Statement of privilege and business values

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I am a thin, white, cisgendered woman living with a lot of privilege I didn’t earn. With this privilege comes power and I commit to using any power I have to contribute to the dismantling of systems of oppression that exist in America. I commit to learning from, listening to, and amplifying the voices in marginalized communities and I recognize that this is lifelong work.

 

I recognize the importance of uncovering my own biases especially as it relates to eating disorders, mental health, and wellness.

 

I recognize I have not had the experience of someone living in a larger body and I am continually learning about weight stigma and fatphobia. I recognize it is not my client’s job to teach me about their experience as a member of any marginalized community. I am continually working to understand my privilege and the oppression of people in larger bodies especially as it relates to my work as a coach and business owner. 

 

I recognize the racist roots of diet-culture and understand that the only way to fully eradicate diet-culture is to dismantle the system (racism) that created it. 

 

I recognize that there is a severe lack of research on POC and eating disorders. The eating disorder world (providers, doctors, and clinicians) is currently still very white, cis-gendered, and fatphobic. There is much work to be done and I recognize that it’s my duty to continue learning, researching, asking questions, and challenging what I know to deepen my understanding of how eating disorders manifest and are healed in ALL people. 

 

I am passionate about working to end weight stigma, racism, ableism, classism, ageism, white supremacy, healthism, and discrimination of the LGTBQ community. As someone who has been living in a partially disabled body for 3 years now, I’m more aware than ever how ableism shows up in the body image and joyful movement scene. Body acceptance has taken on new meaning for me and I am humbled by this experience.

 

I work hard to offer a variety of programs and services at different price points. My emails and blog are free while my membership community is priced with the intention of being a low barrier to entry and scholarships are available. My 1:1 coaching package is customizable and flexible to accommodate different incomes. I also offer payment plans. College students, BIPOC, and people of marginalized communities are placed as a higher priority for any sliding scale or scholarship opportunities I have available.

 

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I recognize that as a person with privilege, my time, money, and voice are resources I have to increase social justice and decrease oppression.

 

Time:

I spend a lot of time listening and learning (books, podcasts, webinars, trainings, online courses). (It’s possible that I spend more time consuming information than producing it, which isn’t a super successful business model.) I prioritize learning from people in marginalized communities. When learning from white, thin, able-bodied people in the ED or entrepreneurship field, I make sure this leader is doing their own anti-racism work, is clearly against diet-culture and is HAES informed, and has diverse guests and teachers on their platform.

 

Money:

 

I value continuing education and pour a large percentage of my income back into my own learning (the amount reinvested varies since my income is highly variable at the time of writing this). Within my budget, I’ve divided my continuing education into 3 categories:

• Diversity & Inclusion

• Eating disorder research

• Business skills

 

This helps me track and hold myself accountable for investing equally into all areas of my learning and professional development. Regardless of the category of continuing education, I try to first support Black business owners or members of LGTBQ or fat activist communities.

 

I donate 5% of my net income to The Loveland Foundation - a therapy fund for Black girls

 

I have yet to make any hires or have any guests in my business, but when I do I will always pay them for their time. 

 

I will only invest in business coaching and business education from those whose business values align with mine (Ex: I recently turned down the opportunity to work with a business coach when she was sharing fatphobic messaging on her podcast).

 

Voice:

 

I speak up again discrimination on my platforms and am intentional about amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.

 

On social media, especially, I try to share experiences of people in larger bodies, trans bodies, Black bodies, and disabled bodies to counter the very thin and white dominance that exists in the wellness industry. 

 

I am committed to saying “thank you for correcting and teaching me” in moments when my ego wants to defend or apologize.

 

I recognize that my voice holds power in a society founded on white supremacy and I commit to using my voice to raise awareness of the oppression and inequities still rampant today.

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As a practitioner:

 

I believe it is my duty first and foremost for my clients to feel safe with me. I believe in the healing power of being seen and heard with compassion and nonjudgment. This is my number one priority when working with my clients. 

 

If at any point you do not feel seen, heard, or safe to be who you are with me - I am here to listen. I will do my best to stay humble, stay open, and stay curious about your experience. I commit to continually examining my own biases and noticing how and when they’re impacting my work as a mental health care provider.