As one of the world's first Certified Food Addiction Counselors, Sandra Elia is a true pioneer in the field of recovery from compulsive and addictive eating. Her expertise has brought about partnerships with Canada's top obesity and addiction doctors. Her Food Addiction Recovery Program invites clients to radically reconsider their understanding of food and its relationship to physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
Sandra runs her outpatient Food Addiction Recovery Program in clinics across Canada. She co-created Canada's first twenty-eight-day inpatient treatment program for food addiction at an addiction rehab centre in Toronto. Her programs dive deep into the unique and shared nature of our complicated relationships with food.
Sandra Elia knows firsthand the struggle of living with obesity. She has lived two lives: one as a woman living with obesity for fifteen years. She experienced a world that was not made for her size, seeking assistance from biased healthcare providers and dealing with fat-shaming. Since those difficult days, Sandra has transformed her life, developing a peaceful and healthy relationship with food.
Sandra is dedicated to changing the conversation so that anyone living with food addiction has access to treatment that is rooted in dignity, respect, and understanding.
Sandra's most important role to date is being a single mom to her beautiful daughter Sofia, doing her best to model a life that prioritizes happiness, health, and self-love. Sandra finds joy by dancing at any chance she gets and is a risk-taker on stage, relishing at any opportunity for competitive motivational speaking (several talks have gone viral!). She remains grounded by a spiritual practice that has been nurtured for over 20 years.
Sandra's work has been featured on The National Post, Global News Toronto, Global News Edmonton, CTV News Atlantic, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, and radio shows across North America.
Website: www.sandraelia.com
Facebook: @FoodAddictionProgram
Instagram: @sandraelia.ca
LinkedIn: @Sandra-Elia
