Posts by Ashley Paige

There is a particular kind of work that happens in individual therapy that cannot happen anywhere else. The careful excavation of early experience. The slow building of a language for what happened and what it cost. The experience of being known by another person over time — of having your history held with care. This…

There is a particular kind of exhaustion that doesn’t show up on a blood panel. It’s the kind where you go through the motions — the meetings, the meals, the conversations — and somewhere in the middle of it all, realize you haven’t actually felt anything in a while. Not joy. Not grief. Not even…

Fifteen years ago, I fell in love with a clinical dynamic that changed the way I viewed healing: the Interpersonal Process Group. I quickly realized that these groups aren’t just a support circle; they’re a powerful parallel to life outside the therapy room. I call it a “Social Laboratory.” It is a place where we…

You’ve done the work. You’ve sat in the individual sessions, deconstructed the old narratives, and made the repairs. But sometimes, even after all that effort, the relationship with your body still feels… eerie. There is a specific kind of heartbreak that lingers when you live in a larger body. You might find yourself “sitting in…

What Makes an Effective Eating Disorder Process Group? Insights From Higher Levels of Care, Applied to Outpatient Healing When people hear eating disorder group therapy, they often picture a highly structured environment: set topics, scripted curriculum, rotating members, and strict behavioral guidelines. This model is familiar, especially within higher levels of care, and it serves…

Starting therapy is a big step. For many people, it brings up a mix of hope, anxiety, and uncertainty. And for some, the idea of group therapy feels even more overwhelming. People often imagine walking into a room full of strangers and being expected to immediately share their deepest thoughts and most personal struggles. That…

Every January, the world gets louder. “New year, new you.” “Reset your habits.” “Get back on track.” For people recovering from eating disorders, this season can feel especially charged. Even if you’re actively working toward healing, New Year’s resolutions can quietly reopen old wounds: restriction disguised as “discipline,” body control framed as “self-improvement,” and shame…

When most people think of therapy, they picture a quiet office, just one client and one therapist. And while individual therapy offers deep personal insight and tailored attention, there’s a kind of growth that only happens when you bring others into the room. That’s where group therapy becomes powerful. In a group, you don’t just…

The Power of a Psychodynamic Approach When life feels overwhelming, it’s natural to reach for quick fixes. We scroll social media to distract ourselves, plan an extra-busy week to avoid difficult feelings, or repeat affirmations hoping they’ll stick. These surface coping strategies can help us survive the moment, and sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.…

For many people, the body feels like a battlefield. Maybe it’s the years of internalized messages about weight and worth. Maybe it’s the exhaustion of trying to fit into a culture that insists you must shrink, reshape, or discipline yourself before you’re allowed to rest, belong, or feel proud. Living with body shame can make…

Shame can be a lonely place. It tells us we’re different, broken, or too much. It convinces us that if others really knew what was going on inside, they’d turn away. For many people, this belief quietly shapes the way they move through the world — pulling back in conversations, keeping feelings under wraps, and…

As the temperatures rise in many parts of the world, so may the volume of body-conscious thoughts and feelings. Warmer days mean less layers and more pressure to get ‘summer body’ ready. Summer months bring more social gatherings and more opportunities for photos and body checking. This can drive disordered behaviors around food and exercise…