As 2025 came to a close and I stepped into 2026, I’ve been reflecting on the path that brought me here and the direction I feel called to move next.
For more than 25 years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and families affected by eating disorders. Over the past decade especially, I’ve worked in leadership roles across multiple levels of care, collaborating with extraordinary clinicians, teams, and families.
Those experiences shaped me profoundly. They strengthened my clinical skills, expanded my understanding of systems, and deepened my respect for the resilience of families navigating incredibly difficult circumstances.
They also taught me something essential:
Eating disorder recovery works best when families feel informed, supported, and confident in their role.
What My Work With the Recovery Record Family App Showed Me
During this time, I also had the opportunity to help develop and launch the Recovery Record Family App, work that I continue to support and truly value.
That project offered an important window into what both families and clinicians were experiencing.
Parents weren’t just looking for tracking tools. They also needed:
- compassionate guidance
- reassurance during difficult moments
- clear education about eating disorder treatment
- practical skills they could use at home
- reliable resources they could return to again and again
At the same time, clinicians who work tirelessly to treat the complexities of eating disorders often feel under-resourced. When families receive additional coaching and support outside of sessions, the work inside the session becomes more effective.
Being part of the Recovery Record Family App reinforced something I deeply believe:
When families are supported, clinicians are supported, and outcomes improve.
The Gap I Kept Seeing in Eating Disorder Care
Eating disorder treatment is complex. Levels of care are demanding. Systems are stretched. Training models have shifted.
And resources, especially for families, are often limited.
I repeatedly saw dedicated parents trying to do the right thing, yet feeling:
- unsure what to say at meals
- confused by differing recommendations
- guilty for feeling exhausted or resentful
- afraid of “making things worse”
- left out of key conversations
Over time, the pattern became impossible to ignore:
Families were being asked to play a critical role without always receiving the guidance and coaching they deserved.
Not because clinicians don’t care, but because our systems were never designed to consistently offer that level of ongoing support.
Why I Launched AK Chase Consulting
Out of that realization came a new direction for my work.
In 2025, I created AK Chase Consulting, a practice dedicated to:
- coaching and consultation for parents and caregivers
- consultation and training for clinicians and programs
This is not therapy. Instead, my work focuses on:
- education about eating disorders and treatment pathways
- practical strategies families can use at home
- problem-solving around real-life challenges
- emotional support grounded in compassion
- helping parents feel capable — not blamed or sidelined
I also continue to partner with programs and professionals who want to deepen family inclusive practices and create environments where caregivers feel like valued members of the treatment team.
Looking Ahead: Supporting Families and Clinicians in 2026
In the year ahead, my goals include:
- expanding accessible parent resources and workshops
- continuing consultation with clinicians and programs
- building stronger bridges between digital tools, clinical care, and family support
- elevating conversations about parent confidence as a driver of recovery
Families deserve guidance that is clear, grounded, and compassionate. Clinicians deserve support as they continue the complex, meaningful work of treating eating disorders.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who has walked alongside me and for the trust families and colleagues continue to place in me.
Here’s to continuing the work of strengthening families, building confidence, and supporting recovery – together.
If you’re interested in learning more about coaching, consultation, or collaboration, I’d be glad to connect.