Staff Spotlight, Lindsey Waite

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Lindsey Waite and I’ve worn a few hats during my time at The Emily Program. I started as a Program Coordinator, and I currently hold the position of Outpatient Therapist and Director of Trauma Services. I live in Olympia, Washington, and work from the South Sound site. I have been with TEP for just over four years.

Why did you choose to work for The Emily Program?

I’ve joked that my path to TEP was nothing more than destiny! After several years in private practice, I was seeking something new and team-oriented. I had already established relationships with TEP staff and received positive feedback from our community. The fateful day arrived while I was feeling especially exhausted by insurance contracts and billing issues. I called up South Sound’s site director, Stacy Schilter-Pisano, and asked if there might be a place for me at TEP (thank goodness there was). After a day of shadowing South Sound’s team, I knew it was where I belonged. I’m so grateful to be a member of this incredible team and know that it was the best career decision I could have made.

What do you like most about your job? 

The most rewarding aspect of my job is the privilege of witnessing client recovery. There is nothing quite like being part of one’s journey as they find freedom from their eating disorder, make peace with food, and learn to live more compassionately in their bodies. A really special part of my job is treating people in eating disorder recovery who also suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It’s an honor to serve this population and I am excited to support TEP’s vision to expand our services in this area. 

What lessons has your job taught you?

The lessons I’ve learned in these four short years feel endless. I think the most notable is the realization that TEP’s work is as much a social justice movement as it is individual care. Intuitive eating, weight inclusion, and combatting diet culture requires that we be change agents. If we are to assist clients in repairing their relationships with their bodies, we are also responsible for combatting the various forms of cultural oppression that contribute to eating disorders.

If you could do another job just for a day, what would it be? 

I sometimes have visions of bartending at a craft beer taproom in a small coastal town. I would happily accept that job for a day!