Emily Ciepcielinski, PhD, LPCS, CEDS

Emily Ciepcielinski, PhD, LPCS, CEDS Eating Disorders & Anxiety Specialist Providing counseling and counselor supervision services in the Charlotte, NC area.

Areas of clinical specialty include: eating disorders and the full range of disordered eating (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, chronic dieting, etc.), body image struggles, self-compassion and self-identity work, anxiety and depressive disorders, and general women’s wellness and stress management issues.

➡️When we struggle with body image, it’s rarely just about the body. It’s about messages and experiences we internalized...
11/20/2025

➡️When we struggle with body image, it’s rarely just about the body. It’s about messages and experiences we internalized early on that left us feeling like we needed to “use” the body to cope. In response to painful experiences and emotions related to our bodies and looks (or just a lot of focus or pressure on them), we develop “parts” inside of us that protect us from the pain. Enter the body critic, the “looks perfectionist”, the constant comparison-maker, the self objectifier, the health/fitness fanatic, etc.

➡️These parts step in because we’re terrified of being unloved, rejected, or “not enough” when it comes to our bodies or appearance. These parts attempt to numb us from this pain or prevent it all cost.

➡️And beneath them? Those parts holding the old, unprocessed pain - memories of being teased or bullied, times where others equated worth with appearance, or feelings of powerlessness when it comes to our bodies…

➡️Healing begins when we stop judging our parts and start listening. When we offer compassion to the protectors and safety/healing/needs-being-met to the exiles, the whole system shifts. 🤍

What would you add to the graphic above?👇🏼

🗣️Sometimes the hardest part of communicating our needs isn’t the words… it’s what’s happening inside while we’re trying...
11/18/2025

🗣️Sometimes the hardest part of communicating our needs isn’t the words… it’s what’s happening inside while we’re trying to say them. (And then subsequently losing our words! 🫠)

DEAR MAN is a classic DBT skill — but when we layer in somatic awareness + parts work, something shifts. We’re not just stating needs… we’re also leading from Self while tending to the parts that fear conflict, rejection, or being “too much.”

In this version, you pause to notice:
✨ Which parts are here?
✨ How does my body feel right now?
✨ Can I let Self lead with clarity and compassion?
✨Can I stay in communication and find a flexible solution without abandoning myself or my parts?

This is how communication becomes embodied, grounded, and actually effective.
It’s how we honor our needs without abandoning our selves and our many parts.

If this resonates, save this post for the next time you’re moving through a difficult conversation. And with the holidays approaching, it’s bound to happen sooner rather than later! 😉 ❤️

11/13/2025

📢They say this is about toddler/young kids “playing” with skin care… But let’s be clear, not all “play” is created equally, nor does all play serve or empower our children...

👉🏻As a body image and eating disorder specialist, I get concerned when products marketed to toddlers start nudging kids toward self-consciousness instead of a positive connection with their bodies and inner sense of self.

👉🏻Ideally, play is “embodied” - rooted in the present moment, fostering a strong mind/body connection, focused on the process, not the outcome. Not performative or focused on what others think. Not so appearance-based. Not an early invitation to overly focus on how they look.

👉🏻Healthy play, ideally, is also intrinsically motivated. And when we encourage our kids to listen in to what naturally brings them pleasure and joy, we help create a stronger sense of self, or identity, for them. We honor their own “inner knowing”.

Embodiment, and a low self-conscious/self-critical nature, along with a strong identity can be powerful buffers against poor body image and disordered eating. Let’s protect that. 💜

🗣️Let me tell you a little story…👆❤️Save this for when you need a reminder that they’re truly no bad parts- they ALL hav...
11/11/2025

🗣️Let me tell you a little story…👆

❤️Save this for when you need a reminder that they’re truly no bad parts- they ALL have a purpose and information to share. Healing means listening in with compassion and curiosity, and decoding their deeper needs (and then meeting them!).

Therapists, I love “us” 💛 and we’re human. Thank goodness. 🙌 That means our own parts are bound to step into the room. T...
11/06/2025

Therapists, I love “us” 💛 and we’re human. Thank goodness. 🙌 That means our own parts are bound to step into the room. The Fixer, the Controller, the Critic, the Perfect Therapist… they all mean well.

Remember- no “part” is bad. Each one is trying to protect or help in its own way. It only becomes tricky when a part takes over—getting extreme, purely reactive, or just standing in the way of our client’s process.

The work isn’t to banish these parts (or get down on ourselves!) but to notice, unblend, and lead from our deepest wisdom/true self with the same compassion we offer our clients. (And clearly, this list isn’t exhaustive!)

✨ Which therapist part shows up for you most often? Questions about any of those listed? Or what would you add?? 👇🏼

💭 Ever wonder if your relationship with food has become more stressful than supportive? This checklist breaks down the p...
11/05/2025

💭 Ever wonder if your relationship with food has become more stressful than supportive?

This checklist breaks down the physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral signs that might signal disordered eating — even if it doesn’t “look” like a “typical” eating disorder.

👉 Save this post to come back to later, and follow .emilyciep for more guidance on healing your relationship with food, body, and self.

We often try to DO our way out of overwhelm- adding structure, lists, and productivity hacks.But what our nervous system...
11/04/2025

We often try to DO our way out of overwhelm- adding structure, lists, and productivity hacks.

