I am a clinical health psychologist, an advocate for people with obesity, and an experienced trainer/speaker specializing in weight management, weight bias, emotional eating, the psychology of bariatric surgery, and more generally the intersection of physical and mental health.
I have studied the psychological and behavioral treatment of obesity and binge eating disorder, as well as pre- and post-bariatric surgery concerns, for over a decade. After witnessing the impact of weight bias on individuals’ physical and mental health in my practice, I have become a passionate advocate for the inclusion of weight bias and size-ism as a social justice issue and I have educated primary care physicians, physical therapists, personal trainers, and mental health professionals on recognizing the impact of weight bias on the physical and emotional health of their patients.
After helping to establish the National Center for Weight and Wellness in Washington DC and serving as the Assistant Director for 7 years, I founded DC Health Psychology (DCHP) in 2017. DCHP is a group health psychology practice that has grown exponentially since then, now with offices in Washington DC, Maryland, and Richmond, Virginia. I also co-created the online weight management coaching program called "Health Gains Weight Loss Program" and I currently serve as the Vice President of Professional Affairs for the DC Psychological Association.
I have presented my research at both national and international scientific conferences including: the Society of Behavioral Medicine, the Eating Disorders Research Society, the International Conference on Eating Disorders, the Health Disparities and Social Justice Conference, and the Annual Australian AUCEA National Conference. I previously served as an advisory board member for the Making Our Vitality
Evident (MOVE) program at the Mautner Project in Washington D.C. designed to support sexual minority women in making health behavior change to reduce obesity.
I live in Washington D.C. with my husband, daughter, and dog.
