About Me
MY STORY
Kathrin Bentley
If you’ve ever felt stuck in an endless loop of dieting, bingeing, and self-criticism, I understand. I used to believe that if I could just “be good” and have more willpower, everything would fall into place. But after years of trying to control food, I learned that real freedom comes from a completely different approach.
My Struggle with Food and Body Image
Like many, my relationship with food became difficult in my teenage years. I started over-exercising and drastically cutting back on food, only to binge in the evenings. The harder I tried to stay in control, the worse things became.
I found myself trapped in a relentless cycle: restrict more, exercise harder – yet still binge. Each morning, I’d wake up feeling guilty, promising to do better. But by evening, the pattern would repeat.
I turned to therapy, including CBT, hoping for answers. While these approaches helped me understand my behaviours, they never truly freed me from them. At best, they helped me manage the struggle – but I wanted more than just coping.
The Turning Point: A New Perspective on Eating
Then I came across Geneen Roth’s work. For the first time, someone described exactly what I was experiencing. Instead of telling me to “try harder” or “just eat less,” she introduced an entirely new idea:
My eating habits weren’t the real problem – they were my body’s way of coping with deeper struggles I hadn’t yet learned to process.
That insight changed everything. I began to see my binge eating, restriction, and food obsession not as failures of willpower but as survival responses. Instead of focusing on control, I shifted towards curiosity and understanding. That’s when everything started to change.
Becoming a trauma- informed Coach: A New Path to Healing
Having finally found freedom, I wanted to help others do the same. But back then, there was no formal training in Eating Psychology.
Fast forward 20 years – during lockdown in 2020, I discovered the Institute for the Psychology of Eating in the USA. Their approach deeply resonated with me, so I immediately enrolled. After eight months of intensive training, I became a certified Mind Body Eating Coach.
It was exactly what I had been searching for – a structured, science-backed way to help people heal their relationship with food. But as I started working with clients, I noticed something important:
Many people truly wanted to change, yet something unseen seemed to hold them back. It was as if their bodies were stuck in old patterns of stress, fear, or shame.
That’s when I realised food struggles weren’t just about mindset – they were also about the nervous system.
The Missing Piece: Healing Through the Nervous System
To support my clients on a deeper level, I trained with the Centre for Healing in Australia and became a certified Embodied Processing Practitioner.
This trauma-informed, body-based approach helps people process and release difficult life experiences stored in the nervous system – experiences that often drive compulsive eating patterns.
- When our nervous system is stuck in stress mode (fight-or-flight), our eating habits reflect it.
- Real healing comes from learning to regulate the nervous system, process emotions, and rebuild trust with the body.
Once I brought this work into my coaching, everything shifted. Clients who had felt stuck for years finally began to experience genuine freedom around food – not through willpower, but through deep healing.
How I Can Help You
I know how exhausting it is to feel trapped in food struggles, blaming yourself for “failing” another diet. But let me reassure you:
- You are not broken.
- You don’t need more willpower.
- You just need a different approach.
Healing your relationship with food isn’t just about what’s on your plate – it’s about working with your body, not against it.
If you’re ready to break free, let’s talk.
How I Can Help You
I know how exhausting it is to feel trapped in food struggles, blaming yourself for “failing” another diet. But let me reassure you:
You are not broken.
You don’t need more willpower.
You just need a different approach.
Healing your relationship with food isn’t just about what’s on your plate – it’s about working with your body, not against it.
If you’re ready to break free, let’s talk.
Ready to take the first step toward food freedom?
If this resonates with you, I invite you to take your next step forward. Book a free 20-minute discovery call to explore how I can support you on your journey to food freedom and self-compassion. I’d love to connect with you.