Six years ago I came to see Keri Powell for the first time by complete chance shortly after I returned to the area in the late summer of 2014. I had graduated college that May and spent the summer before that in residential treatment for an eating disorder that was still very prevalent in my daily life. Each day my mind obsessed over food and ED behaviors. In addition to my own compulsive thoughts, I also spent countless hours talking about my eating disorder and food with a number of therapists, nutritionists, psychiatrists, and other professionals.
When I walked into Keri's office for our first session, I quickly breezed over my history and confidently told her I was done talking about food, ED behaviors, or anything related to them. I can still feel the complete sense of shock that overwhelmed me when Keri didn't attempt to convince me otherwise. Instead, she immediately became my teammate and was ready to peel back the layers of the onion - eager to help me heal the underlying issues driving my disordered eating.
Throughout my teens and twenties, I have been in touch with several therapists and professionals. All have contributed to my healing process and recovery in a special way. A good therapist offers you a safe space and someone in whom you can infinitely trust as you explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. As a client, I struggled to believe in myself, to feel that I was worthy of respect and good things in this world, and I doubted every thought in my head. Keri met me with compassion and respect, validated my struggle while reminding me of my many strengths, and recognized my sense of hopelessness that I could ever live a life free from my eating disorder and other demons. She sat with me in darkness and built upon the small part of me that still wanted to fight. My work with Keri should not have been and certainly was not always comfortable. It was - and still is today - confronting the void and pain inside of me that I had starved and numbed for years. It often meant (and still means!) her listening to the same story or topic repeatedly for several sessions, and I am endlessly thankful for her patience. Through opening up about my experiences, Keri helped me to change my perspective. Understanding the complexity behind my many years of struggle allowed me to truly begin the road to healing. Underneath my eating disorder behaviors was a deep, painful void; feelings of loneliness, despair, inner chaos, and failure had consumed me.
While there is freedom and healing in opening up, recovery cannot be achieved through talking alone. Keri listened to my desire to no longer talk about food and behaviors. Instead, she encouraged me to think about my hopes for the future, to build my life up in ways that had nothing to do with food or weight - actions that enhanced my recovery instead of fueling my disorder. Keeping secrets is lonely and an eating disorder can be especially isolating, but Keri has become my ally to confide in, my trusted advisor, and a friend who will never judge. Most importantly, she has never let me sink. I have seen others in her office at various points over the last six years, and I would highly recommend Keri Powell Therapy to anyone who is seeking a better life or a better version of themselves. read more