Beyond the Scale: What Real Eating Disorder Recovery Actually Looks Like with Dr Dany McCurdy-McKinnon

Send us Fan MailWhat if recovery isn’t about the number on a scale—but whether life starts working again?That question anchors our conversation with Dr. Dany McCurdy-McKinnon, a Los Angeles psychologist who blends neuroscience, trauma-informed therapy, and coordinated team-based care to treat complex eating disorders—and is now developing a carefully designed AI tool to extend support between sessions.We trace Dany’s path from neuroimaging research to leading a specialist practice and how shifting economics and the closure of academic units forced many clinicians to rethink access. She explains how cash-pay demand declined after COVID while low-cost therapy platforms surged—and why patients often can’t see the difference between convenience and true specialist care.Dany challenges persistent myths: eating disorders affect all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Traits like perfectionism, overcontrol, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation can increase vulnerability—but, when channelled through DBT and Radically Open DBT, can also become strengths in recovery.We explore why she prioritises functionality—returning to school or work, eating with friends, fewer crisis calls—over weight-focused metrics. She outlines the importance of coordinated care led by the psychotherapist alongside a GP, dietitian, and psychiatrist, and highlights underserved groups including gender-diverse clients and perimenopausal women.On technology, Dany shares how her AI therapist is built with strict guardrails: narrow clinical scope, protocol-driven design, de-identified training inputs, and a required human component through live roundtables and optional sessions.If you care about eating disorder recovery, clinician sustainability, and ethical mental health innovation, this episode offers a grounded look at what works: clear boundaries, coordinated teams, expanded access through trainees and selective insurance, and technology that supports—not replaces—human connection.Guest BiographyDr. Dany McCurdy-McKinnon, PhD, is a Los Angeles–based licensed psychologist specialising in neurobiological approaches to eating disorders. She is the founder of DMM Clinic and Calai Health, where she integrates neuroscience, trauma-informed therapy, and whole-person care to treat complex eating disorders across the lifespan.She emphasises coordinated, multidisciplinary care and believes recovery extends far beyond weight restoration—focusing instead on functionality, relationships, and long-term resilience. She is currently developing an AI-supported platform designed to expand access to specialty-informed care while preserving human connection.Links 🌐 https://dmmeatingdisordersclinic.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmccurdymckinnon/Subscribe on SubstackVoices in Health and Wellness is published on Substack, as part of The Diagnostician. Every episode lands there with written notes and reflections you won't find in the podcast feed. Free to subscribe.👉 https://thediagnostician.substack.com/s/voices-in-health-and-wellnessAbout the podcastVoices in Health and Wellness features conversations at the intersection of medicine, lifestyle, and human potential, with clinicians, scientists, and thinkers shaping the future of care.About Dr Andrew GreenlandUK-based medical doctor and founder of Greenland Medical, specialising in Integrative and Functional Medicine. Trained in both conventional and root-cause approaches, Andrew helps people optimise health, performance, and longevity, with a focus on cognitive resilience and healthy ageing.