KYLA FOX, MSW, RSW
FOUNDER & CLINICAL THERAPIST
In my late teens and for years thereafter, I struggled severely with anorexia and an over-exercise addiction. I was in desperate need of medical and therapeutic attention. Due to the lack of immediate and ongoing services available in Toronto for those affected by eating disorders, I could not get the help I needed. I was put on 6-12 month wait lists for treatment and saw countless medical professionals who had very limited eating disorder knowledge and most, I felt, lacked concern for my life-threatening situation. I was told to take medication or I was simply told to “eat”.
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Because of my lack of options, I had to learn how to recover on my own – something no one should have to go through. When I was well enough, I enrolled back into University where I was determined to study to become the therapist that I would have always wanted to have had myself.
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Over the many years I have been practicing, I’ve dreamt about a way to bridge the gaps in our Toronto system for those affected by eating disorders. The Kyla Fox Centre is the opportunity for people to have clinical therapy and holistic healing right when they need it. It is the opportunity for people to receive treatment from those who deeply understand eating disorders and from those who have immense compassion for those who suffer. It is the opportunity for people to choose the way(s) in which they want to heal so that it meets their personal needs. It is the opportunity to recover. The Kyla Fox Centre is everything that I believe recovery should be about and I hope you will feel the same.
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Kyla is a Master’s level clinician with degrees from both the University of Toronto in the Master’s of Social Work program as well as an Honors Bachelor of Arts Degree in Women’s Studies. Kyla is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers and is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She is also a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders and the National Eating Disorders Association.
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Before opening the Kyla Fox Centre in February of 2012, Kyla spent almost a decade in private practice along with running groups in the field. She is a public speaker, writer, educator, advocate and media expert for eating disorders. Because of the years of silence in her suffering, Kyla has made it her mission to get loud about changing the way we understand eating disorders in our culture.
NOELLA TAYLOR MA, RSW
CLINICAL SUPERVISOR & THERAPIST
How did you get here?
In my 30+ year career as a therapist, I have worked in many different settings
supporting clients and their families to address a wide range of issues. Through this
work, I have come to realize that clinicians are more effective at helping others if they
take care of themselves and have the support that they need to learn and grow in their
professional practice. While I continue to love working directly with clients and families, more and more of my work has focused on program development, mentoring, and leading teams of clinicians. I am passionate in my belief that every clinician deserves the opportunity for strong mentorship, coaching, and guidance to enhance their skill and enjoy better outcomes for their clients. As a clinical supervisor, I deeply enjoy working with other clinicians as they reflect on their practice and bring their passion and authentic self to their work with clients. That is what I bring to the amazing team at the Kyla Fox Centre.
Noella is a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s degree in Psychology from the
University of Toronto and an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from
Western University. Noella is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers. She has worked in many settings including corrections, in-patient and outpatient treatment, and private practice to address addiction and mental health concerns. In addition, Noella has worked extensively with couples and families whose loved one is struggling with mental health and/or addiction.
Why do you love working at the Centre?
Being a part of a strong leadership team is energizing and gratifying. I am so pleased to
work with such a dedicated treatment team who are passionate about the important and impactful work that they do. The warm collegial atmosphere at the Kyla Fox Centre is a wonderful balance with the highly ethical and professional standard of care that is evident at the centre. I love the holistic, immersive, and personalized experience that allows clients and their families to get their lives back.
ALEX BECKER RP
PSYCHOTHERAPIST
How did you get here?
I struggled with perfectionism and pressure to perform at an elite level – which showed up in my athletic career as overtraining and restricting. When my athletic career ended, I grasped at things outside myself to define me or deem my self-worth. I held onto my restrictive eating patterns to maintain structure and familiarity while I attempted to transition into a more balanced life. As my relationship with myself strengthened and became more balanced my relationship with food became healthier and more stable as well.
For the past few years, I have worked in a treatment centre for adolescents struggling with addiction. I recognized the added challenge that comes when manifested in food behaviours since it is something that can’t be totally eliminated. As I worked more closely with individuals who struggled in relationship with food, I learned that food was often the solution to something going on internally. In supporting clients in connecting to themselves and exploring all their wonderful qualities they began looking within for answers.
Why do you love working at the Centre?
I love the holistic and integrative approach at the centre. While the treatment at the center honours the relationship with food and body it extends to digging into the root of the issues. I find this approach to be the most impactful and sustaining when working with eating disorders. Additionally, since the centre is an immersed outpatient program, a client can practice a new way of living in the environment that they will continue to live post-treatment. Lastly, I love the collaborative approach that allows us to put our heads together to find the most helpful treatment for each client while learning and growing as clinicians too.
