You deserve to feel at home in your body
Eating Disorder Treatment for LGBTQ & Trans Adults in Philadelphia, PA
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?
You want to feel comfortable in your own skin, but there’s that voice in your head that keeps saying you’re not good enough.
You can’t relax in a restaurant because you’re in your head whenever someone talks to you. You wonder if they’re judging you for how you look, or for something that you said. Maybe you’re looking for the lowest calorie item on the menu, instead of what you actually want. Perhaps you’re always on high alert because you’re afraid you’ll be targeted for who you are.
Maybe you’re struggling with…
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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.
You rip through outfit after outfit, and pick yourself apart before you walk out the door. You find yourself staring at the mirror while gripping your stomach and thighs, wishing your body was different.
Or maybe you avoid mirrors altogether because you’d rather pretend that your body doesn’t exist.
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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 are feeling the pressure from only seeing young, thin, trans people on Tik-Tok.. Perhaps you’re non-binary, but don’t fit the image that you see everywhere in the media.
One part of you knows that societal expectations are cis-normative and binary, 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.
Hi, I’m Christine, CEDS, LPC (She/her)
Art Therapist and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist
I believe you can have a fulfilling life, even when the world is unpredictable.
As a queer therapist with a trans spouse, I know what it’s like to stand firm in who I am and push back against the status quo. Healing my own relationship with food gave me the confidence and passion to help other people in their journeys. I love supporting LGBTQ folks as they find their own voice and define what they want out of their lives.
I’ve learned to resist the societal pressures that got in the way of my happiness. I can help you do that too.
When you talk about hating your body, I won’t suggest exercise and diet tips.At the same time, I won’t pressure you to love your body nor impose my vision of recovery onto you. Instead, I’ll hold the space for your conflicting feelings from a place of curiosity and compassion.
Identify-affirming care and size inclusivity are values that guide my practice. I maintain awareness of how our lived experiences differ, and that I’ll never know what it’s like to be you. I do my best to meet you where you are, and show up with honesty.
Together, we’ll use art therapy, IFS, and practical strategies to help you get space from your thoughts and feelings so you can understand them more clearly. I use creative approaches that bypass our analytical brains and connect to our emotions in a deeper way. I believe that sustainable change comes from you, and our work is helping you unlock your inner capacity to heal.
LGBTQ Mental Health Services in Philadelphia & Online Across PA
Art Therapy
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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.
You don’t need to be good at art to benefit from art therapy.
IFS
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Parts can show up as feelings, thoughts, memories and bodily sensations. The movie, Inside Out, is a great example of how parts work.
IFS is truly a compassion-based model that views all of your parts with good intentions. Even the parts that lead to more challenging behaviors like disordered eating, doomscrolling, and lashing out.
Together, we’ll connect with your parts and explore how they work. In many cases, parts are like workaholics trying so hard to get a job done. As you get to know your parts, you’ll see opportunities to heal painful experiences from 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.
Eating Disorder Therapy
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I offer nuanced, identity affirming care that is truly collaborative and client-led. Social justice and weight inclusive care guide my practice. I believe that the oppressive systems in our world play a major role in how we feel in our bodies and how we approach food. It’s all connected. My approach to this work is somatic and creative, using IFS, art therapy, and relational approaches to help you get to the root of your eating disorder.
Specialized therapy in society hill, philadelphia and pa
Support for Partners and Spouses of Transgender Individuals
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.
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 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
You'll have more fulfilling relationships and you'll be ready to face life’s challenges without relying on habits that no longer serve you. You’ll understand yourself better, and feel more in control of your life.
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.
