About Tessa Gordon, (she/her), LMFT, RYT
Tessa Gordon, MA, LMFT, RYT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Yoga Teacher. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with her BA in Psychology from the University of Southern California, and her MA in Clinical Psychology from Phillips Graduate University. Tessa is certified Nia Instructor, Advanced Pole Instructor, certified Body Project facilitator, member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, the Academy of Eating Disorders, Facial Pain Association, ReAuthoring Teaching Community, DiversAbility Leadership Collective, Yoga for Eating Disorders community, and serves as board member and Secretary on the non-profit Eating Disorder Recovery Support. Invisible Disability warrior, eating disorder awareness advocate, and activist in the fight against weight stigma and body discrimination. Combining her clinical and lived experiences with her passion for social justice, Tessa works has been actively involved in the eating disorder field for over a decade and has provided therapy at a variety of community counseling centers and treatment facilities. Now in private practice she specializes in eating disorders, non-visible disabilities, chronic illnesses, neurodiversity, trauma, relationships and navigating unique challenges faced by those with lived experience and are now looking to move from client to clinician. As a registered Yoga, Nia, and Mindful Movement Instructor, Tessa helps people reclaim body-focused forms of movement by shifting language and intention to foster an inclusive and empowering environment for all bodies. Described by her clients as the anti-therapist, Tessa is passionate about working closely with individuals, and their loved ones to discover and connect to their hopes, values, passions, and interests, and support them in re-(dis)covering what their “anti-eating disorder” life will look like. In addition to her work as a therapist, Tessa provides training to other professionals on narrative therapy and eating disorders, the use of therapists lived experience and insider knowledge, as well as mind-body movement and its role in body image acceptance/tolerance. Additionally, Tessa has spoken about weight stigma and bias in healthcare, the therapeutic relationship, and advancing the field of eating disorder treatment. ADHDer, GPNwarrior, Spoonie, RecoverED, Solopreneur, Proud Plant Parent, and Dog mum to the BEST German shepherd ever, Aspen are just some of her multiple identities. Want to meet him? He makes appearances in her sessions, both over Zoom and Walk + Talk sessions. She loves hiking, yoga, aerial, peanut butter, sushi, carrot cake (her own recipe only) and bubble baths.
Breaking the Rules — To Break Free
Traditional therapeutic approaches often encourage structure, neutrality, and adherence to established frameworks. But when working with eating disorders and other high-stakes problems, these "rules" can inadvertently reinforce the very systems we are trying to dismantle. In this workshop, we will explore how clinicians can cultivate bravery by breaking the rules—strategically and ethically—to meet the intensity of the eating disorder head-on. Through real-life case examples, participants will examine when and why stepping outside conventional approaches is not just necessary but vital for client recovery.
Attendees will learn how to challenge outdated clinical norms, embrace radical honesty, and reject neutrality in favor of advocacy and direct intervention. The session will also explore the importance of therapist authenticity, creative interventions, and permission-giving to disrupt the eating disorder’s control. Experiential exercises will help clinicians identify their own limitations, fears, and biases about “doing therapy the right way,” while equipping them with new, unconventional methods to push back against the eating disorder’s cutthroat nature. This is a workshop for clinicians who are ready to step beyond comfort and into the messy, radical work of real recovery.
Following this presentation, participants will be able to:
1. Identify common therapy “rules” that may inadvertently protect the eating disorder and recognize when breaking them is necessary.
2. Develop a framework for making bold, ethical decisions that prioritize client recovery over clinical convention.
3. Implement radical permission, direct engagement, and therapist authenticity as tools for disrupting the eating disorder’s control.
4. Examine the systemic implications of rule-breaking in eating disorder treatment and develop strategies for advocacy beyond the therapy room.
Where you can see my presentation:
California Pathways to Practice Symposium, Virtual Speaker Series
Friday, June 26, 2026
2:00-3:30 PM Pacific Time
Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
This event is intended to be accessible to all. If financial barriers would otherwise prevent your attendance, please reach out to Robyn@alignedcarecenter.com to discuss financial accommodations. For other accommodations, please click here for more information.
We extend our gratitude to our sponsors of this presentation for making it possible for us to compensate the speaker and make this event accessible.