Hi, I’m Dr. Sherry Boles a retired psychotherapist with a healthy appetite to rid our culture of eating disorders, in my life time!
I know this is a lofty goal especially since I’m in the later chapters of my life but it’s a goal I’m not willing to give up on yet! Although retired, I want to remain active in the mental health community but I want to do so in a different way.
This title, Planting Seeds For Health & Happiness, provides a bit of clue into what I’m doing. Yes, I’m here to help you (parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents) learn all you can about Eating Disorders (ED) but more importantly to encourage you to decide what healing will look like for your family and how to successfully lead your child to a full recovery. To do this I not only encourage planting seeds in a garden to grow delicious and nutritious food but I’m also planting “seeds” (for recovery) in the hearts, minds, and souls of families, like yours, who seek health and happiness.
My work as a therapist, specializing in eating disorders, started early on because a dear friend of mine had a 19-year old daughter who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and needed residential treatment. At the time, that level of care wasn’t available in our small community and so her daughter had to travel to a treatment facility six hours away. After discharge, her daughter needed aftercare and again those services weren’t available. I quickly realized there was a need to fill and although ethically, I couldn’t work with my friend’s daughter, I had found my calling and so began my journey dealing with ED!
If you’d like to learn more about me and why I’m passionate about ridding our culture of eating disorders, in my lifetime please visit my about page!
1. Why Planting Seeds For Health & Happiness Now?
One of the reasons I recently retired from psychotherapy, beyond the endless paperwork and constant arguing with insurance company representatives for payment, was I realized working with one client, one family at a time was never going to allow me to reach my goal of ridding our culture of eating disorders, in my lifetime! After all, I was now in my senior years and there didn’t seem to be a shortage or slowdown in the number of families seeking help.
So, before retiring I wrote a book, How to Help My Child Overcome an Eating Disorder, but it didn’t become a best seller and working as therapist didn’t allow me the time to promote my book. Thus, I found myself in the same situation; I still wasn’t reaching or helping enough parents.
On April 12, 2024, I discovered Substack.com! I follow Dan Blank, The Creative Shift, and he was saying he had doubled his subscribers on Substack.com in just one year. After thoroughly scouring Substack.com I thought, this just might be the place where I could not only reach more parents but build a community for parents; A place where I can write, sharing my knowledge and experience but also where parents can determine how best to heal their families.
2. Why join me here?
Are you a parent (aunt, uncle, grandparent) of a child with an eating disorder?
Do you have more questions than answers?
Are you tired of doing things that don’t work?
Are you looking for more helpful information, less stress, and to be acknowledged for being the expert on your child?
Are you interested in planting seeds for health & happiness in your family?
If so, you’re in the right place!
My Substack is a place where we can connect and make a positive difference for your family. I will provide you with current, reliable, and helpful information so that you can create a healing space for your family and together we can kick ED to the curb!
3. Here’s what you can expect from me…
As a free subscriber you will receive:
A Newsletter every Wednesday
Access to “Ask Dr. Sherry,” an audio column where you can email me questions and I will answer at least three questions each week via audio response
A Monthly article where I take a deeper dive into all things eating disorders, with a new focus each month
As a paid subscriber you will receive:
A Newsletter every Wednesday
Access to “Ask Dr. Sherry,” an audio column where you can email me questions and I will answer at least three questions each week via audio response
A Monthly article where I take a deeper dive into all things eating disorders, with a new focus each month
Access to future Podcasts and Videos.
A 50% discount to attend my Interactive Webinar: How to Help My Child Overcome an Eating Disorder
Participation in future live parent meetings, offered four times each calendar year, where we will discuss whatever is on YOUR mind!
As a founding subscriber you will receive:
A Newsletter every Wednesday
Access to “Ask Dr. Sherry,” an audio column where you can email me questions and I will answer at least three questions each week via audio response
A Monthly article where I take a deeper dive into all things eating disorders, with a new focus each month
Access to future Podcasts and Videos
A 100% discount to attend my Interactive Webinar: How to Help My Child Overcome an Eating Disorder
Participation in future live parent meetings, offered four times each calendar year, where we will discuss whatever is on YOUR mind!
My everlasting gratitude and thanks for supporting my work in this generous way!
4. Where to begin!
Eating disorders are complex and difficult illnesses to treat. As the parent you are the expert on your child, and you are vital to your child’s recovery. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise but know that treatment is necessary. Recovery is possible! I have witnessed it firsthand. Your child does not have to live with an eating disorder forever. It is, however, important to know that the longer your child has had an eating disorder the longer it may take to fully recover and it all begins with you. First, by recognizing that your child needs help, getting that help, doing the work, and never giving up will get you there. My creating this community for parents is in no way meant to be a substitute for treatment; Rather I want this to be a resource for you and I want to walk with you on this journey.
No book, newsletter, article, podcast, or video can ever replace treatment for any mental health disorder.
In next week’s newsletter I will address the basics by defining what eating disorders are and how to get your child’s treatment started. The following week we’ll take a closer look at how “home” can be a more tranquil and less stressful place by planting seeds, literally and metaphorically, for health and happiness. But for now, I ask you to gather your family this evening at the dinner table, enjoy a simple meal together and ask everyone to share the best part of their day. Let your family know this is how you will spend mealtimes going forward because someone you all love has an eating disorder and you are going to rally together, love and support each other, get help, and do whatever it takes to heal as a family!
If you know someone who would like to be a part of this community please share this newsletter. Thank You!
Until next week, keep planting seeds for health & happiness! God Bless!