What happens when eating disorder care is offered by clinicians with no specialized training? In this vital conversation, Dr. Marianne sits down with Edie Stark, LCSW (@ediestarktherapy), founder of Stark Therapy Group, to unpack the real—and often hidden—dangers of receiving eating disorder treatment from generalist therapists or corporate telehealth platforms like BetterHelp.

They explore why working with an eating disorder specialist matters, how disordered eating can be overlooked or misdiagnosed in non-specialized care, and the serious risks of inaccurate, unethical, or even harmful treatment. Edie also breaks down how to find high-quality, fat-positive, neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care, even when access feels limited.

Whether you're searching for your own recovery support or you're a clinician trying to do better, this episode is a must-listen.

WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE

The rise of venture-capitalist “therapy tech” companies and how they commodify mental health

Ethical concerns and client horror stories from non-specialized care platforms

Why generalist therapists are often unequipped to treat eating disorders safely

What makes someone a true eating disorder specialist

Why weight-loss goals should never be a treatment focus for ED clinicians

Red flags to look for on therapist websites

How to ask the right questions when looking for an eating disorder therapist

The importance of training, supervision, and collaborative care teams

The unique risks of misdiagnosis for fat, neurodivergent, BIPOC, and male clients

Where and how to find safe, inclusive, evidence-based care

🎧 Listen now to learn how to protect yourself or your clients from underqualified treatment—and what truly specialized eating disorder recovery support looks like.

CONTACT AND FOLLOW EDIE

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CONTACT AND FOLLOW DR. MARIANNE

What happens when your eating disorder doesn’t just affect your plate—but every relationship in your life? In this solo episode, Dr. Marianne explores the hidden struggles of living with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) as an adult. From dating and long-term partnerships to parenting, friendships, and work dynamics, adult ARFID can create chronic stress, disconnection, and grief—especially in a world that misunderstands sensory needs and neurodivergent eating.

You’ll hear how ARFID shows up in romantic relationships, what it’s like to parent while navigating your own food limitations, and why shame and social exclusion are such common parts of the adult ARFID experience. Dr. Marianne also shares a powerful lived-experience story and affirms that your food needs are not broken—and your relationships canbe built around what truly supports you.

Whether you’re living with adult ARFID or supporting someone who is, this episode offers validation, insight, and a trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming perspective on how ARFID impacts connection.

👉 Want support? Learn more about Dr. Marianne’s self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating Course.

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Movement can be one of the most confusing and emotionally charged topics in eating disorder recovery. In this solo episode, Dr. Marianne answers some of the most common questions about exercise and recovery: When is it safe to move again? What if movement was part of your eating disorder—or what if it was your only way to self-regulate? What if you’re scared of returning to exercise because of past trauma or fear of judgment?

You’ll hear practical, trauma-informed, and neurodivergent-affirming guidance on how to rebuild a relationship with movement that’s rooted in safety, consent, and care—not pressure or punishment. Whether you’re in early recovery or re-evaluating movement years later, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and real-world support for finding your own path.

✨ If you’re looking for a non-punishing, neurodivergent-friendly approach to recovery, check out Dr. Marianne’s binge eating recovery membership: https://www.drmariannemiller.com/binge-eating-101-class-1

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What does true food freedom really look like—and why is it so hard to recognize when you're stuck in quasi-recovery? In this episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, I sit down with Dr. Lara Zibarras (@drlarazib), psychologist, eating disorder recovery coach, and the voice behind The Food Freedom Psychologist. Lara shares her powerful lived experience with bulimia, orthorexia, and the trap of “wellness culture” that masqueraded as health—but kept her stuck in restriction for years. Together, we explore the societal pressures that shape eating disorders across the lifespan, including postpartum body image expectations, the lure of perfectionism, and the explosion of weight stigma online. We also unpack how mindset shifts—like moving away from all-or-nothing thinking and embracing flexibility—can be a critical part of recovery. Whether you're healing from disordered eating, supporting a loved one, or questioning the messages you've received about your body, this episode offers real talk, compassion, and insight.

ABOUT DR. LARA

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Why do binge eating urges feel so overwhelming—and what do they actually mean? In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land, I explore the real reasons behind binge eating urges and offers compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming strategies to manage them without shame.

You’ll learn why binge urges aren’t about a lack of willpower or self-control. Instead, they’re often the result of unmet needs—like food deprivation, emotional disconnection, sensory overwhelm, or nervous system dysregulation. Dr. Marianne explains how these urges show up in neurodivergent bodies and offers practical tools to respond with care, not punishment.

Whether you’re navigating binge eating disorder, struggling with food shame, or simply want support that understands your brain and body, this episode offers a validating and supportive framework for recovery.

