Writing
Honest, schema-informed essays on eating disorders, body image, and recovery: the things I needed to hear when I was struggling myself. Free to read here. If something lands, my door is always open.
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The eating, the anxiety, the preoccupation: so often a scream from a body that first learned to whisper. How thousands of small moments teach us to look away from our own signals, and the gentle experiments that begin to rebuild that trust.
If you're not sure where to begin, these three are a gentle way in.
Jubilee video: Surrounded, Jillian Michaels vs. Body Positivity Movement
An imagined conversation with my past self about boundaries, and (Do Not) Let Them Theory
Things I've heard myself repeat the past sessions, shared with you
Pick a thread that speaks to where you are right now.
The most recent writing, fresh off the page.
before the scream, there was a whisper
Jubilee video: Surrounded, Jillian Michaels vs. Body Positivity Movement
An imagined conversation with my past self about boundaries, and (Do Not) Let Them Theory
Things I've heard myself repeat the past sessions, shared with you
This blog post might surprise you if you’re expecting me to say something along the lines of “Your food was restricted” or “You weren’t allowed to have…
Here’s what really happened (Spoiler: It wasn't about my body)
The full archive
before the scream, there was a whisper
Jubilee video: Surrounded, Jillian Michaels vs. Body Positivity Movement
An imagined conversation with my past self about boundaries, and (Do Not) Let Them Theory
Things I've heard myself repeat the past sessions, shared with you
This blog post might surprise you if you’re expecting me to say something along the lines of “Your food was restricted” or “You weren’t allowed to have…
Here’s what really happened (Spoiler: It wasn't about my body)
From Body Positivity to SkinnyTok: What Happened to Balance?
On the unrelenting pursuit of being enough
Working as an eating disorder therapist grants me the privilege to accompany people through their deeply personal journey towards recovery. When starts…
Eating disorders are much more than just a pursuit of thinness. They are a complex illness of the mind that not only affects your body but also impacts…
Unpacking the Problem with Before & After Photos
Insights on Emotional Health and Connection from a Therapist's Perspective
Why you're probably NOT addicted to food
Can you see your eating disorder in a new light?
As an eating disorder therapist, here is my interpretation of body positivity vs. neutrality
What body checking actually is, the unmet needs that drive it, and how to begin loosening its grip.
As a therapist, let me explain why it will take some time to actually feel better
Let me explain why weight loss does not cure eating disorders, as an eating disorder therapist
As an eating disorder therapist, I frequently encounter a dilemma voiced by my clients: “ I want to recover but I also want to lose the weight. Do I have…
Struggling with body image today? Here are some practical tips
How to deal with anxiety of fitting into your wedding dress in ED recovery
Typical situations we find ourselves in, how to set boundaries and take care of your mental health, how family members can provide meaningful help
Understanding and Overcoming Misalignment in Your Therapeutic Relationship with Your Therapist
It was one of those days that I dreaded going to therapy. The worry that I have nothing to say had started, alongside the anxiety of the session…
Fat talk is a term first coined by Nichter & Vuckovic (1994). It is similar to diet talk, which is having conversations about dieting or excessive…
The first time I was visually exposed to an eating disorder was when I started watching the famous British TV series - Skins. One of the main characters,…
My eating disorder caused havoc on various aspects of my life: my academic achievements, relationships with family, and friends. But above all, my…
Explained by the Rebound Effect
When I first became aware of my body, I did not feel good about it. I decided to work out to feel better about myself. At first, I wanted to be fit. So, I…
What will actually happen if you stopped dieting ''just like that''
Three tips I use to deal with weight gain
When commenting on someone who has lost weight, the assumption is that the comment will be taken as a flattering remark. This is the result of the…
Why practical tips are not helpful for binge eating in the long-term and the importance of schemas in eating disorder therapy
The terrifying feeling of body dysmorphia
Tips from an ex-full time calorie counter
1. Be aware that their situation is not about you. It can be tough to accept that someone you love is hurting, especially if it is your child. It might…
A competition that has no winners
What differentiates someone who is a gym rat from someone with an eating disorder?
What are schema modes? And how do they relate to eating disorders?
TRIGGER WARNING. This is what my average day looked like, as a person who was struggling with bulimia nervosa.
How I manage my binge episodes as a recovered person
Struggling with your ED thoughts? Let me challenge them!
Tips to help you deal with your eating disorder during the pandemic
It’s the most beautiful time of the year! The weather is icy-cold, beautifully decorated pine trees are exhibited through the windows of neighbours,…
Why do we have bad body image days
Recovery starts with being honest with yourself
Why I'm not interested in what other people eat in a day
I was at a big family dinner last week. We ate, drank, and talked for hours. As a family, we love eating good quality food and having loved ones around to…
Can models be our role models?
1. Weight loss success stories Reading about other people’s weight loss journeys, looking at their before & after pictures might be motivating. Some…
Is exercise really always healthy?
You are not the only one!
Trigger warning! If you recognize yourself in any of these phases, please seek help
Here are some tips that can help you through the process
Why do we knowingly, willingly trigger ourselves when we know that it will make us feel worse?
Here is what you can do as a concerned partner
Why they are harmful and what you can say instead
Diet talk is everywhere. Here is how you can deal with it
When the guilt of not dieting hits you randomly
''I want recovery but I also want to get more sick''
Social isolation in eating disorders: how it's formed and maintained, explained by the concept of operant conditioning by Skinner
Loving Food After Your Eating Disorder Recovery
Read this if you have gained weight during quarantine
What your kid wants you to know
Newsletter issue #6
Newsletter issue #5
Newsletter issue #4
Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Newsletter #3)
Newsletter issue #2
Newsletter issue #1
Welcome to my newsletter, I’m Realistic Body Therapist - Zeynep. I'm writing about things I needed to hear when I was at my lowest, struggling with my…
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The newsletter
Roughly weekly, I write about eating disorders, recovery, and healing your relationship with food and your body, with full transparency, because no one should feel alone in this.
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Reading is a start. If you're ready for the next step, we can begin gently, at your pace, in Turkish or English, online or in person in London.