I am certified as an Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) by the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp). I have been working with individuals of all ages that struggle with disordered eating for over a decade, and find these individuals to be some of the most intelligent, intuitive, and compassionate people I've ever known. And their respective struggles with food have precious little to do with food, and everything to do with how they see themselves in their world and how they've been treated by others. Behavior is a language, and the struggle with eating behavior is a narrative that requires exploration to understand why food and body have become targets. Once this is understood, freedom from disordered eating is possible. In addition to my specialty in disordered eating, I treat an array of behavior struggles in children and adolescents. I have extensive experience working with children/adolescents and their families for my entire career, in an array of settings - from residential treatment, to PHP, intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient therapy - and possess a keen understanding of effective family communication, family systems, and how to repair family dynamics when nothing else seems to be working. There are no definitive manuals for parenting, and often parents feel overwhelmed by the pace of childhood development and need a hand as they journey forward with their child. My goals in working with children, adolescents, and their families, are to help the children feel heard by caregivers and other adults that are important to them, and to work with the family or caregivers to teach them to hear and respond effectively and with confidence to whatever struggles their children are confronting. I also carry a specialty in work with competitive athletes, and continue to work with other issues including trauma, grief, mood issues, and related concerns.