In this episode, I discuss reclaiming the body with Whitney Trotter, CEO of Project HEAL, who is also a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and registered dietitian with over 15 years of experience in the eating disorder field. We discuss the often-overlooked connection between trauma, eating disorders, and our relationship with our bodies. Whitney’s introduction to eating disorders came through her work with survivors of sex trafficking and people living with HIV, where she witnessed firsthand the profound ways trauma can affect a person’s relationship with their body, safety, food, and sense of self. Together, we explore an important parallel: people who have experienced significant trauma and people struggling with eating disorders both experience a disconnection from their bodies. We talk about the importance of safety and trust and what it means to reconnect, to become more present in our bodies, and to learn to listen to and care for the body rather than fight against it. This episode touches on a kind of “body recovery” that goes beyond food and weight to finding our way home to ourselves and learning that our bodies can once again become a place of safety, connection, and care. Project HEAL is working to break barriers in access to care for individuals with eating disorders. Please consider donating to Project HEAL to help them with this important mission. www.theprojectheal.org ----------- Dr. WHITNEY TROTTER is a healthcare professional committed to advancing trauma-informed, inclusive approaches to mental health and well-being. As both a Registered Dietitian and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, she integrates expertise in nutrition, psychiatry, eating disorders, and trauma to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care. She recently was named as CEO of Project HEAL. Dr. Trotter brings over 15 years of experience as a registered dietitian, having worked across diverse settings and communities, including individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, and eating disorders. She currently practices primarily as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, specializing in anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, and women’s mental health. She is a national leader in education and advocacy, co-leading the BIPOC Eating Disorders Conference alongside Angela Goens. Over the past four years, their work has trained more than 1,000 clinicians through conferences and consultation services. Dr. Trotter’s expertise has been featured in major media outlets including Essence, The Skimm, and CNN. She has contributed to national policy efforts, including a policy brief in Washington, DC for the National Black Caucus. Additionally, she has served as a clinical expert and is mentioned in books such as Food Positivity, Sick Enough (2nd ed.), and Fat Talk. In 2026, she was recognized as a New and Emerging Voice in Psychiatry by Psych Congress Elevate. Follow: @whitneytrotter.rd @projectheal Website: www.theprojectheal.org CAROLYN COSTIN is a world-renowned eating disorder clinician, author, and speaker. Recovered from anorexia, she pioneered the belief that full recovery is possible. Founder of Monte Nido, she transformed treatment with a holistic, home-based model. She later founded the Carolyn Costin Institute, training coaches and clinicians worldwide. She has authored six books, including 8 Keys to Recovery From an Eating Disorder. RELEVANT LINKS: 🎁 A gift for listeners: Take Carolyn's free "How vs. Why" mini-course — the teaching video plus two readings from the 8 Keys to Recovery workbook. No account, no cost. https://carolyn-costin.com/free-course Receive 20% off the 8 Keys to Recovering from an Eating Disorder book: https://wwnorton.com/promo/costin Become a Carolyn Costin Certified Recovery Coach: https://www.carolyn-costin.com/ Follow the Carolyn Costin Institute on Instagram: / ccicoaching RESOURCES: Books mentioned Yoga and Eating Disorders: Ancient Healing for a Modern Illness, Edited by Carolyn Costin and Joe Kelly, Routledge (Taylor &Francis) 2016 Trauma Informed Approaches To Eating Disorders, 2nd edition Edited by Edward Seubert, Pam Virdi, Springer Publishing Co. 2024 Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing, Revised edition, Dr Joy DeGruy, Harper Collins 2017 Thick and Thin by Sabrina Strings : Coming Soon ( Not out yet so this needs to be checked before we air /publish in case we need to change Dr James Greenblatt ( Answers to Anorexia: A Breakthrough Nutritional Treatmetn That is Saving Lives, 2nd edition Sunrise River Pres, 2021 Research Study Promoting Mindfulness in Psychotherapists in Training Influences the Treatment Results of Their Patients: A Randomized, Double Blind, Controlled Study, Grepmair et al., 2007 The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ Project Heal: https://www.theprojectheal.org/ ANAD: https://anad.org/ Thank you for listening. Please take a minute to review our helpful links and resources below. 🎁 A gift for listeners: Take Carolyn's free "How vs. Why" mini-course — the teaching video plus two readings from the 8 Keys to Recovery workbook. No account, no cost. Take the free course here. Important Links: Learn about the Carolyn Costin Institute Apply to become a CCI Certified Recovery Coach Follow the CCI Institute on Instagram Subscribe to Carolyn's YouTube Channel RECEIVE 20% OFF your purchase of the 8 Keys to Recovering from an Eating Disorder (book). Recovery Resources and Support: The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) Project Heal National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) Carolyn's Bio: Carolyn Costin is a world-renowned eating disorder clinician, author, and speaker. Recovered from anorexia, she pi...
