapy will be collaborative with you in the driver’s seat.
02 weight inclusive
I practice from a Health at Every Size (HAES) and anti-diet perspective, meaning your worth is not tied to your weight, size, or how you eat. We’ll explore how weight stigma impacts your recovery journey.
03 Compassionate
A non-pathologizing approach that sees your struggles as a way to cope with deeper emotional wounds. This is a place to understand those patterns and begin to create space for new possibilities.
04 RElational
Our relationship is an important tool in your therapy journey. Our indentities and life experiences are always present in the room whether we talk about it or not. I use insight-oriented approaches and social justice frameworks to explore this.
My background
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Advanced Trainings
IFS Online Circle, IFS Institute
Tristate Eating Disorder Conference: Internal Family Systems and Eating Disorders- National Alliance for Eating Disorders
IFS and Creative Arts Therapy: Externalizing Strategies to Reduce Dysregulation and Dissociation – Expressive Therapies Summit
Gender Dysphoria and Eating Disorders – Monarch Wellness and Psychotherapy
Resilience, Post-traumatic Growth, and Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy - Trauma- Informed Practices and Expressive Art Therapy Institute
Exposure and Response Therapy for OCD - Cognitive Behavior Institute
Certificate in Advanced Training in Affirmative Therapy for Transgender Communities, Widener University, 2021
Certifications
Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist, American Art Therapy Association, 2014
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, The Original Intuitive Eating Pros, 2021
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Drexel Universtiy - M.A. in Art Therapy, 2011
Licensed Professional Counselor in PA - #PC008568, 2015
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American Art Therapy Association
International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals
National Eating Disorders Association
