Sonia Grafos Recovery LLC
Sonia Grafos
CCI Certified Eating Disorder Coach/Educator/Advocate/Nurse
"It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure." -Joseph Campbell​​
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Since recovering from my own battle with an eating disorder over a decade ago, I have felt a deep desire to help others. In the midst of my struggles, I held onto hope that one day my suffering would have purpose and allow me to help others. Many years later, as a pediatric nurse, I started sharing my story with patients, families, doctors, and fellow nurses. I saw the difference this made and became committed to using my personal and professional experiences to educate medical staff and advocate for individuals with eating disorders. This ignited a passion in me and I knew I needed to do more. When I discovered CCI Eating Disorder Coaching Certification, everything seemed to fall into place. I knew that eating disorder coaching was something I was always meant to do. Soon, I was studying the CCI curriculum with my dog Ouzo by my side. I was stunned by how similar Carolyn Costin’s approach to eating disorder recovery, as outlined in The 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder, was to the approach I used in my own recovery, well before the book was written. After completing this rigorous course and earning my coaching certification, I’m excited to embark on this new career and chapter of my life.
I can’t wait to connect with you.
Educational Background:
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Carolyn Costin Institute Eating Disorder Coaching Certification (CCIEDC #1908)
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Bachelor's of Science in Nursing - Registered Nursing Licensure (BSN - RN)
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Pediatric Nursing Certification (CPN)
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Fun Facts
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Born and raised in Connecticut, USA. My parents immigrated from a small medieval town in Italy overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
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My first passion was figure skating. I still enjoy skating when I’m not watching my two boys play ice hockey.
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I had a beautiful tabby cat who was my the best support pet during my eating disorder recovery. Now, I have a playful Australian Shepard named Ouzo, who is my hiking buddy.
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I enjoy reading and yoga to relax.
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My favorite end of the day activity is to curl up under a blanket with a sweet treat and a good show to watch.
Carolyn Costin
MA, MEd., MFT, CEDS, FAED
World renowned, highly sought-after eating disorder clinician, author, and international speaker.
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The first to stated at you can be recovered from an eating disorder.
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Founder of Monte Nido, the first eating disorder residential treatment centers in USA.
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Author of many books including, 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder.
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Carolyn Costin Institute, the first program dedicated to training, supervising and certifying eating disorder recovery coaches.
Definition of Being Recovered From an Eating Disorder
“Being recovered is when the person can accept his or her natural body size and shape and no longer has a self-destructive or unnatural relationship with food or exercise. When you are recovered, food and weight take a proper perspective in your life, and what you weigh is not more important than whom you are; in fact, actual numbers are of little or no importance at all. When recovered, a person will not compromise their health or betray their soul to look a certain way, wear a certain size or reach a certain number on a scale. When a person is recovered, he or she does not use eating disorder behaviors to deal with, distract from or cope with other problems.”
Carolyn Costin
My Approach
Guide
No two people have the same recovery journey. I honor your unique journey by showing up for you, your experiences, and hold a safe place for you. I am your guide through your journey. I use my personal experience of being recovered from an eating disorder and knowledge of the human body to bring truth to the thoughts that keep you stuck in your eating disorder.
DEVELOP
It is unmet needs that contribute to the development of an eating disorder, turning into a coping mechanism. I work with you to create an individualized approach rooted the Carolyn Costin philosophy of her book, 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder, for you to develop new coping skills resulting in long-lasting behavioral change with an emphasis on getting your needs met.
REDISCOVER
I take a compassionate approach to rediscovering your true values and your authentic self that an eating can make you forget. I help you explore motivators and experiences to recover for. It is reconnecting with the world around you that will help you return to your happiness and a renewed purpose in life.
COLLABORATE
Reaching out to people you trust to support you in your recovery is key. A part of this is having a treatment team (therapist, dietician, doctor). I collaborate with your treatment team to stay aligned in care and help you achieve your goals. I also work with family members and loved ones by educating on how to support you. I work along side you to provide in-the-moment support between provider sessions when you are having self-doubt. You are never alone.
* Eating disorders do not discriminate. I believe they can affect anyone regardless of cultural, racial, biological, socioeconomic backgrounds and body size. Everyone is deserving of safe and effective treatment.