But what our nervous system is craving is actually the direct opposite: spaciousness, rest, stillness, doing nothing at all and moments of lightness.

This was a REALLY hard concept for me to “get”. (And I still need frequent reminders.)

I had to really understand that while play and stillness can feel “frivolous” or like a “waste” in the moment (“I have way too much to do to sit still or just enjoy myself! I’ll just feel more stressed!”), it’s truly the only way to give your body the reset necessary to move forward.
This type of approach brings us back to ourselves. We’ll never get out from under our overwhelm if we just pour more frenzy, urgency, and pressure on top of it. We’ll just stuck in the cycle of it all. 🤯

✨ Try this today: schedule 10 minutes of unstructured time. No goals. No tasks. Just be.

Let me know how it goes! Drop it in the comments below👇

📚 And follow me, .emilyciep for more nervous system resets + real-world overwhelm antidotes.

🤯When you’re overwhelmed, your body is doing its best to protect you — but it can also make it hard to remember what act...
11/04/2025

🤯When you’re overwhelmed, your body is doing its best to protect you — but it can also make it hard to remember what actually helps.

That’s where a regulation menu comes in.

It’s a personalized list of activities that help your nervous system feel safe again — things that work for YOUR # body, not just sound good on paper.

💫 Swipe to build your own, using categories like:

Move • Soothe • Connect • Ground • Express

This isn’t about doing all the things — it’s about remembering what helps you come back to yourself.

Save this post to start creating your own regulation menu today. ❤️

📣One of the biggest reasons we stay stuck in painful cycles: not correctly identifying the needs of our exile parts AND ...
10/30/2025

📣One of the biggest reasons we stay stuck in painful cycles: not correctly identifying the needs of our exile parts AND not meeting those needs.

When we begin to do that - that’s when true healing starts to unfold. 💛

These parts don’t need “fixing”; they need care and “witnessing”. They need safety, compassion, and connection. ❤️

🎃Halloween can be a great opportunity to practice trusting our bodies and our kids’ cues — but intuitive eating doesn’t ...
10/29/2025

🎃Halloween can be a great opportunity to practice trusting our bodies and our kids’ cues — but intuitive eating doesn’t look the same for every child.

Some kids thrive with a totally hands-off approach — they can self-regulate when given full access to candy.
Others (often those who are neurodivergent or more sensitive to various forms of stimulation) may need a bit more structure and co-regulation to feel safe and balanced.

There’s no one-size-fits-all way to do this. Body-confident parenting means staying curious about your child’s unique needs, modeling trust, and removing shame from the equation. 🧡

Check out these 10 things you can say this Halloween to nurture a positive, flexible relationship with food and body.

What would you add to the list? 👇🏼

👋Hello! Thought I’d introduce myself again since there’s a lot of new faces around here. I’m Dr. Emily Ciepcielinski — a...
10/28/2025

👋Hello! Thought I’d introduce myself again since there’s a lot of new faces around here. I’m Dr. Emily Ciepcielinski — a licensed clinical mental health counselor and supervisor, as well as a certified eating disorder specialist and consultant.
 
I’ve spent over two decades in my profession, and I continue to love my career! There’s always more to learn and explore- truly never a dull day. My current work centers on eating disorders, body image, and anxiety, and I’m passionate about teaching parents how to raise kids who feel confident and at peace in their bodies and minds. I love blending science, compassion, and real-life practicality in everything I do — whether that’s in the therapy room, teaching/consulting with other professionals, or creating resources that make mental health support more accessible
 
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me spending time with my family (mainly on the soccer field!). I’ve been married to Drew for 18 years, and I’m mom to Sophia (13), Adeline (10), and Wyatt (5). We also have a golden doodle, Charlie, who’s 6.
 
➡️Reach out if you are in NC or SC and need individual therapy for anxiety or eating challenges (I see clients 16+).

➡️If you are a professional seeking to obtain a CEDS (Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Credential through IADEP, the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals), I’d love to chat! I also provide regular professional consultation to other mental health professionals who want to expand their clinical skills and expertise.
 
➡️Through a company I formed in 2024, LiftingUp Together, LLC, I also provide digital courses and tools for better mental health. My first course, Body Confident Parenting, is instantly downloadable and accessible- see link in bio.
 
🤍I’m so glad you’re here. Thanks for being part of this ongoing conversation about mental health — and for being part of a community that’s committed to growth, healing, and creating a healthy and empowered legacy for future generations.









💭 Ever look back on a reaction or problematic behavior and think, “Why did I do that?!” In therapy, we often use a Behav...
10/23/2025

💭 Ever look back on a reaction or problematic behavior and think, “Why did I do that?!”

In therapy, we often use a Behavior Chain Analysis to unpack what led up to a behavior — not to judge it, but to understand it better.

From a somatic + IFS lens, this process goes deeper:

✨ We trace the body’s cues, not just our thoughts.
✨ We notice which parts of us stepped in to protect.
✨ We connect with the intention behind the behavior, not the shame.

Because every reaction makes sense when we understand the “chain”— the sensations, emotions, and protective strategies trying to keep us safe.

Healing happens when we bring curiosity, compassion, and understanding to the moment we lost connection with Self.

🫶🏼 This is how insight turns into integration.

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6135 Park South Drive Suite 130
Charlotte, NC
28210

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Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm

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