Having struggled with an eating disorder most of her teens and early adulthood, Giva recovered through a combination of therapy, activism and support from family and friends. These experiences, not only, shaped her perspectives on health, healing and social justice, they also fueled her passion to support others in their own recovery journeys.
She began her work in the field of eating disorder recovery with Project HEAL in 2018 managing the Communities of HEALing network of peer support services, later growing and expanding the program after it’s transition to ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders). Having now completed her training with the Carolyn Costin Institute (CCI), as an Eating Disorder Coach, she will be combining her passion for connecting with others, with her dedication to providing healing to all in need.
Giva is an experienced trainer, eating disorder support group leader and peer support specialist. During her time with Project HEAL and ANAD, Giva trained over 200 volunteers to become peer mentors, support group leaders and helpline operators. She also managed a national volunteer network, implementing eating disorder recovery services, impacting over 2,000 individuals, across the United States and abroad.
Training and Certifications
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Eating Disorder Recovery Coach Certification (January 2022)
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Mental Health First Aid / Mental Health First Aid USA (February 2017)
What are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. National surveys estimate that 20 million women and 10 million men in America will have an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
While no one knows for sure what causes eating disorders, a growing consensus suggests that it is a range of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
Types of Eating Disorders:
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Anorexia Nervosa
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Bulimia Nervosa
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Binge Eating Disorder
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Orthorexia
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Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) or Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)
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Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
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Body Dysmorphic Disorder
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Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder
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Pica
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Rumination Disorder
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Others
National Eating Disorders Association (https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/)
What is an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach?
As a Certified Eating Disorder Coach, I am trained to offer ongoing support and guidance for those suffering from eating disorders, focusing on the here and now, and helping clients develop the behavioral changes necessary for recovery.
I am not a therapist, dietitian, or licensed mental health professional. However, I am trained to work alongside therapists and other treatment providers to support the goals they have developed with their clients.
As a coach, I also hold hour-long sessions. However, one of the benefits of coaching is that I also work with clients in-between sessions if/when they need additional support.
In addition, I also work with clients in areas where they might need support in their daily life and for variable lengths of time, such as support with eating at restaurants, grocery and clothing shopping, social events/outings, etc.
My Core Beliefs and Recovery Philosophy
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Full Recovery is possible and I am a living example of this.
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I embrace Carolyn Costin’s definition of recovery:
“When a person can accept their natural body size and shape, and no longer has a self destructive relationship with food or exercise. When you are recovered, food and weight take a proper perspective in your life, and what you weigh is not more important than who you are; in fact, actual numbers are of little or no importance at all. When recovered, you will not compromise your health or betray your soul to look a certain way, wear a certain size, or reach a certain number on the scale. When you are recovered, you do not use eating disorder behaviors to deal with, distract from, or cope with other problems.” - Carolyn Costin
This definition is by no means an expectation of perfection. For example, it doesn’t exclude the possibility that a recovered person will have bad body image days, because struggles with body image are an unavoidable part of everyday life for many, regardless of eating disorder experience. It does, however, exclude the experience of using behaviors.
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Your eating disorder is not the enemy; but a tool/coping strategy that has served a purpose in your life.
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Our plan is not to help you get rid of your eating disorder; but to strengthen your “healthy” self and learn the skills necessary so that you no longer need it.
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Every person with an eating disorder has a healthy self within them. This is the part of them that, not only wants to get well, but will eventually have the strength to heal the eating disorder self.
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Everyone’s recovery journey is different and unique to them.
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Recovery isn’t linear. It is a process, involving many steps, often accompanied with many ups and downs.
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Recovery involves a journey of self awareness, self knowledge and eventually the embodiment of a ‘soul self’, or true self, a self free of your eating disorder.
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It is not my job to get you recovered. In fact, I can not get you recovered. Only you can do that for yourself. My job is to serve as a guide on your journey toward recovery.
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I fully embrace the principles of Health At Every Size® and weight neutrality in eating disorder care, and the reality that the severity of an eating disorder or disordered eating is not always related to body size or weight.
Full Recovery is possible.
Services
Individual Coaching
Meal Support
Yoga for Eating Disorder Recovery
Eating Disorder Support Groups
Shopping and Event Support
