In the first of this two-part episode, Marla Mervis-Hartmann — founder and creator of the “Love Your Body Love Yourself” speaking series, workshops, and coaching programs — shares her journey experiencing a dysfunctional body-relationship and eating disorder, and how surrendering to a higher power and constantly reframing negative thinking (along with other techniques) helped propel her towards a recovered life. Marla describes herself as a woman, a mother, a friend, a sister, a wife, a teacher, a former body and food obsess-er, and present time lover of love and life. We’re grateful she joined the podcast!

In This Week’s Digest, Catherine and Francis reflect on their conversation with Rachel Crow, discussing the common belief around having to be “sick enough” to deserve treatment and how it’s important to give yourself permission to seek help and support when you need it. Finally, the co-hosts begin to unwrap the differences and intersection of body acceptance, body positivity, and body neutrality.

Thanksgiving can be a challenging and triggering day for many. Catherine and Francis wanted to take a moment to offer support and strategies to help manage difficult emotions and thoughts. Remember, you are not responsible for the feelings and responses from others. You are allowed to set your boundaries. And you are allowed to create joy for yourself. You got this!

Rachel Crow is a 20-something year old navigating post-graduate life. She is passionate about advocating for the development of healthy body image for all, but specifically young women with physical disabilities. She would like every young adult to realize they have value outside of their appearance and to love their body for its uniqueness and what it does to sustain life.

In Part 2 of our conversation, Rachel talks about a period in time when her approaches to food and movement became unsustainable and shares how she continues to work toward accepting–and loving–her body.

Rachel Crow is a 20-something year old navigating post-graduate life. She is passionate about advocating for the development of healthy body image for all, but specifically young women with physical disabilities. She would like every young adult to realize they have value outside of their appearance and to love their body for its’ uniqueness and what it does to sustain life.

She joins the podcast to reflect on her life as a person living with a disability, and how it intersected with her experience with body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Rachel brings her lived experience to the platform to advocate for and provide skills for those seeking to change their relationship with their body.

Catherine and Francis reflect on their conversation with Jess Sprengle, LPC and mental health advocate. Francis discusses the benefits and challenges in sharing his lived experience with clients he sees clinically, and the host’s break down their perspective on what it means to say that the client cannot fail, the treatment can. Enjoy!

In Part 2 of our discussion, Jess Sprengle, LPC, discusses the importance – and quite frankly vitalness – of improving the education about eating disorders for all providers across the mental health and medical professions. Jess shares that given the prevalence of eating disorders among all identities, the high mortality rate, and deeply rooted stigma around food, body, and weight, the need for increased awareness and understanding on how to assess for and treat eating disorders is imperative so that those most marginalized can find a path towards recovery. Finally, our guest reflects on what she would say to someone in search of recovery. Enjoy!