What are the opening hours?

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

Alison Pelz, RD,LD, LCSW

Home
United States
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.

08/25/2025

Therapists, doctors, and dietitians are must-haves on any eating disorder treatment team. But parents have an important role to play too! Here are a few reasons why parents are important in the recovery process.

Learn more about the important role of parents in eating disorder recovery on the blog: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2022/06/29/parents-an-essential-part-of-eating-disorder-treatment/

08/22/2025

Parents often blame themselves or feel responsible for their child’s eating disorder.

I haven’t met a parent or loved one who doesn’t want what is best for their loved one – to be happy and live a productive, healthy life.

Let me be clear: you are not to blame for your child’s eating disorder.

Eating disorders are complex. They develop for a variety of different reasons including social, biological, and psychological factors. For example, did you know that being a girl or a history of dieting are risk factors for developing an eating disorder?

As an eating disorder therapist + dietitian, I encourage parents to focus less on why their child has an eating disorder, and more on eliminating the eating disorder.

Learn more about my approach here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2022/06/29/parents-an-essential-part-of-eating-disorder-treatment/

08/20/2025

ARFID’s restrictive eating patterns in children can lead to low energy, isolation, and anxiety around meal times. For caregivers, it can be a struggle to know how to feed your child, or it can take lots of effort to prepare foods that you know they will eat in order to support growth.

For older children and adolescents, ARFID can make socializing, which often happens around food (such as parties, sleep overs, family events or team dinners), anxiety provoking for both the child and parents. The disorder’s consequences radiate outward, often simmering into familial tensions and social rifts, as loved ones grapple with the complexities of ARFID.

Adults with ARFID tend to have a decrease in quality of life. Moreover, the fear of eating outside one’s comfort zone can hinder personal and professional growth, particularly when mealtime activities are involved.

Ultimately, the disorder’s grasp can dampen overall quality of life, exerting a significant emotional toll.

Learn more about treating ARFID: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2025/08/12/understanding-arfid-more-than-picky-eating/

08/18/2025

Adults who have struggled with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder for most of their life may feel it is impossible for things to be different. Parents who have a child struggling with ARFID have, more often than not, literally tried everything to help their kiddo eat, but nothing seems to be working. ARFID is often equated with picky eating, but it’s actually much more complex than that.

Learn more about ARFID here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2024/07/16/understanding-arfid-more-than-picky-eating/

08/16/2025

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is not just a simple case of picky eating; it is a complex psychological condition that can cause significant nutritional and reduced quality of life, particularly if it endures into adulthood.

Unlike other eating disorders that are often driven by concerns about weight and body image, ARFID is characterized by an avoidance of food based on sensory sensitivity, lack of interest in eating, depressed appetite, and/or fear of adverse consequences such as choking, throwing-up, or an allergic reaction.

Individuals grappling with ARFID may face a persistent difficulty when it comes to eating sufficient quantities or varieties of food. This can stem from deep-seated anxiety, gastrointestinal discomfort, or past negative associations with food.

Learn more on the blog: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2025/08/12/understanding-arfid-more-than-picky-eating/

08/06/2025

It’s completely normal to feel too emotionally taxed during the school year to take on new coping strategies for your eating disorder. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you were human in a high-stress environment. Summer gives you the bandwidth to revisit or discover skills that actually help regulate your nervous system and reduce the urge to rely on disordered behaviors.

Here are a few to explore on your summer break: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2025/06/18/eating-disorder-recovery-gain-momentum-over-summer-break/

08/04/2025

Summer break offers something the school year rarely does: breathing room.

With fewer academic pressures and more control over your schedule, summer can be an opportunity to gain real momentum in your recovery journey.

Here’s how you can use this season to refocus, reconnect, and strengthen your foundation for eating disorder recovery: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2025/06/18/eating-disorder-recovery-gain-momentum-over-summer-break/

08/01/2025

Curious how validation can change your relationship with your teen?

Sign up for our email list and we’ll send you a free copy of our workbook “What to Say (And Not to Say) to Your Teen With an Eating Disorder: A Caregiver's Workbook”. You can use the workbook as a caregiver or as a clinician to give out to your clients!

This free caregiver workbook includes:
* An overview of what validation is (and crucially, what it isn’t)
* Space for caregivers to reflect and explore their feelings about their child’s eating disorder
* Phrases to use and not to use when validating
* Space so caregivers can practice validating responses to their child to support their child in recovery

Get your copy here: https://www.pelzinstitute.com/offer-parents-teens-eatingdisorders

05/09/2025

Sick Enough is loaded with invaluable vignettes and metaphors that can be used with clients–as a therapist and dietitian it helps me communicate and collaborate more effectively with my client and the whole treatment team, as well as helping me advocate for clients in spaces that aren’t eating disorders friendly.

Get my full review here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2025/04/02/sick-enough-a-guide-to-the-medical-complications-of-eating-disorders-is-a-must-read/

05/07/2025

Sick Enough by Dr. Jennifer L. Guadiani is a great resource both for those experiencing an eating disorder and for those who love them.

Through breaking down complex medical topics into bite size pieces, this book helps readers understand the real, medical complications of eating disorders, while addressing barriers to treatment.

I recommend this book for medical professionals, those who are experiencing an eating disorder and their loved ones, and caregivers.

Get my full review here: https://www.alisonpelz.com/2025/04/02/sick-enough-a-guide-to-the-medical-complications-of-eating-disorders-is-a-must-read/

05/05/2025

Here are some ways to practice validation in everyday conversations:

• Listen Without Interrupting: Show you’re fully present by maintaining eye contact, nodding, and responding with short affirmations like “I’m listening” or “Tell me more.”

• Reflect Their Emotions: Paraphrase what they’ve shared to make sure you understand what they are saying. For example, “It sounds like you’re feeling really anxious about eating today, am I understanding that correctly?”

• Normalize Their Feelings: Help them see their emotions as a natural response. For instance, “I can understand why you’d feel overwhelmed; this is a big change for you.”

• Acknowledge Their Struggle: Recognize the difficulty of their experience. For example, “I can see how hard this is for you, and I’m here to support you.”

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

04/04/2025

Validation is a skill that can be developed with practice. Here are some tips:

• Pause Before Responding: Take a deep breath to ground yourself if you’re feeling reactive. This both gives you a moment to decide how to respond, and helps to regulate your emotions so you are more able to respond intentionally.

• Practice Empathy: Try to see the situation from your child’s perspective. Ask yourself, “How might this feel for them?” If you don’t know how they are feeling, ask.

• Use “I” Statements: For example, “I’m here for you” or “I want to understand how you’re feeling” or “I can see why this feels overwhelming” rather than focusing on what they “should” do can help show your teen that you want to be an active support for them, and don’t want to blame them for what they are struggling with.

• Role-Play Scenarios: If you’re working with a therapist or support group, practice validating responses to common situations.

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

Address

2525 Wallingwood Dr
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/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Alison Pelz, RD,LD, LCSW posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Alison Pelz, RD,LD, LCSW:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Practice
Claim ownership or report listing

Featured

Psych Dimensions

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Austin?