🔗 Learn more or join the Binge Eating Recovery Membership at: https://www.drmariannemiller.com/binge-eating-101-class-1

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What happens when your recovery journey needs a reboot—not because you relapsed, but because you learned something life-changing about your brain?

In this second part of my deep conversation with Stacie Fanelli, LCSW, we explore what eating disorder recovery looks like after a late diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD (AuDHD). We talk about the grief, relief, and radical reframing that can come when you realize your past recovery strategies weren’t failures—they just weren’t made for your neurotype.

Together, we unpack the nuances of recovery that often get overlooked:

Whether you’re a therapist, neurodivergent human, or somewhere in between, this episode will leave you feeling seen, affirmed, and empowered to define recovery on your own terms.

🎧 Listen to Part 1 first if you haven’t already—and follow Stacie on IG at @edadhd_therapist or visit autonomousmindstherapy.com to learn more.

ABOUT STACIE FANELLI, LCSW

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What happens when your eating disorder recovery path no longer fits—because you finally discover you're neurodivergent? In Part 1 of this rich and validating conversation, Dr. Marianne is joined by Stacie Fanelli, LCSW (@edadhd_therapist), a neurodiversity-affirming therapist who specializes in eating disorders, ADHD, and autism. Together, they unpack the layered emotional terrain of realizing you’re neurodivergent after you've already done a round (or more) of eating disorder treatment.

This episode explores why so many late-diagnosed AuDHD folks experience grief, betrayal, and burnout in recovery settings—and what it means to reclaim recovery on your own terms. Stacie shares her own story of late identification, how it reshaped her clinical lens, and why compliance-based care can feel like safety while quietly reinforcing masking. If you’ve ever wondered whether traditional recovery frameworks truly work for neurodivergent brains, this episode offers both clarity and comfort.

💻 Want to learn how to better support neurodivergent clients with ARFID? Explore Dr. Marianne’s ARFID and Selective Eating Course—a self-paced, neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned training for therapists, dietitians, adults with ARFID, and caregivers: www.drmariannemiller.com/arfid

ABOUT STACIE FANELLI, LCSW

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What if your “resistance” in eating disorder recovery isn’t resistance at all—but a deeply wired need for safety, control, and agency? In this solo episode, Dr. Marianne explores the intersection of PDA (Pervasive Drive for Autonomy) and eating disorders, especially in neurodivergent individuals navigating ARFID, anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder. While traditional eating disorder treatment often emphasizes structure and compliance, these approaches can backfire for folks with a strong drive for autonomy.

We unpack what PDA actually is (hint: it’s not defiance), how it shows up in treatment spaces, and why honoring autonomy through co-regulation, collaboration, and consent can open the door to more sustainable recovery. You’ll also learn how internalized demands, sensory sensitivities, and trauma histories shape eating behaviors—and what truly affirming, flexible support looks like.

Whether you're a clinician, caregiver, or someone in recovery, this conversation offers insight into neurodivergent-affirming, autonomy-respecting care that centers safety instead of compliance.

👉 Learn more about my ARFID and Selective Eating Course for providers, adults with ARFID, and parents at https://www.drmariannemiller.com/arfid

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Why is ADHD so often overlooked in eating disorder treatment—and how can that gap cause more harm than healing?

In this solo episode, Dr. Marianne explores the connection between ADHD and eating disorders, highlighting why traditional treatment approaches often fall short for neurodivergent individuals. You’ll learn how executive dysfunction, impulsivity, time blindness, and sensory sensitivities can all shape eating patterns—and why behaviors like binge eating, erratic meal timing, or food rigidity may reflect nervous system needs, not a lack of willpower.

If you’ve struggled with meal consistency, emotional eating, or feeling unseen in standard recovery spaces, this episode offers insight and validation. Discover how neurodivergent-affirming and sensory-attuned eating disorder recoverycan help you reconnect with food in ways that actually support your brain and body.

🎧 Listen now for compassionate, shame-free support that centers your lived experience.

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How do diet culture and purity culture work together to shape—and shame—our relationships with food, body, and self? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Marianne is joined by Cassie Krajewski, LCSW (@inneratlastherapy), to unpack the trauma that often hides beneath the surface of “clean eating” and “moral” behavior. They explore how religious teachings, modesty expectations, and diet rules can become deeply intertwined, reinforcing eating disorder patterns and disconnecting people from their own needs. Whether you’ve experienced religious trauma, struggled with body image, or felt trapped in all-or-nothing thinking, this episode offers validation and insight.

ABOUT CASSIE

Cassie is known for her authenticity, warmth, and compassion, which shows up in her work as a business, owner, therapist, consultant, and podcaster. As the founder of Inner Atlas, Cassie is passionate about helping people heal from the impacts of trauma and disembodiment.

FOLLOW AND CONTACT CASSIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/inneratlastherapy/

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: https://www.inneratlastherapy.com

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