About Cynthia

I have spent most of my life searching for freedom—freedom from addiction, from shame, from the belief that something was “wrong” with me, and from the patterns that kept me stuck. My work today is the result of decades of personal recovery, academic study, and a deep commitment to helping others find the peace I once thought was impossible.

I have been free from alcohol and drugs for 54 years, and abstinent from grains and sugars for 27. These milestones are not badges—they are reminders of what is possible when we understand our brains, honor our biology, and receive the right support. My recovery is the foundation of my work, and it informs every conversation I have with the people I serve.

 

I hold a Doctorate in Education and three Master’s degrees, and before specializing in food addiction, I spent years as a Marriage & Family Therapist working with individuals and families across the lifespan. My academic path and clinical work eventually led me into deep study with leaders in addiction, trauma, and brain chemistry. I trained with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, ACORN Food Dependency Recovery Services, the Florida School of Addiction Studies, INFACT (the International School for Food Addiction Counseling and Treatment), and SUGAR®, a structured assessment model adapted from ICD‑10 criteria for substance use disorders.

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Today, I am a Certified Food Addiction Professional (CFAP™), SUGAR® Certified and Licensed, and trained in Holistic Medicine for Addiction by Bitten Jonsson. I have also studied trauma with Bessel van der Kolk, whose work profoundly shaped my understanding of how the body holds—and releases—pain.

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I currently serve as Secretary and Vice Chair of the Board for the Food Addiction Institute (FAI), where I advocate for recognition of food addiction as a legitimate, treatable condition. My passion extends to supporting individuals with PCOS, fertility challenges, and those preparing for conception who want to enter pregnancy with optimal health and stability.

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I am the co‑author of THE FIX for Cravings and We Eat Rainbows, books created to help both adults and families understand cravings, nourish themselves with real food, and build lives grounded in joy rather than compulsion. I also use genograms to help individuals and families release guilt, shame, and inherited patterns that no longer serve them.

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My work is not theoretical. It is lived, practiced, and continually renewed. I know the desperation of wanting to stop and not being able to. I know the relief of finding a path that finally works. And I know the profound joy of living a life that is peaceful, purposeful, and free.

 

Today, I dedicate my life to helping others experience that same freedom—one honest conversation, one abstinent meal, one brave step at a time. I live, work, and travel with my beloved husband, Peter, now cancer‑free, and I carry gratitude into every room I enter.

If you are ready to explore a life beyond cravings, chaos, and self‑judgment, I am here. You are not alone, and you are not broken. There is a way forward, and together, we can find it.