Endorsements
From Health Care Providers
"Debra Benfield is one of those rare nutrition therapists who has a deep understanding of the complex issues that underlie disordered eating behaviors. I hold her work in the highest regard."
Anita Johnston, Ph.D.
Author, Eating in the Light of the Moon
Director, 'Ai Pono Eating Disorder Programs
"I have had the delightful opportunity to collaborate with Debra Benfield for almost twenty years. Not only do I enjoy working with her but, more importantly, so do her clients. She combines deep understanding and intuitive compassion for her clients with clear and firm guidance and structure. She is flexible and creative in her approach, while never wavering from specific behavioral goals. She maintains a clear focus and commitment to facilitate concrete change and improvement. Our mutual clients consistently report that they feel she gets to know them and cares about them as real people struggling with important issues. Debra gives them not only direction and suggestions but hope as well."
Joan E. Wilkins, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
"Debra combines valid science and compassionate individualized care to provide outstanding service for each of her clients. Her approach is thoughtful, competent and of the highest ethical standard. I feel incredibly fortunate in being able to refer patients with nutrition and eating problems to her for assessment and ongoing treatment. She is an outstanding resource for those needing medical nutrition evaluation, recommendations and therapy."
Doreen L. Hughes, MD.
Hughes Equine Energy, PLLC: Adult Psychiatry and Equine Assisted Personal Growth
“Debra thoroughly knows her field of expertise, and is a warm and genuine communicator. Our client's love their time spent with Debra, and look forward to her group each week.”
Criag Arey, LPC/LCAS/CCS
“I have worked with Debra over the past few years in caring for women who struggle with eating disorders. She has been able to connect with each of them and build relationships that have allowed these women to begin the healing process. She works well with the other members of the team, maintaining communication and giving frequent feedback. She has been an invaluable resource to me and to my patients with eating disorders.”
Cressent Hudson Pressly, MD
Maplewood Family Practice
Winston Salem, NC
"Debra is an excellent educator and communicator with patients and family members! Her knowledge base is extensive and always current. As a healthcare provider, I always think of Debra Benfield as the premier clinician in her field. Debra is an excellent educator and communicator with patients and family members! Her knowledge base is extensive and always current. As a healthcare provider, I always think of Debra Benfield as the premier clinician in her field."
Margaret Arey, RN, BSN
"Debra Benfield has been a great inspiration in my life and work as a yoga teacher. She has devoted many years to supporting others in developing a deep and genuine trust in the body, it's needs and it's wisdom. Her experience and dedication shows as she navigates the complex issues around body image, sensory awareness and our ability to feed ourselves with genuine pleasure and care. I heartily recommend Debra's work to anyone who is truly ready to heal their relationship with food, rather than to simply go on another diet."
Sydney-Hughes McGee, LMBT, RYT
"Debra Benfield's work continues to unfold as she stays current and dedicated to the newest science of her field. What stands out about her work is that she is not only grounded in up-to-date research but that she is committed to returning people to their innate wisdom. Her groups have been an outstanding complement for a number of people that I work with. How fortunate we are to have Debra and her cutting edge work in our community."
Amanda Zabel, M.A.Ed., LPC
Debra Benfield is a sensitive professional counselor who is truly gifted at guiding her clients toward health and wholeness. We share a number of clients due to mutual referral, and Debra consistently displays a high level of discretion and kindness in regard to her clients. She personifies compassionate presence.
Lynn Felder, RYT
"I have had the pleasure of working with Debra as both a client, in her assisting me in meeting my personal wellness goals, and as a psychologist in professional collaboration. Debra's knowledge and skill in the area of Medical Nutrition Therapist are exemplary. She is equally capable in assisting her clients to meet their nutritional wellness goals, as well as being a member of a treatment team in working with clients with acute eating disorders. The care, attention, and holistic approach she takes to her clients, and her persistence in staying abreast of emerging treatment approaches and research makes her a stand out in her field."
