Amalie Lee (MSc, GMBPsS)
Hi, my name is Amalie! I'm an experienced eating disorder recovery coach with a background in Psychology. Frustrated with the lack of easy-to-understand, science-backed eating disorder information online, I started Let's Recover during my own recovery from Anorexia Nervosa over a decade ago. In addition to coaching, I host the podcast 'Recovery Talk', and write the Substack newsletter 'Let's Recover'. You can find me on Instagram at @amalielee and @letsrecover.co.uk.
I'm especially interested in the bio-psychology and evolutionary basis of eating disorders. Areas of speciality include extreme hunger (bingeing during/after restriction), restoring metabolic health and the cognitive impact of starvation.
Please note I currently have a waitlist for 1-1 coaching. I also host regular group coaching programmes - to get notified when individual coaching- or group spots are available email me at [email protected].
Education & Experience:
• Master of Sciences (MSc) in Psychology, Kingston University London. For my thesis I conducted a qualitative study on treatment experiences of patients with post-starvation hyperphagia (extreme hunger) in eating disorder recovery.
• Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) (GMBPsS).
• Trained in coaching from Norwegian Business School BI. I completed my final essay on coaching as a tool in eating disorder recovery.
• APT-certified in Acceptance- and commitment therapy (ACT).
• BA in marketing, Regent's University, with an emphasis on body positive- and LGBTQ+ inclusive marketing.
• Host of the popular recovery podcast 'Recovery Talk' since 2021.
• 10+ years of experience with everything eating disorder recovery and running Let's Recover.
• Speaking appearances include the Oxford University Psychological Society and BBC Radio, and media appearances include NBC Today Show, Cosmopolitan, Fox News, Mirror, New York Times & The Daily Mail.
✉️ For coaching, professional enquiries or media related enquiries, contact me at [email protected]. Please note I do not have capacity to answer recovery related questions or offer recovery related support for non-clients.
My Approach
Having been trained in a wide variety of therapeutic methods, I use an integrative approach, mainly using elements from CBT/DBT, ACT and traditional coaching. I believe that knowledge is power, hence psycho-education is also a part of my coaching. As a post-graduate eating disorder researcher I take special interest into the bio-psychology and neurology of eating disorders. I firmly believe that understanding the biology of eating disorders is key in tackling them, and that this bit is often neglected in traditional therapy.
My approach is holistic and person-centered. I believe everybody is different, meaning I adjust the coaching to fit your individual needs, seeing you as a full person with a unique story, not just a diagnosis. I fiercely believe in autonomy and letting people have a say in their own treatment. As my client I listen to you, and work with you, not against you, and against your eating disorder together as a team. A unique aspect of my coaching is that I have lived experience recovering from an eating disorder myself. am open about this, although the focus of our sessions is you, I utilise my own recovery experience to better understand and empathise with my clients. When I say 'I get it', I truly do. Contrary to common beliefs about eating disorders, I believe that full recovery is possible for everyone (yes, you too!). I don't operate with labels such as 'chronic' or 'treatment resistant', instead I see some cases as trickier and longer lasting than others.
I view eating disorders as a famine response gone awry, which then gradually gets embedded in the brain, with various personal and societal factors causing further reinforcement/maintenance. In short: it's not your fault. I have a deep understanding and interest in the science and biology of eating disorders and recovery, and implement this frequently in my work. I do not believe eating disorders are personal choices, and disapprove of many of the mainstream stereotypes surrounding them and who they affect. An eating disorder truly can happen to anyone who has the genetic predisposition to it (genetics load the gun, environment pulls the trigger). I understand eating disorders are complex and challenging, with the recoverer often being ambivalent. I also fiercely believe and have repeatedly seen that full recovery is possible, yet a choice the person must make, and a commitment they must be willing to make - in good days, and bad.
I have special interest/experience with the following:
• Female hormonal health & endocrine conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and Hypothalamic Ammenorhea (HA)
• Metabolic health
• Joint hypermobility conditions (incl. HSD/EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
• Extreme hunger in eating disorder recovery
• Neurodiversity
Key Beliefs:
Health At Every Size (HAES): I believe that the BMI scale is an outdated measure, and instead of looking to reach an arbitrary number, I work with you on finding your natural set point weight range (yes, you have one, and yes, settling there is possible)
Anti-Diet: Diets don't work long-term, and my goal is for you to never go on a diet ever again.
All Foods Fit: I work with adding in foods, not taking them away, and reject moralizing foods as good or bad. Health is relative!
Intuitive Eating (IE): Although IE may not be realistic for all in early in recovery (click here to learn why), I see it as the end goal of recovery, and work with you on getting there, free from plans and rules.
Extreme Hunger (EH): I have a science-based, biological view on post-restriction binge eating as opposed to viewing it solely through a psychological lens. I believe EH is a natural response to restriction, and that mainstream therapeutic advice often neglects the powerful physiology behind it. Instead of focusing on 'suppressing the urges', I help clients reach a point where they have little to no urges to binge at all.
Relapse Prevention: I don't want you to be doing well just as we're working together, but forever. Relapse prevention and creating a plan moving forward is a key part of the work we do together.
"It Takes A Village": I believe that in many cases, a team of professionals is required, and I'm happy to work in team with parents, dieticians, doctors, psychotherapists etc.
Client Testimonials:
"As opposed to 'traditional' treatment, Amalie has a more forward-thinking and biological approach to eating disorders, and that is what has made coaching useful for me. (...) I’ve heard so many times that fully recovering from an eating disorder is impossible, but working with Amalie I’ve experienced that’s not true. I even managed to fully recover in less than a year."
- Former client, Norway
"Amalie is such a wonderful recovery coach - kind, understanding and incredibly knowledgeable. Having support from someone who is not only an expert in eating disorder recovery, but who has recovered from an eating disorder themselves, makes all the difference. Amalie truly understands what you are going through and her approach is holistic and human - rather than feeling like it’s just about eliminating the ED, she takes a well-rounded approach and helps you create a fuller, more joyful life. (...) One of my initial reservations about seeking treatment was that my existence would feel medicalised and I would be deemed ‘untreatable’ because of how long I had had an eating disorder for. That was absolutely not the case with Amalie - she completely put me at ease and although she is of course professional she is also very easy to talk to and have a laugh with."
- Former client, UK
"With Amalie I have never felt so committed to full recovery before. Suddenly I was really facing my biggest fears and not just talking about them: eating the burger, the pizza, the cake, the falafel sandwich. Tears and fighting, and crying over my changing body. But Amalie was here. Always. (...) During those 4 months I even sometimes felt like Beyonce on fire – great and empowered – and Amalie as my personal manager. There are just no words to describe, how thankful I am to Amalie. This woman just saved my life. She showed me, how full recovery can look like and that I can reach this too. She didn’t give up, I didn’t give up."
- Former client, Austria
Recent Podcast Appearances:
