Meet Lisa! Compassionate low-cost counselling ($50-90) for food, health, and body concerns
Lisa Rutledge, RP (Qualifying), Student Therapist at the Meilan Counselling Clinic
LISA RUTLEDGE (SHE/HER), REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST (QUALIFYING)
Exploring the Power of Integrative Therapy: A Holistic Approach to Healing
In today’s world, where mental health struggles intersect with various layers of identity, trauma, and societal pressure, it’s essential to find therapeutic approaches that don’t just treat the symptoms but also honor the whole person. This is where integrative therapy shines—especially when it’s framed through a compassionate, humanistic lens. For those who seek a nurturing and supportive environment, finding a therapist who values the complexities of the individual is a transformative experience.
Lisa Rutledge, RP (Qualifying) is a masters-level counselling student offering low-fee services at the Meilan Counselling Clinic. She has professional experience as a Registered Dietitian, and she draws from humanistic, person-centred, and non-pathologizing approaches to create a space that promotes healing and self-discovery. With a special interest in working with adults facing challenges such as disordered eating, body image concerns, anti-fat bias, chronic illness, and neurodivergence, this Lisa’s holistic approach helps individuals reclaim their sense of self-worth, embrace their bodies, and cultivate a more compassionate relationship with their mental health.
What Sets This Therapist Apart?
Integrative therapy is not one-size-fits-all. It recognizes that each individual is unique, and so is their healing journey. By drawing from a variety of therapeutic modalities, Lisa combines tools and practices that align with each client’s needs and goals. Here are the key components that shape this therapeutic approach:
1. Humanistic & Person-Centred Approach:
At the heart of this therapy is the belief that each person has the inherent ability to grow, heal, and make positive changes in their life. By focusing on the client’s experiences, strengths, and values, Lisa creates a space that emphasizes self-empowerment, self-compassion, and personal autonomy. This approach encourages clients to explore their emotions and identities without fear of judgment or criticism.
2. Non-Pathologizing Framework:
Traditional therapy models often lean toward labeling or diagnosing individuals based on their struggles, which can sometimes lead to stigmatization. Lisa works from a non-pathologizing perspective, meaning she does not view clients through the lens of “fixing” or “curing” a mental health condition. Instead, clients are seen as whole individuals with complex emotions and lived experiences. This approach allows individuals to feel seen and heard, rather than defined by their challenges.
3. Social Justice Lens:
This therapist’s work is also firmly rooted in social justice, which means recognizing the societal factors that contribute to mental health struggles, such as systemic oppression, marginalization, and discrimination. Through this lens, therapy becomes a space not only for personal healing but also for exploring the societal structures that impact a person’s sense of self. Whether it’s addressing issues related to gender, race, sexuality, or body image, this therapist seeks to empower clients to challenge and heal from these external pressures.
Areas of Specialization: Tailored Support for Unique Challenges
Lisa understands the complexities surrounding certain challenges that many individuals face in their lives. A few key areas of her focus include:
1. Disordered Eating & Body Image:
For many individuals, their relationship with food and body image is intertwined with deep emotional and psychological struggles. The therapist’s weight-inclusive approach reframes conversations around food, weight, and body image in a non-judgmental, affirming way. This inclusive approach prioritizes a healthy, positive relationship with one’s body, free from harmful societal ideals of beauty or “perfection.” Clients are invited to heal from restrictive eating patterns and negative self-talk, developing healthier, more balanced behaviors.
2. Anti-Fat Bias:
Fatphobia is deeply ingrained in many cultures, leading individuals to internalize negative beliefs about themselves based on their body size. By using a weight-inclusive and trauma-informed approach, this therapist helps clients navigate and heal from anti-fat bias. The goal is to foster self-acceptance and resilience in the face of societal pressure, allowing clients to reject harmful stereotypes and embrace their bodies.
3. Chronic Illness:
Living with a chronic illness often means managing not only physical symptoms but also emotional distress, isolation, and stigma. The therapist’s approach offers support for individuals navigating the complex emotional landscape of chronic illness, with an emphasis on resilience, self-compassion, and adapting to one’s new reality. The therapist works collaboratively with clients to create coping strategies that respect their unique needs and experiences.
4. Neurodivergence:
Neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism, ADHD, and other neurological differences, often face unique mental health challenges. This therapist’s neurodivergence-affirming approach means that clients are seen, supported, and respected for who they are, without any attempt to “normalize” or “correct” them. Instead, therapy focuses on building skills, managing challenges, and celebrating neurodivergent strengths.
5. Healthcare Practitioners:
This therapist has specialized experience working with individuals who are healthcare practitioners themselves. These individuals often experience unique pressures and emotional stressors related to their work in high-demand fields. The therapist provides a safe, empathetic space where healthcare professionals can work through their own mental health challenges without fear of judgment or burnout.
Inclusive & Affirming: Creating a Safe Space for All
This therapist’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in the way they approach therapy. The practice is:
Weight-Inclusive: Therapy is grounded in the understanding that all bodies deserve respect, regardless of size, and that people of all body types are worthy of care and love.
Trauma-Informed: Recognizing that past trauma impacts current emotional and mental health, this approach emphasizes safety, trust, and healing.
Neurodivergent-Affirming: Clients who are neurodivergent are supported in embracing their neurological differences as valid and valuable.
LGBTQIA2+ Allied: A safe and affirming space is provided for individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities, with the therapist offering support that honors and validates diverse identities.
Why Choose LISA
Therapy is not just about addressing symptoms; it’s about creating space for growth, healing, and self-acceptance. By integrating a person-centred, humanistic, and non-pathologizing approach with a social justice lens, Lisa helps clients navigate complex emotional terrain, heal from societal wounds, and build a better, more affirming relationship with themselves.
Whether you are struggling with disordered eating, battling negative body image, facing the realities of chronic illness, or navigating life as a neurodivergent person, Lisa offers the compassionate, inclusive support you deserve. By embracing the whole person and offering a safe, supportive environment, this approach to therapy fosters true transformation—one that honors your unique journey, challenges, and triumphs.
Are you ready to embark on a path of healing and self-empowerment? If so, this therapist could be the support you’ve been looking for.