I’m really glad you’re here. If you’ve landed on this page, there’s a good chance you’re tired of the constant noise around food, weight, and how you’re supposed  to look or be. Maybe you’re feeling stuck in cycles of guilt, comparison, or self-criticism. Maybe you’re just quietly wondering, Is it possible to have a more peaceful relationship with my body? Short answer: yes. And you don’t have to figure it out alone. A Little About Me I’m Courtney, a Licensed Independent Ment

Content Note:   This post discusses weight stigma, fatphobia, disordered eating, and harms experienced in medical and social settings. When we talk about eating disorder recovery, we often focus on food behaviors, body image, and coping skills. What we talk about far less is the cultural backdrop that shapes those struggles: fatphobia and weight bias. Weight bias is not just an individual belief. It is a systemic issue embedded in media, healthcare, education, and everyday co

If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for food when you’re stressed, bored, lonely, overwhelmed, or even joyful, you’re not alone. Food doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It lives inside real lives, real bodies, and real emotional experiences. Yet many people have been taught that eating should only happen in response to physical hunger and anything else means something is “wrong.” What if nothing is wrong at all? Food Has Always Been More Than Fuel From a young age, food is connect

What the Research and Physiology Actually Tell Us When someone enters eating disorder recovery, one of the most confusing topics is movement. For many people in recovery, especially those healing from restrictive eating disorders, movement has not been neutral for a long time. It has been rigid. Compulsive. Earned. Punitive. Measured. Negotiated. So when recovery begins, the question is not just “Can I exercise?” It is deeper. What is movement supposed to look like now? Let’s

February is Eating Disorder Awareness Month , a time to honor the courage it takes to face disordered eating, to share resources, and to foster community and understanding. This month, we’re leaning into a theme that feels especially important: compassion versus comparison. Comparison can feel automatic and convincing in recovery, but it often pulls us away from our own healing journey. Compassion, on the other hand, invites us to notice, pause, and meet ourselves where we ar

Content Note:   This article discusses body image, eating disorder recovery, and social comparison. If these topics feel activating for you, consider reading with support, taking breaks as needed, or returning when you feel more resourced. If you are in eating disorder recovery, you have likely noticed comparison showing up. Comparing your body. Comparing your meals. Comparing your progress. Comparison can feel automatic and research suggests there is a reason for that. Accor

February is often associated with love, romantic gestures, heart-shaped reminders, and messages about connection. It is also Eating Disorder Awareness Month , a time dedicated to increasing understanding, reducing stigma, and reminding individuals and families that recovery is possible. But for many people navigating mental health challenges, eating disorder recovery, or body image distress, this time of year can highlight feelings of self-criticism, loneliness, or the belief

If the start of a new year has ever made you feel pressure to fix , shrink , or reinvent  yourself, you’re not alone. January is often loud with messages about discipline, control, and “starting over.” Diet culture loves this time of year. And for many people, especially those in eating disorder recovery or body image healing, it can feel exhausting or even harmful. This year, I want to offer a different invitation. January's Featured Blog Post Start 2026 Without Diet Culture

January often feels like a cultural starting line where we are told to make radical changes to our bodies. Everywhere we look there are messages to diet, lose weight, earn a “new” body or chase some ideal that usually ends up making us feel worse about ourselves. This pressure can leave us exhausted before the year even begins. Instead of repeating the cycle of unrealistic goals I want to invite you to explore a different approach this January. One rooted in self compassion,

The holiday season can be beautiful and complicated. While lights twinkle and schedules fill, many people in eating disorder recovery notice an increase in stress, pressure, or old emotional patterns. If this month feels tender, heavy, or overwhelming, you are not alone. December invites us to slow down, breathe deeper, soften our expectations, and offer ourselves radical compassion. This newsletter is designed to support you in finding small pockets of peace, connection, and

December brings a unique blend of celebration, reflection, and pressure. For many, it’s a time filled with warmth and connection. But for individuals in eating disorder recovery, the holiday season can also stir up anxiety, body image concerns, food-related stress, and feelings of comparison or not being “enough.” If you’re navigating recovery during this time of year, you are not alone and you deserve to approach the season with compassion, support, and permission to care fo

Thanksgiving is often described as a day of gratitude, connection, and celebration—but for individuals in eating disorder recovery, it can also bring unique challenges. With its focus on large meals, food traditions, and family gatherings, Thanksgiving can stir up complicated emotions or increase recovery-related stress. If this resonates with you, please know you’re not alone. With intention, planning, and compassion, it is  possible to approach Thanksgiving in a grounded an

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Hello everyone! I would like to introduce myself and welcome you to Guiding Light Therapy. My name is Courtney Liester and I am a...