My Story: A Business with Roots in Recovery
It all began in January 1995, when I started my business. Or, perhaps it all began in 1975, when I started my first diet – shortly after my 10th birthday. By age 11, I was Anorexic. Although I restored weight, I never received treatment – and I struggled with body image issues, binge eating, and chronic dieting throughout Middle School and High School. In College, in had my first binge-and-purge episode, and by Graduate School, I was voraciously Bulimic. This was my “call” to seek treatment – and I’m very grateful to my therapist, Shelley, and all the friends I made in recovery. By the time I finished my PhD in Biomedical Engineering, my eating disorder behaviors were gone, and in their place was a key message which guided my recovery.
My Message: The Five Principles of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™
There are five parts to my message, which helped me overcome eating disorders, and which help me stay on a healthy path today – Love Your Self, Be True To Your Self, Express Your Self, Give To Your Self, Believe In Your Self. I didn’t read these in a book. I didn’t hear these from my therapist. I didn’t just make these up. This key message was shared with me through my companion animals – a parakeet, a kitten, and a cat. I truly believe this was my Intuition guiding me, through my observations of these animals. At first, I thought this message was just for me. But then I heard another “call” – to share this message with others in recovery from eating disorders.
My Mission: Guide Others to Complete Recovery from Eating Disorders
I first started my business as a motivational speaker, health coach and author in Northeast Ohio. Hearing yet another “call,” I returned to school to earn my Masters Degree in Counseling. My business quickly grew to become a Holistic Health Center – specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, and diet-free solutions to obesity. My first book was released in May of 1998, entitled, Dr. Dorie’s Don’t Diet Book: A New Life Free of the Weight Loss Games. In August of 1999, I heard the “call” of the mountains, and I relocated to Colorado, while I was writing my second book. How Much Does Your Soul Weigh: Diet-Free Solutions to Your Food, Weight and Body Worries was released in January of 2003 (HarperCollins Publishers). Shortly afterwards, I was approached by readers of this book who wished to be trained in my approach to the treatment of eating disorders and weight issues. Honoring this “call,” I developed my first training programs in 2008. Originally termed “The McCubbrey Approach” by one of my mentors, this treatment method is now known as Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™, with a thorough training program for professionals to become EDIT™ Certified.
My Vision: Positive Pathways of Recovery
When I founded Positive Pathways in 1995, I always imagined that it would be in a Victorian House, with beautiful therapeutic gardens. Although our treatment center is currently in an office building in the Cherry Creek North area of Denver, it is located on the Garden Level – and we do have a small flower garden outside! My original vision also involved a collaborative treatment team – which I started with in Northeast Ohio, and which continues to unfold today. Positive Pathways is a group practice, with two Licensed Professional Counselors, two Registered Psychotherapists, two Art Therapists (one in training), a Registered Dietitian and a Somatic Counselor (in training). On the horizon, watch for the expansion of our recovery services into the treatment of ED-SUD – co-occurring Eating Disorders and Substance Use Disorders (such as alcohol abuse or drug addiction).
And I’m still holding the vision for that Victorian House! Does anyone hear a “call” to donate one to Positive Pathways???
*****
Want to help us celebrate our 20th birthday? Join us at the Positive Pathways Open House on Wednesday, September 23 from 4-8pm (drop in any time): http://positivepathways.com/open-house/
Interested in a FREE consultation? Dr. Dorie would like to get to know you and give you feedback about EDIT™ treatment and training options. Call 720-606-3242 or learn more: http://positivepathways.com/free-consultation/
Interested to ask a question to the author of this blog? Contact Dr. Dorie to learn more about Positive Pathways or to ask other questions, such as how to collaborate with us: DrDorie@PositivePathways.com
The post Positive Pathways Celebrates 20 Years appeared first on .