Welcome! I am so glad you are here. Whether you stumbled across my website unintentionally, or you sought it out, this is a safe space.
This is my first ever blog post and, although it is brand new territory for me, I’m excited to share my love of writing with my clients and “followers.” I regularly encourage the use of reflective writing and journaling in therapy, so it only makes sense for me, as the therapist, to demonstrate that it is okay to be vulnerable. To take risks. To challenge ourselves. To make mistakes. And, to learn and grow from our mistakes.
I hope this can be a space that allows you to learn new information while providing you with a sense of community and connection. If you are struggling with an eating disorder and/or disordered eating, I know you may feel alone and like nobody understands, but I promise you that I get it. I have been through the ups and the downs of recovery myself and, although we may have had different experiences, I can assure you that I understand. I know what it’s like to have a nagging voice inside your head telling you that you aren’t good enough and that you don’t deserve basic needs such as food and love.
I know how much mental space can be preoccupied with thoughts about food and body image, and how exhausting it can be. Recovery is hard, and I will never sugar coat that but, with hard work and the right treatment team, amazing things can happen. You aren’t alone and I will do my very best to walk alongside you every step of the way.
I started my private practice back in 2013 with one goal in mind: to give a voice to each and every individual suffering from these serious mental health illnesses, and to allow them to feel heard and understood. Based on my own personal experience in dealing with the “system” and going through therapy for many years myself, I felt compelled and inspired to share my wisdom and knowledge with other sufferers, as well as their family members and loved ones. These illnesses often lead to debilitating and sometimes fatal outcomes so knowing that I might have the ability to prevent this from happening to even one person gave me inspiration to open Voices In Recovery.
Believe it or not, it took me a long time to narrow down and finalize the name of my practice as I wanted to ensure that it captured the true essence of what I want to convey. Far too often, individuals struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating will be labeled as “anorexic” or “bulimic”, for example, and this, in turn, starts to morph into their sense of identity. I see this as problematic, as it not only results in the person feeling like they are the problem, but it also takes away from the unique experience of each individual.
Throughout my personal, educational, and professional journey, I have learned that those suffering with an eating disorder or disordered eating often come to believe that their voice doesn’t matter. They have been told by medical professionals that they aren’t “underweight” and/or that their bloodwork is normal so, therefore, there is nothing wrong. They have been told that they don’t know what is best for them and that they must do as they are told in order for change to happen. They have often come to believe that they aren’t sick enough to reach out for help and fear that, if they do, they will be dismissed, or their struggles will be minimized. However, I am here today to tell you that your voice does matter. You are the expert of your own life and the author of your own story. I want to hear your story and be a part of your story with the goal of helping to move you from a place of feeling hopeless and stuck to one of growth and recovery. At Voices In Recovery, I will always go out of my way to ensure you feel like your voice is being heard and remind you that you absolutely are sick enough and deserving of help.
I practice from a size/weight inclusive and Health At Every Size® approach and have recently developed a newfound passion for Intuitive Eating. This is a concept that was originally developed by two Registered Dietitian’s in California, Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole. Intuitive Eating is an anti-diet approach based on 10 principles that teaches individuals to learn to trust and respect their bodies while honouring their hunger and fullness cues. I believe Intuitive Eating is the missing piece in most traditional eating disorder treatment and reinforces the fact that we all have a unique “genetic blueprint” that influences our body’s natural setpoint. It challenges traditional diet culture and encourages individuals to give themselves unconditional permission to eat what they want, while also respecting how their body is feeling and being mindful of their nutritional needs. I am so passionate about this topic that I recently completed training in the field and am now proud to call myself a Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor. I feel honoured to have this new title and am really looking forward to continuing to share my knowledge with the hopes of you developing new perspectives and more appreciation for your body. There are certainly a lot of myths and misconceptions about Intuitive Eating that I also hope to address and clarify but I will leave that for a future blog post.
I have numerous ideas about other topics I want to cover in this blog in the coming months. A few of these topics include the role of social media on one’s self-esteem and body image, the negative impacts of diet culture and its influence on the development of disordered eating and expanding on the concept of Intuitive Eating. I really want to ensure that my clients and followers benefit from reading these posts, so I am always open to hearing your feedback and input.
To end, I want to remind you that your voice truly matters to me. Each and every day, I am inspired by my clients’ strength, bravery, and courage and am reminded why I chose to become a therapist. I look forward to sharing more of my personal writing with you and hopefully expanding my network of other like-minded individuals.
— Jerilyn