In philadelphia and online across pa
Specialized Eating Disorder & Body Image Therapy for the Queer & Trans Community
Art Therapy | IFS | Intuitive Eating | HAES Therapy
Proudly serving Philadelphia & online across PA for over 15 years | Christine Ruberti-Bruning LPC # PC008568 | ATR-BC # 13-271 | CEDS # 10032
Does this sound like you?
It’s hard to shake the belief that your body is “wrong” and sometimes you feel like you are too.
It’s hard to feel comfortable in your own skin when the world keeps making you feel like you don’t belong. Maybe you’re considering transitioning or have already started that journey, and you’re struggling with how you feel in your body. Maybe you thought you could handle this on your own, but you’re tired of always thinking about food.
Maybe you’re looking for…
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You’re feeling depleted after years of counting calories and skipping meals, only to realize that no number on the scale will ever feel good enough. You keep turning down dinner invitations, only to spend the night scrolling your phone, feeling left out and sidelined in your own life.
You’re at happy hour and instead of joining in on the conversation, you’re stuck in your head because you can’t stop thinking about food. Maybe you’re distracted by trying to find the lowest calorie item on the menu, instead of what you actually want.
You rip through outfit after outfit, and pick yourself apart before you walk out the door. You find yourself staring at the mirror, wishing your body was different. Or maybe you avoid mirrors altogether because you’d rather pretend that your body doesn’t exist.
Maybe you’ve been managing your ED your entire life, and it's only been the past few years that you’ve actually started to acknowledge it was an issue. Your ED behaviors are starting to feel out of control and it’s scaring you.
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After many months, your name change has finally been processed and you’re noticing the effects from HRT. The reflection you see back in the mirror is starting to feel more like you, but you also can’t help but scan for more flaws. Maybe you’re a trans person who wants to pass, and you’re feeling the pressure from only seeing young, thin, trans people on Tik-Tok.
One part of you knows that societal expectations are BS, but another part of you still wants to blend in. Maybe your body doesn’t feel aligned with your gender, or maybe fitting in is a way to feel safer in a world that is scary and out of control. You wish you could feel more confident leaving the house, but you’re afraid of being judged by others. You’re tired of feeling like you’re broken and “wrong.” You just want to feel okay in your body.
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As a queer woman married to a trans woman, I understand the joys and challenges of being in a relationship with a transitioning partner. It’s your journey too, and you deserve to be seen and supported. Whether you got together after your partner transitioned, or your partner just came out, I’m here for you.
Hi, I’m Christine, CEDS, LPC (She/her)
Art Therapist and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist
I believe it’s possible to love yourself wholeheartedly, even when the world tells you not to.
I know this may feel impossible right now, but after 15 years of doing this work, I've seen people like you get to this place time and time again. Recovery narratives like body positivity don’t really land for you, and that’s because they weren’t written with queer people in mind. As a queer therapist who’s been on the journey, I know how alienating that can feel. I am passionate about helping LGBTQ and trans people find fulfillment beyond their body struggles, so they can enjoy the life they have.
Identify-affirming care and size inclusivity are values that guide my practice.
When you talk about your body, you won’t be met with me telling you how you should feel about it. Instead, I’ll hold the space for your conflicting feelings from a place of curiosity and compassion. As someone with a trans wife, I understand the process of gender transition, and have supported my partner in that journey. My approach to therapy helps us truly get to the root of your eating and body struggles so you can build the free, fulfilling life you’ve always dreamed of.
LGBTQ Mental Health Services in Philadelphia & Online Across PA
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You don’t need to be good at art to benefit from art therapy.
Art therapy is a mind-body process that can help soothe your nervous system while connecting to your emotions in a deeper way. Putting your thoughts and feelings on paper can help you get space from them so you can understand them more clearly.
Sessions begin with a prompt that we come up with together. An example would be to make a collage about your therapy goals. You will make art for the first half of the session and then we will discuss the experience during the second half.
If we meet in person, art supplies will be provided by me. If we meet online, you can use whatever you have at home. All you need is paper and some simple drawing supplies like pencils and markers.
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Have you ever felt like one part of you wants one thing while another part wants something completely different? Parts work can help you sort through those conflicting feelings so you can make decisions from a more grounded place.
IFS is truly a compassion-based model that views all your parts with good intentions. Even the parts that lead to more challenging behaviors like disordered eating, doomscrolling, and lashing out.
As you get to know your parts, you’ll begin to realize that many of them are working really hard to keep you safe, which can allow you to feel a sense of healing from the events of your past.
The goal is to create balance in your inner world so you can feel more at ease and trust your own inner wisdom.
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Intuitive eating is an anti-diet approach that helps you trust your body’s natural cues rather than rigid food rules. IE is guided by 10 principles that focus on honoring your hunger and fullness, rejecting diet culture, coping with your feelings, finding joyful movement (if accessible), and challenging the food police. It’s especially helpful for chronic dieting, binge-eating, and later stages of eating disorder recovery.
Real, human connection with over 15 years of clinical experience.
No AI. No generic treatment plans.
What Other Therapists Say
“As a new friend and colleague of Christine’s, I have been truly impressed by her work ethic, dedication to her client’s care, and in awe of she is at the heart. Christine is a professional I would refer clients to for OCD, anxiety, and trauma therapy as well as LGBTQ and transgender care.”
“ Christine is my go-to referral source for disordered eating treatment. Not only is she highly trained, I truly appreciate a Queer Art Therapist who is neuro-affirming, and able to support our communities in finding ways to take care in this chaotic world. Christine's calm presence and curious mind offer a therapeutic space where you can figure out your stuff in your own way. And given her work with OCD and Trauma, you can expect a highly attuned eye as you navigate identity work and healing your relationship with yourself. If you're seeking specialty care, work with Christine.”
“Christine is a colleague of mind, and I’ve known her for 10+ years. Over her career as a therapist, I’ve seen her continue to evolve with a passion to learn, expand her offerings, and invest in her own growth/healing. Christine is a gifted artist and her presence has a soothing quality that makes clients feel instantly at ease. I recommend Christine as an excellent choice for clients looking for a therapist to help them navigate body image, relationship with food, identity, life transitions, and a more balanced sense of self worth.“
The process
Reach out
Schedule a free 20 minute phone or video consultation by booking directly through my website. We'll briefly discuss what brings you to therapy and how my approach might support your goals.
I believe the first few therapy sessions serve as a way to see if we’re a good fit, ensuring you feel comfortable in our work together.
Get Support
We’ll use creative and experiential approaches to understand the root of your food and body issues, and bring unconscious patterns into awareness.
Together, we’ll develop the tools you need to manage daily stress outside of the therapy room, and cultivate self-acceptance.
Take Back Your Life
With this new deeper understanding of yourself, you can make choices from a place of knowing what you actually need and want. You'll have more fulfilling relationships and live a life that feels more aligned.
You don’t have to keep proving your worth.
It’s time to feel good enough as you are & start living on your own terms.
