My Life as an Eating Psychology Coach: Jenna Abernathy

What made you want to become an Eating Psychology Coach?

What propelled me to become and Eating Psychology Coach is my lifelong struggle with disordered eating. In particular, there was one moment though, when I was so full of inner turmoil and hopelessness that I made a vow to myself that if I ever got off this roller coaster I would help other people. I searched for how to do that for a long time and studying at The Institute for the Psychology of Eating is what made that vow possible.

What do you love about being an Eating Psychology Coach?

I love so many things about being an Eating Psychology Coach. First, I love to inspire women that their inner food rebel has a gift for them if they will listen to it. I love sharing the good news that they don’t have to live in such a small world of deprivation and food/body overwhelm. I love to witness the progress over the weeks and months at how much better people can feel in their own body and how that rushes into every part of their life. I love helping clients see that there really is something inside they can trust. Likewise, my client’s growth and excitement also energizes me and catalyzes my own growth forward.

What has also been surprising is how I have also been able to weave in other parts of myself into my practice like including astrology for clients who resonate with that, as well as dance, movement, bodywork, writing and yoga. I have created a way to evolve in this work that I can use all of the tools and skills I have gathered over the years.

What does your practice look like?

Currently my practice is comprised of seeing clients in person in my Portland, Oregon home as well as on the phone across the country and other countries as well. I have also run both live and online programs.

I usually work with women of all different ages, many of whom have dieted for so many years off and on, or if they are younger, have struggled with stress eating and body image. I also work with emotional, stress and binge eaters.

How did your education at the Institute prepare you to work successfully with clients?

The Institute for the Psychology of Eating prepared me in the way that it gave me the depth of what this work is truly about, which is often very different than what someone expects coming in. I also got a huge permission slip to trust myself and my curiosity when working with clients and to follow that. This trust has given me courage in every other area of my life. It allows me to relax more deeply into the uncertainty of life, while trusting in a bigger design.

What was your favorite aspect of the Training?

My favorite aspect of the training is definitely the classes with Marc. There are not many people on the planet that I could listen to for such long stretches of time and still be hungry for more.

How has being an Eating Psychology Coach impacted your professional life/financial well-being?

As far as turning it into a business, that has taken me a little while to figure out, and a lot of growth to be done there too. At this point though, I am in a better financial spot than I ever have been before. I know that my work gives a tremendous value to my clients and as my own confidence has grown, so has the money.

How has being an Eating Psychology Coach impacted you personally?

On a personal level, being an Eating Psychology Coach, I have a freedom with food and my body that I have never had before. My relationships are no longer weighed down by my personal body obsessions. I feel way more compassionate and curious and less judgmental of myself and others than ever before.

What do you see for yourself in your future as an Eating Psychology Coach – where is your work evolving towards?

What I am most excited about is growing towards doing retreats and collaborations with other practitioners. I am particularly interested in combining eating psychology with embodiment practices like dance and other forms of creative expression.

Why would you recommend the Training to others?

I can easily recommend The Institute for the Psychology of Eating because I believe there truly needs to be a revolution in how we are talking about and dealing with food, body, weight, and eating issues on the planet. I believe the Institute’s message is something we all could use for healing and thinking more deeply on these topics.

NAME: Jenna Abernathy, Eating Psychology Coach, Astrologer, Journey Dancer, Yoga Teacher, Bodyworker, and meditator
BUSINESS: Divine Hunger
WEBSITE: www.divinehunger.com

BIO: Jenna Abernathy, Eating Psychology Coach, Astrologer, Journey Dancer, Yoga Teacher, Bodyworker, and meditator is passionate about inspiring people to love their body, trust their hunger, and honor their real desires. Jenna has a particular affinity for the “Inner Food Rebel” and drawing out the hidden wisdom behind our cravings.