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An essential exploration of the overlooked impact of disordered eating among Black women--and a prescriptive road map to returning to peace and wholeness within our bodies, from the clinical therapist who founded Black and Embodied Counseling and Consulting PLLC Licensed mental health therapist, somatic healer, and eating disorder specialist Alishia McCullough understands that for far too many Black women, the myriad effects of racial trauma have disrupted their most essential relationship: the one they have with their bodies--and by extension, with their food. African Americans are disproportionately impacted by disordered eating behaviors, yet their experiences are frequently overlooked by doctors and mental health experts. As a result, entire communities--our McCullough’s groundbreaking work radically validates the lived experiences and generational traumas of BIPOC communities. As part of a steadily growing movement among clinicians to “decolonize therapy,” McCullough rejects the patriarchal, white supremacist mindset that has dominated the field, and instead embraces a more integrated approach that seeks to understand disordered eating patterns by examining the psychological wounds left by centuries of racism. Weaving together crucial history, compelling client stories, guided practice, and McCullough’s own experiences with disordered eating behaviors,
About the author
Alishia McCullough (she/her) is a licensed clinical mental health therapist and founder of Black and Embodied Counseling and Consulting PLLC. She specializes in somatic therapy, trauma healing, and eating disorder treatment with a focus on cultivating embodiment and fostering liberation. Alishia also runs the self-paced online course Reimagining Eating Disorders 101.
Report
Alishia McCullough provides a new vision for exploring eating disorders and their largely unexamined consequences on Black bodies. With depth and a great deal of empathy, Reclaiming the Black Body lights a radical path away from trauma and blame toward healing, self-acceptance and, ultimately, joy. Linda Villarosa, author of Pulitzer Prize finalist Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on Health in America
A powerful and profound call to not only reclaim but to re-envision Black bodies, Black wellness, and Black liberation. Alishia McCullough has done a beautiful job fusing spiritual and ancestral wisdom with stats and stories to support our personal and collective understanding. Rachel Ricketts, bestselling author of Do Better
Reclaiming the Black Body is a must-read. Written by a Black woman with us (Black women) at the center, it s informative, refreshing, and restorative for the soul. It s a beautiful work of art, and I can t recommend it enough. Chrissy King, author of The Body Liberation Project
[A] beacon of light . . . Alishia McCullough s writing provides a sense of grounding and ease unlike any that I ve experienced, and calls to each one of us interested in transforming the experiences of our bodies. Reclaiming the Black Body is something that everyone needs to access; we will be better as a collective for doing so. Jessica Wilson, author of It s Always Been Ours: Rewriting the Story of Black Women s Bodies
This book is the essential tool to redeem the Black body in a sustainable way, a roadmap for an embodied Black liberation that centers us all. Dr. Mariel Buqué, author of Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma
Alishia McCullough s radical approach ignites crucial conversations around eating disorders within Black communities and paves pathways to liberation and self-love. With courage and compassion, she confronts the entrenched systems of oppression surrounding eating disorders while integrating profound wisdom. Patricia Duggan, licensed therapist and somatic healer
In the traditionally conservative landscape of eating disorders Alishia McCullough stands out as a trailblazer . . . The transformative impact of her work is evident, reaching and influencing thousands within the community. Gloria Lucas, eating disorder awareness educator and founder of Nalgona Positivity Pride
Alishia McCullough is a healer, thought leader and paradigm shifter. Her work is truly ahead of its time. Ilya Parker, educator and founder of the Decolonizing Fitness movement
Innovative and groundbreaking, Reclaiming the Black Body asks us to consider the ways in which we are disconnected from ourselves and why. Embodiment is a lifelong revolutionary act that requires support and self-compassion. McCullough assures us that it s worth it, and there is hope and healing ahead. BookPage, starred review
