EP 127 EATING DISORDER: PAIN TO PURPOSE | In Conversation with Donna Friedman, MS, LPC

EP 127 EATING DISORDER: PAIN TO PURPOSE | In Conversation with Donna Friedman, MS, LPCWhat happens when the patient becomes the therapist—and uses her own pain to help others find hope? In this powerful episode of My Secret Life with an Eating Disorder, Maureen Kritzer-Lange welcomes Donna Friedman, MS, LPC, for a deeply personal conversation about anorexia, survival, and turning lived experience into professional purpose. Donna opens up about life-threatening illness, repeated hospitalizations, treatment that left her feeling dismissed, and the moment she recognized an eating disorder in her own son. Together, they explore the emotional realities behind the diagnosis, the pressures of social media, and why recovery looks different for everyone. Hear how one doctor’s unexpected words of compassion helped Donna feel truly seen—and why she refuses to give up on hope. Listen to the full episode for an honest conversation about finding your voice, reclaiming your life, and offering others the understanding you once needed.----------------Donna Friedman, MS, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, eating disorder advocate, and speaker who brings both clinical expertise and personal experience with anorexia to her work. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, she helps individuals and families navigate recovery with compassion and connection. Her message: every person’s recovery journey is unique, and a meaningful life beyond an eating disorder is possible.Donna founded the Medical University of South Carolina Center for Eating Disorders in 2016 and has served in leadership and advisory roles with organizations including the Academy for Eating Disorders and Project HEAL. Through her writing and speaking, she champions the importance of lived experience in clinical care—helping others understand the person beyond the diagnosis.Podcast Produced by: David Alan Kogut - Star Equity Group