Cristin Whiting, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist
"I have worked closely with Debra for over 15 years in treating clients with eating and weight concerns. During that time I have been continually impressed with the tremendous passion and professionalism with which she approaches her work. Her knowledge and integrity allow her to approach each client as a unique individual and to reach “outside the box” to address each individual’s specific needs and concerns. Debra is a great asset to the field of eating disorder professionals."
Patti Patridge, MA
Licensed Professional Counselor
Presentation/Education Colleagues
"My professional ties with Debra date back to when she was a member of the faculty in the Physician Assistant program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. About once a year I interviewed applicants who sought acceptance into the program. The feedback from my interviews helped Debra and her faculty team to make decisions about which applicants to accept into the Physician Assistant Program. It was during that time that I learned about Debra’s clinical expertise as a nutritionist. I began to call upon her to conduct workshops pertaining to Eating Disorders for Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Eating Disorders workshops are challenging presentations to prepare for a group of mental health professions. But Debra’s workshops have always received marks of excellence."
Ann P. Graves, MSW,ACSW
Instructor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Mental Health Coordinator, Northwest AHEC
Previous Clients
“In your seminar, my husband and I actually changed how we eat! We considered how to listen to our appetites; we thought together about what we are consuming and we began to work on meals. First, I had a private session with you; then we enrolled in the 8 week series of classes together. I was able to attend more often, but it was still fine for my husband when he came - just dropping in. Other people brought friends, or their mother. And this did not distract us.
It was great to check in with the group, We were totally different from each other: one with life long eating disorder, one a recovered alcoholic, one a skinny mom living on lattes, a party girl growing older. I am a 60 year old still trying to lose that mid drift bulge. In a few weeks, we had heard each other's stories about every type of response to food. We had talked about our various responses to FOOD. And we had helped to guide each other.
Your firm, committed approach kept us on track. You can forgive yourself if you eat badly. Your body will restore itself. When you find you have eaten things that are not good, get back up and listen to yourself again! This was the theme - and a response I remember. We helped each other out - or in my case in. And enjoyed the experience.
My weight didn't change during these sessions, but my approach to food did. Now, 6 or 8 weeks later, the weight is dropping off. Who knows what is next? Thanks for the excellent information presented in a well designed course.”
-Ellen
“After 30 days at Chapel Hill in the eating disorder unit for anorexia I was sent to see Debra Benfield for my outpatient therapy. It began with intense therapy which helped me deal with day to day life of this illness. Although it took some time Debra was there every step of the way with not only therapy but making herself available to me by phone and email whenever I needed extra support. I couldn't have done it without her!! She is still there today if I need her several years later and just knowing I can turn to her anytime makes the rough days easier to get through. Because of the coping devices and information she has provided I have moved to a wonderfully different and healthier place in my life. Thanks Debra, you are the best!!”
-Lynn
"After finally surrendering to my lifelong eating disorder I followed my doctor's recommendation to seek help from a therapist specializing in this field. After only a couple of visits with my therapist, she realized the need for additional help and recommended me to Debra. Sometimes it takes a village! Working with Debra changed my life. I no longer ride the diet roller coaster; I have been able to embrace food as my friend rather than the enemy. Thank you, Debra.”
-Charlotte
”Since going to see Debra I have increased my caloric intake, lost some weight, and tailored my food choices to my specific needs. I have seen a tremendous increase in stamina and just "feeling good", and have seen my performance in running and cycling improve greatly! I am very happy with the services that Debra has provided and look forward to working with her in the future. It's nice to work with a specialist who is more
committed to improving the patient over their paycheck! Thanks Debra!”
-Matt
“Knowledge, compassion and understanding - these are three cornerstones that Debra Benfield brings to her nutrition therapy practice. My time with Debra has been invaluable to me as I worked through my issues surrounding food and body acceptance. She helped me achieve body and mind health focusing on making good choices with food and teaching me to look beyond food to nurture my inner soul. Her wise counsel has been extremely valuable to me!”
