Mel Strunk Therapy

Hey sweet summer 😎 👋 Let’s not let negative self talk about our bodies and rules about food keep us from enjoying ourselves this year. Let’s create some boundaries around our inner dialogue this season.

Stop the diet talk. 🛑
Stop the body shaming. 🛑
Stop the negative self talk. 🛑

Thinner doesn’t mean happier. If your brain keeps telling you it does, try to remember:

Meeting friends at the pool 🏊 💦
Gathering at the beach 🌊 🏖️
Connecting with family and friends 👯‍♀️ 👭
Summer picnics 🧺 🍉
Grilling a delicious meal to share 🍔🥗
Moving your body for fun 🏃‍♀️🧘‍♀️💃

This is what matters. We only get so many summers. ⏳ Don’t waste it trying to be perfect 🌞

Did you know that only about half of my practice is seeing clients with eating disorders?

I also work with clients who are navigating:
•Perfectionism
•Anxiety
•Grief after the loss of a spouse or partner
•The emotional transition of becoming an empty nester
•High functioning women who feel like they’re holding it all together on the outside, but feeling overwhelmed on the inside.

My work focuses on helping you understand your patterns, redefine what self-care actually looks like for you, and create space to slow down and reconnect with the version of yourself you want to be.

If this sounds like you, I currently have a few openings if you’ve been thinking about starting therapy. You don’t have to wait until things feel worse to ask for support 💜

I really love the work I do and am excited to be a finalist in Coastal Style Magazine’s Best of Coastal 2026. This year I’ve been nominated for both Counseling Center and Mental Health Professional (under the Health and Wellness category). You can start voting today for all of your local favorites!

https://coastalstylemag.com/best-of-2026-sussex/ #//

As we prepare to face the summer sunshine, we’re also faced with body insecurities. Here’s my latest blog on choosing joy over body shaming.

Positive Body Image Choosing Joy Over Body Shaming This Summer As the weather warms up in Delaware and we start trading our sweaters for tank tops, conversations quickly turn towards body dissatisfaction. “Not enough” starts creeping in. Not tan enough, not thin enough, not fit enough. We find ourselves hyper fixating on imperfections and spiraling thoughts...

Warmer weather can increase thoughts about body dissatisfaction. Not tan enough, not thin enough, imperfections, focusing on how to fix whatever we perceive is wrong. 👙👗

Here’s the truth. You don’t need to look a certain way to wear a bathing suit, to put on the shorts, or to get out the tank top. We’ve been conditioned to think we need to fix, starve, or suffer in order to look good enough.

BUT you have a choice. You can sink into the negative thoughts or you can show up, wear whatever you want, and enjoy summer.☀️🍉⛱️

Next time a negative thought about your body image creeps in, observe your inner dialogue and notice how you speak towards yourself. Practice being kinder to yourself. It’s okay if this feels unnatural or uncomfortable. It’s a step in the right direction. Wear the clothes, eat the cake, enjoy the sunshine 🌞 🌻

If we’ve worked together or you’ve found my content helpful, you’re welcome to leave a review on my page. It helps others find support when they need it 💜

Mel Strunk, LCSW would love your feedback Post a review to our profile on Google

Big thank you to Dr. Chris for allowing me into your space to join you on your cooking class last evening. It was a lot of fun experimenting with new chickpea recipes. Gathering together to chat, laugh, cook, and engage with everyone while sharing a meal not only has physical health benefits, but it’s great for your mental health too!

If you’ve ever wondered what anxiety therapy is actually like before reaching out, I wrote something for you. Starting therapy can feel intimidating and knowing what to expect can help.

https://www.melstrunktherapy.com/post/therapy-for-anxiety-what-does-that-look-like

Share with your favorite medical provider in Delaware 🩺

Primary care providers are often the first stop for someone struggling with an eating disorder. 👩‍⚕️🧑‍⚕️

A routine appointment may be the first place weight changes, fatigue, GI concerns, or menstrual irregularities are discussed. Many patients won’t initially disclose disordered eating behaviors, which makes early identification so important.

If you’re a P*P, pediatrician, OB-GYN, nurse practitioner, or school-based provider in Sussex County and have questions about eating disorder screening, referral options, or collaboration, I’d love to connect.

Early intervention makes a real difference!
Feel free to reach out anytime. 💛