FAQs

What exactly does Darshana specialize in? I support women to over come emotional eating and live nourished lives through the tools of counseling, coaching, food education and mindfulness.

Does Darshana only work with women? Yes, I specialize in working with women.

What is Darshana’s professional background? I first draw upon my personal experience. I consider my self an expert and master at overcoming emotional eating. You can read more about my story at http://www.fruitionhealth.com/profile/DarshanaWeill

As far as professional training here’s that story: I have struggled with knowing if I should be a psychologist or a nutritionist. Talking to clients only about their feelings without incorporating what we eat and how food affects us and visa- versa didn’t seem like enough. As a result I made up my own Masters Program though the following trainings: I was lucky enough to go to the Institute for Integrative Nutritionbefore it was IIN. It was called Gulliver’s at the time and was a macrobiotic center. I started the macrobiotic professional-training program while I also started working as the manager of the school. Because I worked there I was personally mentored by the founder, Joshua Rosenthal and supported him to create IIN. During those 5 years I shadowed Joshua and walked, breathed, and bleed IIN. Being a part of the transition to IIN I got a business education as well as a health counseling education that gave me the confidence and knowledge to create fruitionhealth.com. Joshua personally trained me. I was the head health counselor at IIN for the general public as well as the counselor to the students as their personal health counselor. I taught the cooking classes, weeknight community classes and co taught in their professional training program. I supported the aspiring health counseling by leading the fast track program and started what is currently the immersion program at IIN.

While at IIN I was also actively involved with LANDMARK EDUCATION and I was part of the NYC Re-evaluation Counseling community for 3 years. Then I moved to SF and went to Bauman College. I was also asked to teach in their culinary school after attending Bauman. I also completed a 200-hour counseling certification program called INTERCHANGE- training in radical counseling. I received my first yoga certification at Kripalu Yoga and also completed their advanced teaching course. I studied and completed the level 1 Anusara Yoga Teacher Training with John Friend and am certified by Erich Shiffman as a yoga teacher as well. Studying meditation was always important to me so I went to Poona India and spent time at the OSHO commune. I have also sat with Eugene Cash, Gil Fronsdale and many other Spirit Rock Teachers on 10 day and one-day retreats. I am currently studying Hakomi, a body based psychotherapy practice through their 10 month Professional Training. This eclectic education is what guides me with my clients. I trust it all.

What is your definition of emotional eating? Emotional eating does not just mean bulimia or anorexia. Although I have worked with many women who have been anorexic or bulimic my specialty is working with women who use food to escape, eat mindlessly, or just overeat and don’t know why. I work with women who want to prioritize self-care and stop eating foods that don’t serve them.

What kind of clients do you work with? Women who want to change! If you are ready to look, listen and be in action in a NEW WAY. No counting calories or “being on a diet”, instead are ready to overcome emotional eating, find core freedom and discover what your life is about from an organic internal place. If so then this program is probably exactly what you have been looking for.

How long will we work together? To be honest, I don’t know. I assume it has taken years for you to get where you are with food. In my personal experience it took time until I UNLEARNED my habits around food and gained the confidence to take new steps. If you are looking for a quick fix I am not the person you should be working with. But if you are here to completely surrender and want to look, explore and change the core reasons you eat the way you eat then I encourage you to contact me. Once a client signs up I highly recommend all new clients start with a 10-session commitment. After 10 sessions we can re-evaluate. Some clients get what they came for, some clients take a pause and then come back and MOST clients just keep working with me until the natural completion of their exploration ends. They know it’s not about how many sessions but a deep understanding inside of themselves that says, OK I’m done. I no longer use food in a non-productive way.

I don’t live in Berkeley but want to work with you. How can I do that? No problem. I have been working with clients in person for 15 years and by phone for the last 8 years. I find that if the client is ready to change it doesn’t matter if we are face to face or 6 thousand miles away. And if you are far away we can either work by phone or video on SKYPE.

Will I loose weight? I am going to be straight with you this is NOT a weight loss program. YET if you are eating a whole foods diet and practicing mindfulness in your life I would say you will probably loose weight. MANY of my clients drop weight. But remember this is not the lose 20 pounds in a month kind of thing. I work on the core material of WHY you do what you do with food and your life. I teach you the tools to stay present with yourself and make healthy choices. That practice usually leads people to their weight goals over time.

What are primary vs. secondary foods? Secondary food is the food on your plate: protein, carbs, fats, etc. Primary foods are all the things in your life that feed you. Relationships, career, movement/exercise, spirituality. Even the books you read or movies you see. Everything in life is FOOD. These are two of the many paths I walk down with clients.

How much do you charge? It depends on which programs you do with me. I also provide a few scholarship spots (discounted rate) in my practice. Let’s talk and then we can figure out what works for both of us. Contact me.

Do you take credit cards? Yes I take cash, checks or credit cards.

What does a session look like?This is a great question and hard to write about. Sessions really vary based on what is most “up” for the client. Meditation and mindfulness practice is at the core of all of our sessions. Sometimes we will investigate the emotional components and triggers that cause us to go towards food. I will help you develop tools and awareness to start to have more choices and take different actions. My style involves a lot of inquiry. Instead of telling you what I think or analyzing you, which I am sure you have done for years, I will ask questions that lead us to inquire your behaviors, patterns, thoughts and more. I believe body awareness and exploring the direct experience in session are some of the key components to a different experience in your life. And to add sometimes we will look at the nuts and bolts of food. What are you eating? Are you getting enough protein? Carbs? Fats? Etc…? We will dissect cravings and explore new options. Stuff like that.

_________________________________________________________________________

What are your group programs like? My group programs are the place where it is AT in my opinion. Emotional eating happens in isolation and because of shame about the way we feel about our bodies and our habits. The thing is SO many women feel the same way. When we work together in a group that voice in your head that says, "I'm the only one" goes away. You begin to learn from each other and see the women in your life as allies. The teaching comes home right to the heart. The program is extremely experiential giving you tools and practices to take into your daily life immediately.

Will I get results? If you do the work you will get results. Read the testimonials and hear it from my clients directly. http://www.fruitionhealth.com/page/what-women-have-to-say-about

How do I begin? I am so glad you asked. Contact me by following this link. Let’s set up a 30-minute free Food Freedom Session. You will have an opportunity to tell me more about your self and I can share with you more about the way I work and answer any questions you might have. I look forward to supporting you to overcome emotional eating and live a nourished life!