-Amy
“Debra has really helped me to address both my nutrition and my health. Often, we think of weight gain as extra pounds, we don’t think about the other effects that it has on our health. My lab values were out the roof! I felt horrible and I had no energy. I knew that I had some weight that I had to get off, but I was totally unaware of how my diet had impacted my triglycerides and blood sugar. I knew that eating too many sweets and high fat food was not a good thing; however, I didn’t realize the damage that I was doing to my body. It was not until I made an appointment with Debra, that I was forced to look at my diet. I didn’t realize that the combination of foods that I was eating was playing such a significant role in my elevated labs! I was taking in so much sugar and so many carbohydrates that I not only felt bad but I was always hungry. Debra put together an individualized plan for me; I could have plenty to eat and still lose weight. I increased my exercise and cut my carbs and sugar intake. I never buy or eat anything that I haven’t read the label first. I have lost 14 lbs so far. I feel better and I have so much more energy! Thanks Debra.”
-Jessica
“Debra was great in working with our daughter during her battle with anorexia. Debra made our daughter feel very comfortable and related to her not only as a patient but as a teenager as well. Even after completing her treatment our daughter would see Debra occasionally to talk and receive encouragement to continue her progress. Debra was instrumental in encouraging us to get additional treatment for our daughter and thus we owe her our gratitude for helping us through a very difficult time. If it weren't for you I don't know what we would have done. Suzie truly thinks the world of you."
-Gary and Barbara
“I have been a patient of Debra's for over 7 years and she has been a lifesaver. Having been anorexic and then bulimic for over twenty-five years, my anxiety was much relieved after only my first appointment. Debra gave me the nonjudgmental encouragement to first try and eat mindfully, and then decrease and eventually stop my bulimic behavior using gentle nutritional advice. I also enjoy reading and was able to get encouraging insight from some books which Debra recommended. After a few years of help individually, Debra asked me to participate in her "Body Trust" group therapy. This was very helpful to me to be with other people who had issues with disordered and binge eating, and body trust issues among other things. (Debra also asked me if I would like to be interviewed by a Winston-Salem journalist about my recovery from bulimia which I was happy to do. The story ran in the Winston Salem Journal and in a few papers across the US and Canada. I felt great about being able to tell my story and from the response I got I know that I was able to help others thanks to Debra.) What a fortunate woman I am! I have recommended Debra's expertise to many others and will continue to do so.”
-Toni
"Debra L. Benfield's work has been both pioneering and holistic researched based in the field of women's health. Her approach is integrative, mindful and compassionate when working with her clients. My professional experience with her has been insightful. Attending her group workshops was a healing and growing experience. We are lucky to have her in our medical community."
-Naomi
“Debra was extremely helpful to our family, helping us navigate improvements in healthy eating to benefit our adolescent. I recommend her highly.”
-Ellen
“I have seen Debra several times over the years and have had a great experience each time. She is gracious and welcoming -- willing to listen and wise in her counsel. Folks often think of nutritionists as the "food police" -- Debra is not the police at all! She listens, counsels and consoles -- offering encouragement when things go well and insight when you hit a bump in the road. I recommend her highly and without hesitation. She has taught me much about living a whole and balance life -- one not focused on daily weigh-ins but on all the joy life (and food) have to offer.”
-Frank
"Debra's client-centered approach focuses heavily on behavior change. She helps clients un-learn behaviors that keep them from achieving their health goals and adopt new ways of thinking about the roles food and nutrition play in our lives. For me, this meant learning that food was not the enemy. Debra helped me untangle emotional decisions about food from nutritional decisions about food. Working with her I learned how to stop ascribing the morality of good and bad to food, and instead understand how my own choices about food -- what kind, how much, how often -- could be informed by rational, nutritional information rather than displaced emotional baggage."
-Jennifer