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Alison Pelz, RD,LD, LCSW

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Austin, TX
Alison Pelz, RD,LD, LCSW

Alison Pelz is a psychotherapist and registered dietitian who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders.

Specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and related disorders including emotional eating, chronic dieting & poor body image.

04/08/2026

It’s important to remember that validating your child’s feelings is not the same as endorsing their actions. For example, “I can imagine that it is very hard for you to complete your meal right now because it makes you anxious” is letting them know that you understand what they are struggling against, without encouraging them to restrict themselves.

Validation doesn’t mean you have to compromise your boundaries or expectations. In other words, because you understand how hard it is for them to eat, that doesn’t mean you let them go unnourished.

Validation focuses on emotions, not necessarily agreeing with the thoughts driving them. For example, saying, “It makes sense that you feel overwhelmed right now” doesn’t mean you agree with their belief that they “must” restrict food to feel in control.

Learn more here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2025/03/05/the-power-of-validation-supporting-your-child-through-eating-disorder-recovery/

04/06/2026

Caregivers often worry that their validation will give their child permission to restrict food or purge–but that’s not the effect that validation has.

Validating your child’s emotional experience doesn’t mean endorsing or encouraging damaging behaviors. What it does mean is that you are able to acknowledge their emotional reality without judgment.

This practice lets your teen know that you are someone safe to turn to, because you will listen without assigning “right” or “wrong” to what they are feeling, and are instead there to try and understand their experience so you can better support them.

Practicing validation can also be helpful for parents or caregivers in the moment because it often diffuses intense reactions you may be experiencing, and give you a moment to listen rather than react.

Learn more here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2025/03/05/the-power-of-validation-supporting-your-child-through-eating-disorder-recovery/

04/03/2026

Witnessing your child struggling with an eating disorder can feel overwhelming, confusing, and deeply painful. As a parent, you naturally want to help, but knowing how to respond in the most effective way is not always intuitive. One key tool you can use to support your child’s recovery is validation–understanding what it is, why it matters, and how to practice it can make a world of difference for both your child and your family.

Learn more about how to validate your child during eating disorder recovery here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2025/03/05/the-power-of-validation-supporting-your-child-through-eating-disorder-recovery/

03/13/2026

Eating disorders are complex, but that doesn’t mean they are unknowable. Education is one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal, not only to help you find effective methods of support, but also to help expand your understanding of what causes and may impact eating disorders, so you can give informed care to your teen–rather than having to rely on guess work and risk causing harm. Understanding the nature of eating disorders and their impact on both physical and mental health can demystify the illness and empower you to provide informed support to your teen.

These are some highly recommended resources to deepen your knowledge and help you in supporting your child. Get the rest of my tips for supporting your child during eating disorder treatment here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2025/02/05/supporting-your-child-through-an-eating-disorder-a-guide-for-parents/

03/11/2026

Weight bias and stigma are socially acceptable and are reinforced in the media through the negative portrayal of those living in large bodies. They are present in most aspects of life including education, business, and healthcare.

Weight bias and stigma continue to reinforce the idea that large bodies are unhealthy with little to no data to back this up. What we do know for sure is that weight bias and stigma themselves, independent of body size, contribute to poorer health outcomes.

Learn more here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2020/10/21/weight-bias-and-stigma/

03/09/2026

Weight bias and stigma are rarely discussed in traditional medical and mental healthcare settings, further perpetuating them. Weight bias and stigma continue to reinforce the idea that large bodies are unhealthy with little to no data to back this up.

What we do know for sure is that weight bias and stigma themselves, independent of body size, contribute to poorer health outcomes.

03/06/2026

Weight-based discrimination is just what it sounds like. It is discriminating against people based on their body size, usually large body size. Other terms used to describe it include fatphobia and sizeism.

It is well documented that rates of weight bias and stigma are on the rise. In fact, weight stigma and bias happen at higher rates than discrimination based on age or gender.

Weight bias and stigma can affect physical and mental health independent of body size in various ways – learn how here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2020/10/21/weight-bias-and-stigma/

03/04/2026

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder, it’s crucial to build up your support system. The types of people you should look toward when creating your treatment team are a medical doctor, a psychotherapist, a psychiatrist, and a register dietitian.

Here's why: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2018/04/10/building-a-treatment-team-conquer-ed/

03/02/2026

Having the support system in place when seeking treatment for an eating disorder can make all the difference. All too often I have clients who have been struggling for years with an eating disorder who haven’t ever had a true treatment team in place. Without one, the likelihood of a full recovery is often greatly reduced.

Who should you look toward to build your treatment team? Learn more here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2018/04/10/building-a-treatment-team-conquer-ed/

02/27/2026

If you’re an adult with ARFID, you are not “just a picky eater” or “difficult.” Rather, you deserve to receive care that addresses ARFID as a legitimate eating disorder. It is not too late to change your relationship with food and, most importantly, reduce feelings of shame about your eating.

Do you want to learn more about your treatment options? Sign up for a free consultation to learn more about how I can help you: https://www.alisonpelz.com/contact/

02/25/2026

Often, people who experience ARFID struggle to eat due to sensory differences, fear, and/or low hunger. Even when they may feel hungry, eating feels too overwhelming.

Your ARFID may have developed due to medical or chronic conditions that started in childhood or adulthood. For instance, gastrointestinal disorders (IBS, gastroparesis, heartburn, etc.), chronic nausea or vomiting, pain with eating or swallowing, and sensory differences, are a few common examples.

ARFID can also develop if you had a traumatic event around food, such as a choking episode, allergic reaction, vomiting, or other medical emergency involving food.

Over time, food avoidance may become reinforced as a protective strategy, thereby reducing discomfort, symptoms, or fear of symptom flare-ups. While initially adaptive, this avoidance can evolve into a rigid restriction that persists even when medical symptoms improve.

Learn more about ARFID in adults here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2026/02/11/adults-and-arfid/

02/23/2026

People do not “grow out of” ARFID simply because they age. Many adults meet full diagnostic criteria, experience significant impairment, and struggle to access appropriate care, often because ARFID is still viewed primarily as a childhood condition.

Learn more about ARFID in adults here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2026/02/11/adults-and-arfid/

Address

2525 Wallingwood Drive
Austin, TX
78746

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 2pm
Tuesday	9am - 2pm
Wednesday	9am - 2pm
Thursday	9am - 2pm
Friday	9am - 2pm

Telephone

+15122935770

Website

http://www.alisonpelz.com/

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