I don’t believe people need fixing.
I believe they need understanding.
Because how we relate to food…often reflects how we relate to ourselves.
And when that begins to shift, everything else can begin to change.
My Story
For decades, I struggled with my own relationship with food and body.
I understood what I “should” do.
I had the knowledge, the awareness, and the language.
But something deeper wasn’t shifting.
In 2019, a series of major orthopedic surgeries, including a life-threatening infection and months without a hip, forced me to slow down and listen to my body in a way I never had before.
That experience changed everything.
What began as physical recovery became something deeper:
a process of learning how disconnected I had been, not just from my body, but from myself.
It was during this time that I began practicing a different way of relating to food.
Not through control, but through awareness.
Not through discipline, but through listening.
And over time, things began to shift.
A TURNING POINT
Your behavior with food is not random.
It's communication.
It reflects beliefs about worth, value, safety, and identity.
And until those are understood, change doesn’t last.
That realization became the foundation of the work I now do.
Professional Background
Former adjunct instructor for 17 years in graduate counseling program.
Experience teaching group counseling, trauma, and child/adolescent therapy.
Mentor to clinicians seeking deeper understanding of food and body-related work.
Over time, my focus has shifted.
From teaching in academic settings…
to working directly with individuals and groups in a more grounded, real-world way.
What I Do Now
Group Work
Creating spaces where people can explore their relationship with food, body, and self in a meaningful way
Consultation
Supporting individuals who want to go deeper or address specific challenges
Mentorship
Helping clinicians move beyond theory into real understanding and application.
This is where my energy is.
This is the work that feels most alive.
How we do food is how we do life.
Food is not just about eating.
It’s about how we respond to ourselves.
How we cope.
How we avoid.
How we care.
How we judge.
This work is about becoming aware of those patterns,
and choosing something different.
Who I Work Best With
Are willing to look inward
Are curious about their patterns
Want something deeper than quick fixes
Are open to reflection and change
A Little More About Me
I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where I continue to learn, from my work, from the people I meet, and from life itself.
I value depth, honesty, and meaningful connection.
And I believe this kind of work, when approached with care, can be truly transformative.
What People Are Saying
"Susan creates a truly transformational space where connection, honesty, and vulnerability come together. My first group with her was powerful and challenging, yet deeply welcoming. She has been instrumental in both my personal and professional growth, meeting me where I am while gently reminding me that healing and growth are always possible."
-Ali
My name is Heidi I am a Cosmetologist and Yoga Instructor.
I have had the pleasure of working with Susan in two study groups. Her passion in her work has guided me to find answers inside myself, sharing perspectives that helped me see myself differently on my journey of self love and having a better relationship with food.
I've had the pleasure of working with Susan in two separate study groups. The passion she has for her work has both inspired, and helped guide me to find the answers that I'd been searching for inside myself.Her classes have shown me perspectives that have helped me understand myself more completely on my journey of self love as I learn to have a better relationship with food. Susan carries a kind, caring, inspirational and motivational presence.
I have had the pleasure of working with her in two study groups. The way she showed up authenticity created a safe space to open up and look inward. Understanding myself on my journey of self love and having a better relationship with food.
-Heidi