Episode 1. Louise George: Eating Disorders and the Weight of Shame

In this deeply personal conversation, Louise George – psychotherapist, yoga teacher, mobility specialist, and all-around beautiful human being – joins me to talk about:

• How she first started to compare her body to others at age 5
• Her family‘s dysfunctional relationship with food
• The impact of people’s comments on her body and how she internalised them
• Her journey into anorexia and bulimia
• The pivotal moment when she knew she needed help
• The impact of her Mum reading her diary
• The cycle of shame
• Her journey to healing
• Being diagnosed with Lipedema, a condition that affects 10% of women but is grossly under-diagnosed
• The role society, culture and social media has on our body image
• How healing yourself can lead to healing others

ABOUT THE GUEST

Louise George is a warm and inspiring voice in the realm of wellness, based in Cork, in the south of Ireland. Originally hailing from the North of England, Louise has made Ireland her home since 2007, alongside her husband and two daughters. With over 12 years of experience as a counsellor specializing in eating disorders in England, Louise brings a wealth of knowledge and empathy to her practice. Her personal journey through anorexia and bulimia as a teenager ignited her passion for helping others navigate their own struggles with food, weight, and body image. In addition to her counselling work, Louise is a qualified Senior Yoga Teacher and Mobility Specialist. Since 2010, she has been sharing the transformative power of yoga through group classes and individual therapy sessions at her studio in Cork. Louise believes that yoga fosters a deeper connection between mind and body, empowering individuals to cultivate body satisfaction and find peace within themselves. In recent years Louise has started facilitating sessions around regulating your nervous system in schools and businesses as well as running events around the same topic in her yoga studio in Cork.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamlouisegeorge/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louisegeorgeyoga

Website: https://yogaconnected.ie/

ABOUT THE HOST

Dr. Fiona Barry is a distinguished healthcare practitioner with over 3 decades of experience in both Western / Modern and Eastern / Traditional medicine. Holding a PhD in Pharmacology and a degree in biomedical sciences, she transitioned from cardiovascular research to the more holistic approach of Chinese medicine. She also supports people in their emotional and psychological challenges with the likes of Quantum Thinking Transformation (QTT) and coaching.

Fiona's integrative approach has supported several thousand people individually in navigating challenges in such areas as hormonal health, fertility, trauma and chronic pain, with tremendously positive feedback and results.

Throughout her clinical practice, Dr. Fiona regularly encounters clients burdened by shame and isolation, voicing sentiments like "I've never told anyone that before."

Recognising the profound need for open dialogue, Fiona launched this new podcast series "Taboo", where she aims to create a safe space for the exploration of topics that are often left unspoken, in order to foster connection and understanding on a broader scale. She is committed to amplifying voices and stories that often go unheard.

Fiona is available to work with people in a number of ways, including:

• One-to-one in her clinic or online
• For media and events, including corporate training in health and wellbeing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_fionabarry/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comharacupuncture

Website: https://fionabarry.ie/