"I have to say: THANK YOU. I have taken what I have learned from you and grown so much. I am very happy being me now.
I have a good example: I no longer workout to lose weight. I was filling out my gym's initial paperwork and one of the questions asked what my goal was. They had three different options to choose from: weight loss, overall health, and something else. For the first time I did not choose "weight loss." I eat what I want when I want and I don't feel guilty about it. I have also noticed that since I no longer deprive myself of anything, I don't crave sweets anymore like I used to. I also don't obsess about food or what I am going to eat next. I am also no longer a vegetarian, which I realize now I only did because I thought it would make me skinny. Food tastes different and better now too.
I see people now who let their ideas of the perceptions of themselves stop them from being happy and I feel bad for them because I remember what that was like. I am so confident now. I don't compare myself to anyone. I don't care that I'm not the thinnest or the prettiest because I look to me and that's all that matters these days. I feel so lucky that things got bad enough where I had to seek help. If they would have not, I never would have gotten the help I needed. I am grateful for your help.
Oh I have one more great example: I was leaving for my friend's wedding and my mother in law thinking she was giving me a compliment said "you look great--you look thin." Though I know she didn't mean it in a bad way, I couldn't help but think "how is that compliment? I guess to look good I must look thin?" I wasn't insulted, I just thought that I am so lucky that statements like that mean nothing to me anymore. I don't wear clothes to look thin, I wear things that I like!"
- Jeannie, age 27
"I don't think I have ever had anyone acknowledge me with such validation. This has done a lot to strengthen me. I know so many older people who really need this - but oft times they won't let someone help them. You are ethical. You are kind. You are helpful and that is so very human (and has not been something I have afore found - not for a long time). I want to thank you for your integrity, your personality and your communication which boosted me immeasurably. God bless you."
- Patricia, age 73
"I have struggled with bulimia for almost two years! I have gone to many therapists and Lori has definitely been the most help! Lori has given me the confidence that this will not take over my life and I am now much happier."
- Amanda, age 19
"THANK YOU so much for all your help - I seriously have no idea what I would have done without you. I never thought that I would be able to reach this place in recovery - I honestly think that I'm on the road to a COMPLETE recovery this time and I definitely have you to thank!"
- Lauren, age 28
"At the age of 15, my beautiful daughter was in the depths of anorexia. Watching my daughter self destruct was scary. Not being able to help… frightening. The extreme weight loss, excessive exercise, panic attacks, and worse… Lori was able to gain my daughter’s trust and gave us the tools, sound advice, and confidence to control her (our) life. Thank you for being the ‘life line’ that pulled my daughter away from the edge." - A proud and grateful father
"I want to thank you for all that you've done for me and all that you've helped me to accomplish over this past year. Your compassion, positiveness and endless patience, as well as your kind and gentle nature, provided me with clarity, insight, encouragement, hope for a better future, and comfort when I wasn't able to find it elsewhere. You are inspiring and I am so grateful to have met you. Thank you for your patience and understanding and for being a friend to me when I felt like I had no one."
- Karli, age 20
"It is somewhat painful to recount my state, when I was in the depths of my eating disorder and first began treatment with Lori. I had tried for some time to recover on my own. Lori helped me realize how I was using my eating disorder as a coping mechanism. Lori may have saved my life. Lori helped me rebuild my life."
- Sarah, age 23
"My sessions at The Body Image Counseling Center have helped me rebuild the foundation of my being. I have learned so much about myself and have been given tools which have improved who I am today. I would like to thank Lori with all my heart for helping me overcome a lifelong struggle with food with her support, patience and kindness."
- Jenny, age 39
"Hey Lori! Life is amazing and I've made such incredible progress in letting go of control issues and ED hasn't been anywhere in sight in well over a year now! I just wanted to say thank you for helping me SO MUCH when times were desperate. You were a Godsend and I just wanted to say thanks! Please use my testimony if you have a spot for it on your website."
- Maria, age 27
"Dear Lori, I was in treatment with you for an eating disorder in 2010, and I wanted to tell you I am still going strong in my recovery. I'm feeling so great and so much more confident in myself. I just wanted to write to thank you for everything you have done for me and my family."
- Rory, age 41
"Dear Lori, Thank you so much for all that you have done for me. I remember when I first came to see you, my mom loved you, and I just didn't wish to be there. But you helped me be a better, happier me. I don't see things so black and white anymore. I am so much happier. You have changed my whole outlook on life. I couldn't have done this without you."
- Elena, age 13
"Our daughter has made enormous progress, mostly thanks to you. No doubt, the whole ED is a continuous challenge and awareness. Her anxiety attacks have become much less frequent and she is doing wonderfully at college. We are so appreciative of having you come into our lives at the right moment."
- Gene, father of Andrea, age 21
" I have learned so much from you and food is not taking such importance in my life anymore. Thank you so much for your support."
- Jennifer, age 47
"Going from one end of the spectrum to the other, experiencing two different eating disorders in my lifetime... I don't know where I would be right now without all that you have helped me learn about myself and the underlying issues. Your help has allowed me to progress forward in a positive and healthy manner of thinking and living. My deepest gratitude for your sincere caring, help and teachings."
- Jackie, age 46
"I just wanted to say thank you so much for all that you did for me! I went to Disney today and I've been hanging out with my friends and had a great time today like I can't remember when I've had this much fun! Not stressed about what I had to eat and being balanced at the same time. You helped me look at this problem I had in a positive way of recognizing when I am subliminally feeling stressed because a lot of the times I forced myself to believe I didn't have any stress at all. I just wanted sincerely to say thank you :)"
- Beth Ann, age 18
"Many small...and large victories are taking place because of what I have learned from you and Tracy. So thank you!"
- Cathy, age 34
Your knowledge and expertise has made a world of difference in (our daughter's) life.I cannot thank you enough."
- Selena, mother of Arianna, age 18
" I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done to help me... come to terms with the issues that led me to you. Not only that, but also helping me come to terms with myself. You've truly changed my life in a way no one else has. Thank you.
- Eric, age 17
"Hey Lori! I was just thinking about you and thought I would give you an update! My BMI has stayed steady in the healthy range for my height and weight. I now know what it feels like to be a normal person, whatever a normal person actually is though haha. Eating disorder is great, I also worry less about it and just have fun now! I owe you so much and thank you! Always thinking about what you have done for me! Hope you and your family are doing amazing and best wishes(: "
- Angie, age 20
"I give you and Holly a 5-star rating, and will recommend you both highly. As for my work with you, I’ve never before had so many “ah ha” moments in so short of time; you jump-started my latest stage of healing. A big "thank you"! I want you to know how much you helped me. I was in crisis, and you were just what I needed at the time. Wishing you all the best, gratefully,
- Alice, age 62
Working with Lori was truly life changing. I have struggled with eating disorder, excessive exercise, and poor self-image for years. When my body physically began to break down, and my husband and I struggled with infertility because of the eating disorder, I decided to finally seek treatment. Lori was great to work with and helped me get to the source of the eating disorder and develop strategies to overcome it. It is so amazing and freeing to no longer be controlled by the eating disorder, and I thank Lori so much for helping me along in my recovery.
- Jessica, age 27
Good Morning Lori, Thank you, so much, for your help in December. Linda is under the care of a pediatric psychiatrist and therapist and I believe we are on the road to recovery.
God bless you and your practice,
- Ellen, parent of Linda, age 16