“Radical self-love summons us to be our most expansive selves, knowing that the more unflinchingly powerful we allow ourselves to be, the more unflinchingly powerful others feel capable of being. Our unapologetic embrace of our bodies gives others permission to unapologetically embrace theirs.” – Sonya Renee-Taylor
Welcome!
Struggling with body shame and disordered eating is baffling, exhausting, and unrelenting. You would never speak to a friend the way you speak to yourself, yet the inner critic is always there to point out every flaw, judge your every move, and tell you exactly what is “wrong” with you. Though it may seem “shallow,” chronic shame and food obsession can impact every aspect of your life and all of your relationships. I can help you find freedom from obsessive worry about your food and your body, address underlying anxiety and trauma, and help you live a connected, empowered, and embodied life.
It’s not about the food! It’s about belonging!
I offer individual and group counseling because issues that come from painful relationships are best healed by experiencing healthy, authentic belonging in real relationship. Eating disorders and body shame do not develop in a vacuum – they develop as defenses against being hurt, rejected, or ignored. Our pain has to go somewhere, and when we internalize traumatic experiences, we can become our own worst enemy. I can help you become a friend to yourself, step out of the fear and shame, and move towards a liberated life you love.
This is not your run-of-the-mill counseling. It is soul work.
I have been in the field for over 25 years specializing in the intersection of Relational Trauma (childhood trauma/ complex PTSD), Eating Disorders, and Anxiety. The path of healing is powerful to witness: life-changing and transformative.
I offer a unique, creative, and cutting edge experience of counseling that goes beyond traditional talk therapy. Working with me is deep, intuitive, spiritual, creative, and sometimes even fun! I use active imagination, dreamwork, art therapy, ACT therapy, and somatic (body-based) therapy. I see you as a full human being, with a soul. By learning to listen to your own deep wisdom and getting to know yourself, you can be who you are, communicate your needs powerfully in relationship, and can truly let go of the things you can’t control. When you know you have choices, and you know how to make them, life gets better, and your relationships with yourself and other people get better!
I would love to hear your story, and see how I might support your path to freedom, joy, connection, and love.
Let’s get started! Take a look around my website, and reach out today!
Click here to schedule an initial consultation! This schedule can be pretty limited online, so if you can’t find something that works for you, let me know some good times to reach you and we can usually chat in the next day or two.
I look forward to connecting with you!
Rachel Smith, MA, LPC, NCC, CAS
