Explore our blog for expert insights, practical tips, and valuable mental health resources. Written by the Coastal Collaborative Care team, our posts blend research, clinical experience, and real-world insight to support your healing, answer your questions about therapy and mental health, and nurture your personal growth.
It’s Too Hot for That: Summer in Alexandria Isn’t Just for “Summer Bodies”
Summer in Alexandria brings sunshine, waterfront walks, and boat rides—but for many, it also brings a wave of anxiety about body image.
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Feeling Not Good Enough? How Perfectionism and Comparison Affect Mental Health
Two silent forces often show up behind these struggles: perfectionism and comparison. They may seem like separate issues, but they often work in tandem to chip away at our self-worth. Building awareness of when and why these two parts show up is the first step to learning how to navigate and challenge them.
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PART 2: It Takes a Village: The Role of Family, Partners, and Loved Ones in Eating Disorder Treatment
Eating disorders often create a deep sense of isolation—not only for the individual struggling but also for the people who care about them. That’s why we approach adolescent eating disorder recovery as a shared process. Family involvement isn’t just encouraged—it’s integral.
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More Than Credentials: Why Working in Eating Disorder Treatment Centers Matters
When it comes to eating disorder treatment, experience isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. At the core of our practice is a unique and defining quality: every member of our team has worked in higher-level-of-care eating disorder treatment centers.
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Pregnancy and Weight Bias: Advocating for Yourself When Medical Professionals Won’t Listen
Pregnancy is a time of immense physical, emotional, and psychological change. During this period, many women place their trust in their healthcare providers to guide them through the journey with care and expertise. Unfortunately, not all experiences with medical professionals are positive. For some, the process is marred by discrimination, especially weight bias.
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Exercise as Empowerment: Celebrating Movement Beyond Appearance
Exercise. Movement. Physical activity. These terms are often tossed around in the context of weight loss, appearance, or even punishment for food intake. For many people, the relationship with exercise can be heavily influenced by diet culture, which equates body size with worth, and physical activity with compensation for eating.
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