84. "If I'm as small as I can be, maybe my disability will matter less" a Body Image Story with Jen Caspari, PhD

In this solo episode, we're talking about what to do when the urge to pursue weight loss creeps back in during eating disorder recovery- especially in today's cultural climate of GLP-1s, skinnytok, and amped-up diet culture. I share four reflection questions to help you slow down, sit with the urge, and make values-aligned decisions for your body. Topics covered: Why weight loss urges are surging right now and why this is such a hard time to be in recovery Question 1: What is it that I think weight loss will give me? (What am I actually seeking?) Question 2: What else is going on in my life that might be adding to my body insecurities? Question 3: Have I been comparing myself to peers, family, or people in the media? Question 4: Would attempting to lose weight make me complicit in a system I don't align with? Four recovery reminders to carry with you

In this episode of Body Justice Podcast, Allyson sits down with Raina LeGrand, LCSW, a therapist and somatic practitioner to talk about the intersection of mixed race identity and body image. Allyson & Raina dig into how growing up without language for mixed race experiences shapes body image, the role of monoracism and belonging wounds, and how building critical mixed race consciousness supports healing. Raina shares her personal journey through disordered eating, body image struggles and explains how somatic therapy helped her reconnect with her body and her relationships. Allyson & Raina also explore the power of community and mirroring for mixed race folks, the historical trauma tied to racial purity and colonial violence, and practical somatic tools for tracking sensation and building a felt sense of safety in the body.

In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Body Justice Podcast, Allyson sits down with Dr. Han Ren, licensed psychologist, author, and children of immigrants specialist, to explore one of the most complex emotional landscapes many of us are facing right now: maintaining relationships with family members whose values have fundamentally shifted, particularly within immigrant and collectivist family systems. In this episode, we discuss: Dr. Han Ren's personal experience navigating a parent's radicalization and what that's meant for their relationship Why estrangement and low-contact decisions hit differently in immigrant and collectivist families, and why the grief is so layered How nervous system dysregulation, and intergenerational trauma can keep harmful family dynamics in place The role of political polarization and MAGA rhetoric in fracturing immigrant family bonds What "low contact" actually looks like in practice and how to protect yourself while still showing up Intergenerational trauma, breaking cycles, and raising kids with more emotional literacy than we had Dr. Han Ren's new book, The Hyphenated Life, and what it means to live in the in-between spaces of intersectional identity Resources & Links: Host: Allyson Inez Ford, LPCC📸 Instagram: @bodyjustice.therapist🌐 Website: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com Guest: Dr. Han Ren, Licensed Psychologist & Author📸 Instagram: @drhanren📖 Book: The Hyphenated Life, out now!

In this powerful episode, Allyson sits down with Dr. Giulia Suro, a clinical psychologist and Senior Director of Research at Monte Nido, a national eating disorder treatment company. Giulia shares recent findings from one of the largest naturalistic eating disorder research datasets in the country and what the data reveals about the undeniable link between sexual trauma and eating disorders. What We Cover Key findings: ~50% of adults and ~40% of adolescents entering eating disorder treatment meet active criteria for PTSD at admission Why sexual trauma is the most common traumatic experience in this population (60% of adults; 85% of those with PTSD) How eating disorders function as trauma responses including avoidance, numbing, dissociation and protection The bidirectional relationship between trauma and eating disorder symptoms What is included under sexual violence and how technology has made sexual violence more rampant Why simultaneous treatment of trauma and eating disorders is supported by the research and why waiting to process trauma until 'after' ED recovery is not always the best option Navigating OCD, intrusive thoughts and trauma Key Takeaways The eating disorder is often doing the job of trauma avoidance- you can't separate them in treatment Sexual trauma doesn't require a firm "no" - powerlessness, inequity and vulnerability create the conditions for harm and perpetration Self-blame after trauma is often an attempt to create predictability and prevent future harm Recovery is a feminist process: naming the systems that failed you can fuel healing As a provider, unless someone is actively suicidal with intent, plan and means, don't wait to start trauma work For trauma survivors, the worst day is already over, which is both a strength and source of grief. Resources & Links Giulia's website: www.giuliasuro.com Giulia's Instagram: @giuliasurrophd Allyson's Instagram: @bodyjustice.therapist Allyson's website: www.eatingdisorderocdtherapy.com Disclaimer The content of this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment or medical advice. Nothing discussed in this episode constitutes a therapeutic relationship between the hosts, guests, and listeners.

Episode 83 of Body Justice Podcast is something we all need to hear. There are not enough stories of people going through recovery from an eating disorder while food insecure- despite food insecurity being a top reason for eating disorder development. Elizabeth shares her powerful story and how her experience led her to founding a virtual food pantry- grounded in dignity and choice.