How did you get here?
As a child, I absorbed so many lessons, rules, and fears about food and weight shared by the adults and other kids around me. These lodged in the back of my mind, and I didn’t question them until many years later when I was working at a University counselling centre. I was surprised at the number of students who came through my office that had been experiencing eating disorders for years and struggling in silence. In order to support these students, I signed up for trainings, and read and listened to as many resources as I could find. Learning about the effects of diet culture and fatphobia on women and girls was a light bulb moment for me. As I learned more about the relationship of shame, trauma, and connectedness to eating disorder symptoms, I became passionate about healing these wounds on an individual and community level.
I completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Queen’s University and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Adler University. I am currently completing a Body Trust® Provider certification.
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Why do you love working at the Centre?
I enjoy working at the centre with such passionate and kind colleagues and I appreciate our comprehensive approach to recovery. The thorough circle of care, wrap-around therapeutic services offered to clients, and the flexible and personalized treatment plan over a generic one-size-fits-all. I feel energized working alongside individuals whose approach is anti-diet, weight-inclusive, and trauma-informed.
STEPHANIE PHILLIPS, RP
PSYCHOTHERAPIST
How did you get here?
During my undergraduate Nutrition degree at Ryerson University, my view of nutrition shifted from a weight-central to a weight-neutral approach after being educated on Health At Every Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating within my own recovery. These paradigm-shifting concepts changed my entire view of food, nutrition, weight, and health. Throughout my Master’s in Health Science, I dedicated my research and clinical training to the treatment of eating disorders from a nutritional and holistic lens. My goal as a practitioner is to help clients heal their relationship with food and their bodies so that they can reclaim their mental energy and spend it on living a life according to their truest values. I am a Registered Dietitian with the College of Dietitians of Ontario, a regulatory body of allied health professionals.
Why do you love working at the Centre?
Being a part of the transformations that clients experience through the trajectory of recovery is the most fulfilling work I could imagine. If you had told me when I first decided to pursue nutrition if eating disorders would be the area I’d end up working in, I might not have believed you- but now, I can’t picture my life any other way.
BRITTANY ALLISON, RD, MHSc
REGISTERED DIETITIAN
LAUREN HOFSTEE RD
REGISTERED DIETICIAN
How did you get here?
I always knew that I wanted to be in a helping profession, so connecting that with my love of food inspired me to go into the field of dietetics. I have a passion for connecting with all kinds of people and have developed this through working with a community health centre, an organization in Guelph that provides resources to people in need, and a local neighbourhood group. I believe that food is so much more than just what we put into our bodies, and that everyone deserves to eat without feeling guilt or shame. My goal is to use a weight-free, health at every size perspective to support people on their recovery journey. I am a Registered Dietitian with the College of Dietitians of Ontario and have a Master's degree from the University of Guelph.
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Why do you love working at the Centre?
Being part of clients' recovery journey is some of the most rewarding work I could imagine! Working with such a wonderful and holistic team of people, and supporting each individual client to find peace with food is what drew me to working at the centre.
KELSEY DRHA RHN
HOLISTIC NUTRITIONIST
How did you get here?
I have always been drawn to food through cooking, learning about nutrition & of course long strolls through the grocery store! But my relationship with food has not always been positive. From a young age I struggled with anxiety, digestive issues, body image & low self esteem. In my attempts to ‘control’ my seemingly chaotic environment I resorted to restrictive disordered eating patterns that hindered both my physical health and my mental health. These all-consuming maladaptive practices prevented me from living life to the fullest capacity.
I spent many years navigating various ways of eating and focused solely on nutrition to heal my body. But it wasn’t until I started looking at my being as a WHOLE (i.e. mental, physical, emotional, spiritual), that I started seeing profound change. I began practicing yoga and incorporating various modalities that assisted with managing stress, coping with anxiety, healing my relationship with food, breaking through self-limiting beliefs, and moving my body in a healthy way to encourage healing from a holistic approach. I truly believe that healing is a lifelong journey and that the journey looks different for everyone. Although our journeys are unique & curated, I believe it requires effort from a physical, mental, emotional & spiritual level. It is such an honour to be walking alongside folks who are exploring their healing journey.
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Why do you love working at the Centre?
