E259: Cristina Castagnini - The Reality of Eating Disorders

Check out Dr. Castagnini Podcast at:


https://behindthebitepodcast.com/course/


In her own words:


There was really never a question that I was going to spend my
life trying to help people who were in pain or suffering feel or
get better. I just somehow knew it was something I was going to
do.


Perhaps others saw that in me as well. When I was in high school,
my friend’s dad saw an ad in a local paper for teen advice
columnists, he told my friend I should apply because everyone was
always coming to me for advice. So, out came the hefty
typewriter, and off went my application. Before I knew it, I was
writing a teen advice column.
My Education....

The University of California Santa Cruz was where I realized that
I wanted to pursue a career in mental health. Starting with my
first psychology course, I just "knew".


Initially, I thought I wanted to pursue medical school and become
a psychiatrist. So, while I majored in psychology, I also took
the courses required for medical school. I even took the MCAT's.
But, then something hit me as I was knee-deep into med school
applications: I truly loved all of my psychology courses.
I loved experiencing actual clinical work during an
upper-division course.


This led me to do something completely unexpected: I switched
gears and applied only to graduate programs in clinical
psychology.


After two years at UCSC, and one year studying on exchange at the
University of British Columbia, I earned my BA in Psychology,
graduating with honors.


2 years later, I was inducted into Psi Chi, the National Honors
Society for Psychology, as a Lifetime Member, and earned my MA in
Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family
Therapy from Pepperdine University.


I completed my doctoral studies at the University of Southern
California, where I earned my PhD in Counseling Psychology.
My Career....

After graduate school, I was a postdoctoral resident at Kaiser
Permanente. I spent the following 15 years as a staff
psychologist in the adult psychiatry department while also
running my own small private practice one day a week.


While at Kaiser, I was the lead eating disorder specialist in my
department.


As the years went on, I realized that I wanted to continue doing
clinical work. But, I also wanted the opportunity to do something
different. Something that had a bigger, wider reach.


So, I left Kaiser in October of 2019 to open my practice
full-time.
And Here We Are...

I love that I have an opportunity to start something truly
meaningful and personally near and dear to my heart.


This podcast is for those of you out there who are: struggling
with disordered eating....a full blown eating disorder....yo-yo
dieting and struggling with weight.....body image issues.....feel
like you can only be happy if you lose weight or look a certain
way....or are just plain feeling trapped in a life where you
can't make peace with food or your body.


I was there. For years. And when I was going through my
struggles, podcasts just did not exist. I wish they had. I needed
to know that other people were going through what I was. I needed
to hear about what types of help are out there..even help besides
therapy. I needed to hear other people just talk about it. To
know I was not alone. To hear that recovery is possible.


I have worked with enough patients over the years to know that
once you get information....once you gain the knowledge and
awareness....things can start to change. But you need to
hear it first.


So, I am trying to get this information heard. I am trying to
help from beyond the couch in this next chapter. I can only do so
much from behind 4 walls---time to break them down and help more
people now.


I welcome you to join me and listen.


I welcome you with open arms and an open ear. This podcast is for
you...tell me what you want to know and hear.


I'm also listening.


To your health, welcome!


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