Forget everything you think you know about eating disorders—this episode goes way beyond the old myths about "willpower" and "control." Today, we're digging into the real, science-backed roots of eating disorders with Dr. Erin Knopf: pediatrician, psychiatrist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and co-founder and chief medical officer of Very, a virtual outpatient treatment center delivering high-level care straight to your laptop.

Dr. Erin Knopf is a board-certified pediatrician, adult psychiatrist, and child/adolescent psychiatrist as well as an IAEDP Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. Dr. Knopf completed residency training at the University of Kentucky in a combined residency program, the Triple Board program. She previously worked at The Eating Recovery Center and ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders. She is co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of VERY | Virtual Eating Recovery for You, an outpatient virtual treatment option dedicated to individualized care and grounded in weight-inclusive, trauma-informed, and gender-affirming principles.

“Binge eating is not just about being undisciplined or impulse control issues. It is actually based in restriction.” - Dr. Erin Knopf

“You have to be intentional and really look for ways to create balance.” - Dr. Erin Knopf

“It's[SSRIs] not necessarily causing any damage or harm, but it’s certainly not going to give them the benefit that they are waiting for.” - Dr. Erin Knopf

“There is no medication I can give to make the “nutritional restoration process”, weight gain happen with just a pill. There's no such thing.” - Dr. Erin Knopf

“Health biometrics are so much better looked at from a vitals perspective, lab perspective, functionality perspective, quality of life too.” - Dr. Erin Knopf

“ There's so many questions when it comes to medications and eating disorders, especially because there isn't a clear cut answer. It’s just not that simple.” - Rachelle Heinemann

Connect with Dr. Erin Knopf here!

Connect with Dr. Erin Knopf on Instagram!

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In this episode, I’m diving into the messy and complicated cycle of restriction and bingeing—not just with food, but with all the things we tell ourselves we shouldn’t need. Why do we do this? How does it backfire every time? And more importantly, how do we break free?

"You can't just ignore your needs and wants forever. That's when this moment of lapse of judgment, the binge, whether it's money, food, sex, anything under the sun, comes in." - Rachelle Heinemann

"Food is inherently soothing." - Rachelle Heinemann

"How did it come to be that the only way that you know how to deal with your emotional pain is with food?" - Rachelle Heinemann

"There’s something about acknowledging, “yeah, I actually do need this”, which is the hardest part of it, but also the thing that allows us to actually have it and feel good about it eventually." - Rachelle Heinemann

Bergen Mental Health Group Inc. is hiring! If you think you’d be a great fit, check it out!

Grab my Journal Prompts Here!

Looking for a speaker for an upcoming event? Let’s chat!

Now accepting new clients! Find out if we're a good fit!

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who may need this podcast by sharing this episode.

Be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter here!

You can connect with me on Instagram @rachelleheinemann, through my website www.rachelleheinemann.com, or email me directly at rachelle@rachelleheinemann.com

In this episode, I sit down with therapist and author Ilene Fishman to explore what it really takes to achieve lasting recovery. We dive into the complex, sometimes uncomfortable truths about healing from an eating disorder, the importance of self-compassion, and why true freedom goes beyond simply “eating normally.”

Ilene V. Fishman, LCSW, ACSW, FAED, has maintained a general psychotherapy practice specializing in the treatment of eating disorders for more than 40 years in both Montclair, NJ and New York City. Ilene helped found NEDA, serving on its Board of Directors for over a decade. She then served on the board of ProjectHEAL. Ilene speaks widely as an expert on the subject of eating disorders and is the author of the book, THE DEEPER FIX.

Note: The podcast is off for the next two weeks! We will be back on April 22nd, with a new episode!

"I don't wanna keep people comfortable. People will talk about, ‘Oh that therapist was so nice, she was such a nice person.’ But did you get better?” - Ilene Fishman

"If we avoid our pain. If we don't suffer constructively, productively, then we're blocking ourselves." - Ilene Fishman

"Tell your therapist everything. Try to find a therapist where you can say, 'I'm afraid to start therapy with you, and these are the reasons I'm afraid.' Let's talk about it." - Ilene Fishman

"It's about taking the risk and being afraid and not really knowing what's gonna be on the other side and doing it with somebody who's gonna, who's gonna hopefully catch you, but that you need to do it scared." - Rachelle Heinemann

"Good therapy should be growthful and empowering." - Ilene Fishman

"Recovery is so worth it." - Ilene Fishman

Connect with Ilene Fishman Here!

Find Ilene Fishman on Instagram

Check out Ilene’s book: The Deeper Fix: For Your Growth and Empowerment

Bergen Mental Health Group Inc. is hiring! If you think you’d be a great fit, check it out!

Grab my Journal Prompts Here!

Looking for a speaker for an upcoming event? Let’s chat!

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who may need this podcast by sharing this episode.

Be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter here!

You can connect with me on Instagram @rachelleheinemann, through my website www.rachelleheinemann.com, or email me directly at rachelle@rachelleheinemann.com