IFS & EMDR Therapy for Food Freedom & Lasting Change
In-person and virtual therapy in Indiana.
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“... a go-to therapist for our entire family and many friends."
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"Emily has been invaluable to me in my journey to healing."
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"... an outstanding counselor and a true asset to the community."
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Find Relief from the Inner Struggles That Keep You Stuck
Maybe you’re exhausted from the diet roller coaster — starting fresh with hope, only to end up in the pantry late at night, ashamed that you “ruined it” again. The scale can set the tone for your whole day, and you hate how much power it has over your mood.
Or you’ve done years of recovery work. You’re not in crisis anymore, but a single comment from a spouse, a doctor, or even a passing glance in the mirror can still sting, leaving you spiraling back into old fears and doubts about your body. You wonder if you’ll ever feel fully free.
And beneath it all, perfectionism keeps whispering that you’ll only be enough if you do everything just right. Eat perfectly, work harder, be the reliable one, never let anyone down. The pressure is constant, and when you can’t meet those impossible standards, the critic swoops in with shame and self-blame.
The details may look different, but the pain is the same: food, body, and perfectionistic thoughts are stealing too much of your energy. You’re tired of carrying this weight alone.
This is where IFS and EMDR can help. Instead of more rules or willpower, therapy gives you a safe place to finally hear the parts of you that criticize, push, or protect — and to release the burdens they’ve been carrying for years. With compassion and clarity, you can step off the exhausting cycle and into a steadier rhythm of living — one marked by freedom, peace, and presence.
Imagine life beyond the struggle.
Imagine what shifts when the constant inner battle finally quiets.
Eating feels calm and flexible — no more exhausting mental negotiations or guilt for not getting it “right.” Food is just one part of your life, not the biggest source of stress.
Movement becomes something you choose with joy and balance, not an obligation to prove discipline or punish yourself.
Perfectionistic pressure begins to loosen its grip. Instead of living chained to impossible standards — about food, your body, your work, or your worth — you move with more ease and compassion for yourself. Rest no longer feels like failure.
Your parts no longer pull you in opposite directions. The critic softens, the pusher doesn’t run the show 24/7, and the comfort-seeker doesn’t have to take over. They begin to work with you, not against you, leaving more space for clarity, creativity, and calm.
And when the old triggers arise — a comment from someone you love, the voice of diet culture, or the pressure to perform perfectly — you’re not thrown back into shame or overdrive. You can respond differently, from a deeper steadiness within.
This is the kind of change that becomes possible with IFS and EMDR. By listening to your parts with compassion and releasing the burdens they’ve carried for years, you can step into a life led not by fear or pressure, but by freedom, peace, and presence.
Reclaim your calm. Rewrite your story. Rediscover you.
Healing isn’t about trying harder — it’s about giving your inner world the care it’s been longing for.
At Chronicles Counseling, I create a safe, supportive space for high-functioning adults who want more than surface fixes.
Through IFS (Internal Family Systems) and EMDR, combined with my background as both a therapist and a dietitian, we’ll get to the root of the struggles that keep you stuck. Instead of another quick strategy or willpower push, therapy here helps you finally listen to the parts of you that criticize, push, or protect — and release the burdens they’ve been carrying for years.
This work makes lasting change possible:
Food no longer feels like your biggest struggle.
Perfectionistic pressure eases, leaving room for balance and joy.
Old triggers lose their sting, and you feel grounded in who you are.
When your parts begin to work with you rather than against you, life opens back up. You have more energy for your passions, your relationships, your faith — and the freedom to live as your whole self.
Emily’s Specialties
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IFS & EMDR Therapy for Lasting Change
Using IFS and EMDR, we get to the root of what keeps you stuck — so you can release old patterns and step into lasting change.
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Food Freedom & Eating Disorder Recovery
Move beyond the diet roller coaster and old triggers. Find peace with food, trust your body, and experience lasting freedom.
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Therapy for Perfectionism & Self-Criticism
Therapy to soften perfectionistic pressure, heal performance-based worth, and build confidence rooted in who you truly are.
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IFS (Internal Family Systems) is like discovering the "team" inside your mind—each part has its role, like protecting you or carrying past hurt. With therapy, you learn to listen to them and bring them together for healing and balance.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) is like helping your brain work through the tough stuff by using guided bi-lateral movements. It helps you process past pain and let go of its hold, so you can move forward feeling freer and more at peace.
Meet the Clinician
Hey, I’m Emily Paxton, MA, LMHC, RD.
I understand how exhausting it can be to live with the constant pressure of food rules, old eating disorder triggers, or perfectionistic voices that never feel satisfied. In my own journey, some parts celebrated when I ate “good” foods, while others piled on guilt if I didn’t. At times I pushed myself harder, believing my worth depended on performance, or turned to food for comfort when I felt depleted.
Many of my clients know this struggle too — the cycle of the diet roller coaster, the way shame can still sneak in even after years of recovery, and the pressure to always do more, be more, and never let anyone down.
What I love about IFS and EMDR is that they make room for every part of your story. Instead of silencing or shaming the critic, the pusher, or the comfort-seeker, we get curious about why they’re there. And when they feel seen and cared for, the inner battle begins to soften.
With my dual training as both a therapist and dietitian, I also bring in gentle, practical guidance around food and body — not more rules, but everyday rhythms that feel freeing.
And because my Christian faith is an important part of who I am, I’m always honored to integrate scripture and spiritual practices into our work if they are meaningful to you. Many clients find deep comfort in knowing that healing isn’t just psychological, but also rooted in the grace and presence of God.
Above all, I’ll be in your corner — helping you quiet the perfectionism and food noise, release the burdens that keep you stuck, and reclaim your energy for what matters most: your family, your passions, your faith, and your joy.