Body Image & Food Counseling in Federal Way, WA

Body & Food Therapy for Chronic People-pleasers

Serving Federal Way, WA, Seattle, Tacoma, and nearby cities

You know that feeling when someone asks you for help and you automatically say “yes” without even thinking about it? Or maybe you’ve been at the beck and call of your kids all day and haven’t had a moment to yourself?

The next thing you know, you’ve been so focused on whatever you’ve been doing, that you skipped lunch and barely noticed your bladder has been yelling at your for an hour. When you finally finish your task or find time to pay attention to your needs, your stomach is rumbling, you’re dehydrated, and your body begs you to not move from your couch. Your mind is filled with thoughts about how much you did or didn’t accomplish today and how you “should’ve” done better.

So the rest of the night is either focused on binge eating because you didn’t eat enough during the day, eating snacks while zoning out with Netflix, or crashing into your bed and going to sleep. (I realize if you have kids there’s way more steps involved in your day, but you get the idea!)

You’re not alone in this experience. People-pleasing and body image issues have a way of becoming tangled up, feeding off each other and keeping you trapped in a cycle of stress, self-criticism, and unhealthy coping strategies. The good news? You don’t have to go it alone. Counseling with me can help you unpack these patterns, find new ways to prioritize (yes, even yourself), and say “no” without guilt.

How People-Pleasing Makes Body Image and Eating Struggles Worse

As a people-pleaser, you may be wired to look for approval, connection, and belonging through making others happy. But that can also mean you’re constantly worrying about how others perceive you—not just in what you do, but how you look.

Does this sound familiar?

  • Criticizing or apologizing for your appearance

  • Trying to take up less space either physically or emotionally

  • Skipping meals or punishing yourself at the gym so that you can fit in

  • Having negative or shameful thoughts when you look in the mirror

  • Allowing others to shame or belittle your body

  • Allowing others to comment on your food choices or preferences

  • Wearing clothes that are uncomfortable because that’s what you think others want

  • Avoiding activities for fear of rejection or judgements about your body

Over time, the pressure to conform or maintain control over your body can fuel disordered eating patterns. Skipping meals, overexercising, or restricting certain foods may feel like ways to earn approval or fit in, but they can also create an exhausting cycle of stress, shame, and self-doubt. Therapy can help you make sense of where your need for acceptance stems from, how to heal that part of you, and how to build meaningful relationships with people who value you for you, not for what you do or how you look.

Setting boundaries can be scary because it feels like it might cost you a relationship or you might not feel like you belong. So, in an attempt to keep the peace, you do what others might expect of you— from dieting, to workout regimes, to perfectionism—without considering what your body or mind actually need. This self-sacrifice leaves little room for authentic self-care, which leaves you with burnout, resentment, and a challenging relationship with your body. Therapy can help you build the skills for boundaries and assertive communication, while navigating the guilt or fear that comes with voicing your needs. Therapy is a space to practice boundaries so that you can feel confident in using them in your relationships and with yourself to maintain self-care.

Group of diverse individuals talking at a table. Some are smiling and laughing.

When you spend so much time focused on others’ needs, you lose track of your own. When this happens, it’s common to try to regain a sense of power by controlling your body. If these patterns resonate with you, therapy may be helpful in creating a healthy, sustainable, compassionate relationship with your body and food. Connect with me here and let’s get you motivated to create change and reconnect with your body.

What Therapy with Me Looks Like

I’m Katie, a licensed therapist providing body and food counseling in Federal Way, WA and online in Washington State. I work with people of all body sizes who have low self-esteem and struggle with self-care due to a lack of body and food peace.

I’m a Health at Every Size therapist, meaning I don’t offer weight-loss support or any form of dieting. My framework is helping you find love and comfort with your body no matter your size or ability, and building a moral-free relationship with all foods.

I provide a nonjudgmental space to break free from body shame, learn to set boundaries, and build a healthier relationship with yourself. Here’s what you can expect when working with me:

Exploring Where Your People-Pleasing Comes From - People-pleasing doesn’t come out of nowhere. Whether it’s family dynamics, societal pressures, or personal beliefs about worth, we’ll take time to understand where people-pleasing started, so you can start challenging it at its root. As you understand where these tendencies come from, you’ll gain the insight and tools to prioritize your own needs without guilt.

Building Healthy Boundaries - One of the most transformative parts of counseling is learning to set boundaries without feeling like a bad person. We’ll work on identifying areas where you tend to overextend yourself and practice ways to assert your needs. This will focus specifically on how people treat you and your body, and how to set boundaries around diet talk and body criticisms.

Reconnecting with Your Body (And Unlearning Harmful Beliefs) - It’s important not to see your body as a “project” or something to manage rather, it’s a part of you that needs nurturing. We’ll explore how societal and cultural messages about beauty and worth have influenced your relationship with your body, and we’ll actively work on rejecting those harmful beliefs.

Learning New Ways to Cope with Stress and Emotions - Disordered eating is often used as a way to cope with stress, anxiety, or difficult emotions. We’ll identify these patterns and work on healthier, more sustainable ways to manage stress. Whether it’s mindfulness, journaling, deep breathing, screaming into a pillow, headbanging to heavy metal music, or throwing some air punches, we’ll find techniques that feel right for you.

Rediscovering What You Truly Want and Need - Sometimes people-pleasing becomes so automatic that you lose track of what you actually want. Counseling can be a powerful way to reconnect with yourself and your goals. Imagine a life where you can trust your body, listen to its needs, and express your own desires without fear. Imagine waking up each day feeling worthy, confident, and less weighed down by what others think. That’s what healing from people-pleasing, body shame, and disordered eating can look like.

Therapy works best when you can show up consistently. Weekly sessions are proven to show more progress in a shorter timeframe, therefore I recommend we start off working together weekly. My style is casual and compassionate, while holding you accountable to meet your goals. We will spend the first couple sessions getting to know each other and your body story. After we establish goals and explore your history, I’ll give you simple, clear tools to use outside of sessions. This may include articles about fat-phobia and diet culture, videos on how to love your body, social media accounts that embody self-acceptance, a script for setting boundaries, and practices of saying “no” or doing less.

I’ve done my own body acceptance work and know how empowering it feels to simply exist in your body. In therapy I may offer personal examples of how I’ve overcome body shame, but I’ll always relate it back to your mental health. I’m a human first, mental health expert second and I utilize both roles to provide you caring, compassionate, real support. If you’re ready to work together, book a free consultation below. I can’t wait to connect with you!