The Aleo Podcast

Should I order a good-vibes-only poster now? Is it better to always look for that silver lining or to remind myself the cup is actually half full? Surely, trying to think more positively about my body is better, right?

Raquel and Lee share how individuals can begin to answer the titular question for themself, tying in past discussion points on the role of avoiding thing that are unpleasant to us. Not all avoidance is created equal— our intention or the function of the avoidance is important to consider. And at the end of the day, whether or not something is working for you or helpful, is very individual. 

They share some helpful reflection prompts in sussing the “workability” of trying to “focus on the positive” and Lee ties in a personal example related to body image as a transmasculine person.

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Is talking to a doctor about my eating issues really necessary? What is a doctor going to do? What would I actually say? What if I don’t even have a family doctor?

The gold standard for eating disorder treatment is having experts in your circle of care for nutrition, medical, and mental health. Courtenay and Lee sit down and discuss the various scopes of practice on a care team when disordered eating is happening and why it might be important to specifically have a medical professional involved. They also chat ideas for how to access medical support in a healthcare system where “just see a doctor” is easier said than done. They review what medical monitoring can look like, what types of tests a doctor may do or order, and some examples of what to actually say or ask for when you’re in the doctor’s office. 

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Can we really “just stop” feeling bad about our bodies?

Our guess is that you probably already know, deep down, the answer to this question. What we can or can’t control can be a hard truth to face.

Raquel and Lee explain why we can’t “just stop” feeling whatever we’re feeling, how avoiding “feeling bad” about your body actually backfires, and identify the power struggle we get in with difficult things we can’t control often brings more pain. 

Want to know what beach balls or social media algorithms have to do with the concept of acceptance? Give this episode a listen to find out!

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Is it really all that bad to use laxatives? What should I know about them? When should I be worried about my laxative use? Where’s the line for laxative use becoming an eating disorder behaviour?

Yep, Courtenay and Lee talk about poop today! They bust some myths and misconceptions about laxatives, explain what they actually are, the 3 main different types, how they each work, and what are the potential harms/risks of laxatives when not used appropriately. They also provide listeners some helpful “yellow flags” to look for in considering your relationship with laxatives as an eating disorder, compensatory behaviour.

They provide listeners some concrete harm reduction strategies and tips you can implement with your laxative use today. 

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If mindfulness is noticing the present moment on purpose, what might that actually look like in practice? What does it sound like? What’s an example of a mindfulness practice?

Lee and Raquel give some examples about how we can practice mindfulness even in the way we talk or articulate the problems, concerns, or pain that we experience as humans. Raquel also shares her go-to practice she likes to use in sessions with clients to introduce them to the concept of mindfulness. Somehow, a connection is made between mindfulness and the classic thriller film JAWS, and the hosts touch on how mindfulness can help with body image concerns. 

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Do you do anything to counter or compensate for what you’ve eaten? Feeling compelled to rid your body of unwanted calories? Noticing any compulsive behaviours following a meal?

In this episode, Lee and Courtenay clarify and outline the umbrella term of “compensatory” eating disorder behaviours. They summarize a variety of compensatory behaviour examples, distinguish what can be considered a form of purging, and also cover other behaviours that could be considered a form of compensating for food that we might not necessarily think about.

They describe the difficulty of identifying these behaviours as problematic considering how many compensatory behaviours are normalized in our world. They attempt to answer whether there is a spectrum of harm when it comes to these behaviours and offer some important reflections for listeners in determining whether they might have a problem. 

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Hour-long, silent meditations? Adopting zen, chill vibes only? Yoga pants and speaking in hushed tones? What even is mindfulness? 

In this episode, Raquel and Lee cover some of the most common myths and misconceptions about mindfulness and settle the score on what it actually is (and it’s much more simple and realistic than you’d think). They discuss the role and costs of avoidance on our psyches and well being and why making contact with the present moment (and on purpose) can be key in cultivating a more flexible and peaceful relationship with our bodies. 

“Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges 

           though paying attention 

                                       on purpose,

                                                    in the present moment,

                                                                           and non judgementally 

                                                                                         to things as they are”

- Williams, Teasdale, Segal, and Kabat-Zinn

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All three members of The Aleo Collective are joined together this episode: Raquel Griffin MSW RSW, Courtenay Vickers RD, and Lee Thomas MSW RSW. They share and have a discussion about their most often used one-liners in client sessions. 

Raquel shares about the importance of noticing the present moment before being able to do much of anything else, Courtenay reminds us that getting enough calories is step 1 in nutrition, and Lee explores how making contact with our core values may result in us making changes that we can feel proud of.

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February is well underway: those New-Year-New-You vibes are starting to wear off and you feel that shame creeping in as it dawns on you more and more… those food/eating/body new years resolutions are slipping away. 

Join eating disorder clinicians Courtenay and Lee for a conversation where they reflect on what even is diet culture, what is it looking like so far in the year 2026, and what ditching those diet-y news years resolutions could look like in the years to come. 

Christy Harrison’s definition of diet culture

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Does the idea of group therapy make you run for the hills? What if it actually ended up being the thing that truly unlocked something for you? What would it mean for you to come out of group therapy feeling more at peace with your body?

Eating Disorder clinicians Raquel and Lee's Body Image Group: Befriending Your Body is coming up fast and they're taking this opportunity to hype up that group work magic and set at ease the common worries and fears folks may have about group therapy.

Raquel and Lee talk about why they're so passionate and believe so much in group work-- from their personal recovery journeys, to their professional experience as clinical social workers.

Cohort 3 of the Body Image Group: Befriending Your Body begins March 2026. Register by Feb 10th to get the early bird rate! Learn more and register here.

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