Today we’d like to introduce you to Tess Patterson.
Hi Tess, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was an athlete growing up. Being active and moving my body was a huge part of my childhood. It was how I escaped stress and where I went to feel most myself. As I ventured into college, I decided to pave a new path and leave my athletic career behind me. Amidst a lot of other stressors and a 12-hr drive from home, I was isolated and spiraled into an eating disorder. I was always a huge foodie growing up too, so control on my food was foreign, but it felt like the way I could control the other chaos around me. Thanks to the love of my parents and family, I was asked to seek professional guidance in my recovery, and that changed everything for me. Through the guidance of an eating disorder therapist and dietitian, I was able to find my voice and see food once again as it is intended to be-fun, connective, and enjoyable. At that moment, I knew I wanted to give that freedom to others that was given to me by those two amazing professionals. So, I got my Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s of Science in Nutrition & Health Sciences, and minors in Psychology and Educational Psychology to work specifically with those struggling with eating disorders and body image. Through the 8 grueling years of hard sciences, neuroscience, and human physiology, I learned what it meant to fail, fall, and gain strength, tenacity, and resilience in the pursuit of something you love and are passionate about. So, I make it my purpose to give light to those struggling in the same way that others did for me in my darkest times.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As I mentioned before, this journey for me has been anything but smooth. It has been a road that was not necessarily built for me (would have never considered myself a huge math/science person and I have severe test anxiety), but it was 1000% the path that God paved for me. My passion for people and my gift of loving and understanding food science and molecular structure has been what’s carried me through the storms that have come my way on the journey to where I am now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specialized in eating disorder care, disordered eating, body image, intuitive eating, health at every size (HAES), and body inclusivity. Honestly, the thing I’m most proud of is being able to share space with some of the bravest, most vulnerable, and authentic people I have ever met in my life, and provide them hope that they didn’t necessarily believe existed or harbored in the depths of their being. It’s sweet to empower the people you grow to care so deeply about and see them flourish.
What do you think about happiness?
Being able to bring light into a dark space. Being able to provide people with hope. My faith is extremely important to me and being able to show people who Christ is, how He loves us, and how he designed us intricately and purposefully is the thing that lights me up the most and gets me out of bed in the morning. People matter. And it brings me the most joy to get to show people who they truly are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://foodfreedomtherapy.com/tess/
- Instagram: tesstalksfood
