Cristina Castagnini, PhD, CEDS

Cristina Castagnini, PhD, CEDS Dr.Castagnini is a licensed psychologist in CA. Specializing in the treatment of eating disorders as well as general mental health issues.

She hosts tge weekly podcast, Behind the Bite, which is part of the The Los Angeles Tribune podcast network. As I licensed psychologist, I specialize in giving you the tools to navigate life's bumpy roads. We all struggle with roadblocks and I'm completely focused on you finding a solution. My style is focused, practical and results-driven. I have particular success with clients struggling with eating disorders and insomnia. If you're ready for help, I'm available. My office is centrally located in San Ramon, Ca.

09/22/2025

NEW PODCAST!⁠ 🎤 ⁠ ⁠

FROM DIET CULTURE TO DEEP HEALING: ENERGY, YOGA & RECOVERY WITH HALEY SCHIEK

In this deeply moving and inspiring conversation, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Haley Schiek, an eating disorder recovery coach and founder of COSANA Coaching, to share her personal journey from years of struggling with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating to building a life of freedom, purpose, and joy.

Haley recounts how childhood bullying, social media pressures, and the cultural obsession with thinness shaped her early sense of self and triggered her eating disorder.

She opens up about her healing path—starting with yoga teacher training at just 15, discovering energy work and spiritual connection after college, and ultimately finding peace with her body and food.

Together, Haley and Dr. Cristina explore how trauma, systemic pressures, and the “thin ideal” keep so many people trapped in cycles of shame and self-criticism, and why true recovery often requires addressing mind, body, and spirit—not just behavior.

This episode is for anyone who has struggled to feel at home in their body, or who is curious about incorporating yoga, mindfulness, and energy work into their recovery process.

To listen click: https://behindthebitepodcast.com/from-diet-culture-to-deep-healing-energy-yoga-recovery-with-haley-schiek-ep-252/

Sherry Shaban is a Certified Athletic Therapist. Osteopath. Hypnotherapist. Former CrossFit gym owner. And now — the cre...
09/17/2025

Sherry Shaban is a Certified Athletic Therapist. Osteopath. Hypnotherapist. Former CrossFit gym owner. And now — the creator of the Make Peace With Food Method.

After two decades in the fitness and nutrition industry, Sherry Shaban realized that the real issue wasn’t what her clients were eating — it was how they were living. Reacting. Repeating patterns. Spiraling. Shaming themselves.

Since then, she has helped thousands of women release the deeper blocks keeping their bodies stuck — using an approach that integrates behavior, hormones, and subconscious pattern work.

Sherry is the creator of transformational programs and retreats designed to reset the mind and body. Her mission is to empower others to heal from the inside out — no willpower, restriction, or guilt required.

Together, Sherry and Dr. Cristina uncover in this week's podcast why most diets fail, how fear drives food behaviors, and how cultivating self-compassion and emotional safety can transform not just eating habits, but overall well-being.

This candid conversation offers a refreshing, hopeful approach: healing from the inside out.

To listen click: https://behindthebitepodcast.com/from-food-fear-to-freedom-with-sherry-shaban-ep-251/

Loving reminder 💖⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
09/16/2025

Loving reminder 💖⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

NEW PODCAST!⁠ 🎤 ⁠ ⁠ FROM FOOD FEAR TO FREEDOM WITH SHERRY SHABANIn this inspiring episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welco...
09/16/2025

NEW PODCAST!⁠ 🎤 ⁠ ⁠

FROM FOOD FEAR TO FREEDOM WITH SHERRY SHABAN

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini welcomes Sherry Shaban, Certified Athletic Therapist, Osteopath, Hypnotherapist, and creator of the Make Peace With Food method.

Sherry shares her powerful personal journey from being a competitive athlete, to a life-altering accident that left her in chronic pain, to rediscovering strength, and eventually questioning everything she had been taught about nutrition and fitness.

Through her story, listeners will learn how diet culture and endless cycles of restriction create confusion, fear, and disconnection from the body.

Sherry explains how nervous system dysregulation often lies at the root of emotional eating, bingeing, and food fear — and why true healing requires going beyond calories, macros, and meal plans.

Together, Sherry and Dr. Cristina uncover why most diets fail, how fear drives food behaviors, and how cultivating self-compassion and emotional safety can transform not just eating habits, but overall well-being.

This candid conversation offers a refreshing, hopeful approach: healing from the inside out.

To listen click: https://behindthebitepodcast.com/from-food-fear-to-freedom-with-sherry-shaban-ep-251/

Key Topics Discussed on this Week's Podcast:- Why Dr. Cristina started the podcast and why it remains a passion project—...
09/10/2025

Key Topics Discussed on this Week's Podcast:

- Why Dr. Cristina started the podcast and why it remains a passion project—not about profit, but about impact.

- The toxic myths diet culture has reinforced for decades, including:
Thin = healthy, successful, attractive, and worthy.

- Larger bodies = lazy, lacking willpower, or morally weak.

- How ads and commercials (like Protein World’s “Beach Body Ready” and Special K’s “Drop a Jean Size”) sold shame instead of products.

- The damaging messages in reality TV (The Biggest Loser, America’s Next Top Model) that equated worth with weight loss.

- How fashion and retail (Victoria’s Secret, Brandy Melville, Abercrombie & Fitch) tied belonging and value to size.

- Harmful stereotypes reinforced by sitcoms and movies (Friends, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Devil Wears Prada, Mean Girls, Clueless).

- The powerful role of social media and tech (Instagram, TikTok, Wii Fit) in fueling comparison culture and eating disorders.

- Why shame sells, and how diet, beauty, and fashion industries profit from our insecurities.

To listen click here: https://behindthebitepodcast.com/from-snack-ads-to-sitcom-jokes-how-media-fed-eating-disorders-ep-250/

NEW PODCAST!⁠ 🎤 ⁠ ⁠ In this special milestone episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini celebrates the 250th episode of Behind th...
09/09/2025

NEW PODCAST!⁠ 🎤 ⁠ ⁠

In this special milestone episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini celebrates the 250th episode of Behind the Bite! Unlike most episodes, today it’s just Dr. Cristina—no guest—reflecting on the journey of this podcast and diving into one of the most insidious forces impacting our body image and relationship with food: media-driven diet culture.

Dr. Cristina unpacks decades of harmful ads, reality TV shows, fashion campaigns, and celebrity influences that have shaped our collective beliefs about health, beauty, and worth.

From the infamous “Are You Beach Body Ready?” campaign to The Biggest Loser, Friends, and TikTok diet trends, she reveals how fatphobia has been sold to us through shame, humor, and exclusion.

This raw and passionate solo episode is both a celebration of how far the podcast has come and a call to keep questioning the messages we’re fed.

Whether you’ve been here since episode one or are joining for the first time, this episode will empower you to see through the myths, challenge stigma, and reclaim your worth beyond the scale.

To listen click: https://behindthebitepodcast.com/from-snack-ads-to-sitcom-jokes-how-media-fed-eating-disorders-ep-250/

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San Ramon, CA
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As I licensed psychologist, I specialize in giving you the tools to navigate life's bumpy roads. We all struggle with roadblocks and I'm completely focused on you finding a solution.

My style is focused, practical and results-driven. I have particular success with clients struggling with eating disorders and insomnia.

If you're ready for help, I'm available. My office is centrally located in San Ramon, Ca. Please visit my website: https://www.freedomtowellness.com