My passion is for supporting others on a healing journey that is deeply rooted. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to work in a field that provides people a space to grow, transform and heal in a safe, compassionate and inclusive way. I believe that you don’t have to go about healing alone, it takes a community to support each other. The Kyla Fox Centre is exactly that; a community. It’s a multidisciplinary team of passionate, empathic and dedicated individuals who want to see others heal & thrive. I resonate with and fully believe in the holistic approach to care that the Kyla Fox Centre is built on. It’s an absolute honour to be part of this loving group of individuals.
JILLIAN MURPHY ND
NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR
How did you get here?
In my late teens I developed an addiction to running and a condition we now call orthorexia (obsession with healthy eating). It wasn’t well understood back in 2001 and I had a terrible time finding anyone who’d acknowledge that what I was going through was a problem. I just didn’t fit any of the boxes… so I had to climb my way out of that on my own. It was long and challenging, especially as I was studying naturopathic medicine – a profession I love but that tends to perpetuate toxic, weight-centred, health and wellness beliefs. 20 years, a partner, and two kids later I’m proud to say that I’ve worked my way through my food and body issues and I genuinely enjoying living life in this body of mine. I move for JOY, I eat because food is delicious, connecting, and pleasurable, and I’ve focused my naturopathic practice on helping those with food and body issues pursue health from a Health at Every Size perspective.
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Dr. Jillian Murphy is a registered, licensed Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, having completed the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine’s four-year postgraduate program in 2006. Prior to attending CCNM, Dr. Murphy graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor’s degree in Science and Kinesiology. Jillian’s background includes 10 years of general naturopathic practice and over 8 years of working with adults and children in various fields, including intuitive eating and body image. Jillian has dedicated the past 10 years to studying the psychology of eating, the relationship between weight and health, intuitive eating, and the most in-the-know strategies for exiting the diet cycle. She has additional training in CBT and coaching, studying under Ellyn Satter for two years. Jillian works from a Health At Every Size (HAES) perspective.
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Why do you love working at the Centre?
I love working on a team! Everything is so much better with friends, amirite?
After working alone for years it feels amazing to be able to collaborate, providing the highest level of care possible.
MICHELLE KARKIC
EMBODIMENT PRACTITIONER , YOGA + MEDITATION TEACHER
How did you get here?
As a sensitive and intuitive soul I truly have always been interested in the mind, body and soul connection. After working for 4 years in a more traditional marketing work environment it became very clear that a less linear, more health focussed, career was calling me and so I began my study of yoga. Since 2010 I have been fully immersed in the study, practice and teaching of yoga and meditation and have completed numerous training’s in various styles. In addition I’ve also spent many years managing Yoga studios as I love the community aspect of this work and truly believe in the power of community. In 2019 I completed a postgraduate certificate training in Relational Therapy, Somatic Therapy and Energy Healing. I have also studied Astrology and a system called Human Design as I find these modalities to be very helpful in understanding and accepting oneself.
Through my own healing journey I have come to really understand that much of my own suffering and dis-ease was in large part due to a deep disconnection from my body or a dis-embodiment. This showed up in numerous ways, such as disordered eating and so much of my personal work has been to connect with my body as the pathway back to reconnect with my true self. This helped me to develop a self love and care that was tangible and practical. My hope as an embodiment practitioner is to help support others in connecting to their bodies, and themselves and in doing so begin to develop a deep and loving acceptance of oneself.
Why do you love working at the Centre?
I truly believe in the power of community and that we cannot grow and heal alone. The principles of the center and its holistic approach to recovery and healing really touches on these aspects at its core. I love how the client has access to so many practitioners. This gives such a broad and deep experience of different modalities, personalities , relationships and support systems of all kinds. What’s amazing is that as a practitioner I too benefit from the community and the wealth of knowledge experience and support of the whole team.
NATALIA BIENIEK RHN
CLINICAL CARE MANAGER
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How did you get here?
My passion for holistic health began with my own challenges around disordered eating. Having to navigate this on my own was what led me to pursue a career in holistic health and continue self-study around trauma, and the body and mind connection.
My continuous self study and inquiry has propelled my education and inquisition. Eating disorders are so prevalent in today's society and to many are a coping mechanism they need help out of. ​
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Why do you love working at the Centre?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my career is witnessing the profound changes in our clients.
The centre embodies what it means to have holistic care. It bridges the gap for many people who experience fragmented support. You can truly feel the passion, care and integrity of each practitioner.
Lastly, I love that our Centre is committed to providing ongoing support for our clients even after they complete their initial treatment plan. Their continuity of care ensures that clients have the resources and care to thrive.