Hello! I'm Iris McAlpin. I'm a certified trauma coach, and NARM® Practitioner, and I specialize in self-sabotage, eating disorder recovery and complex trauma. I have a degree in Psychology (currently working on a second degree), advanced clinical training in complex trauma, including developmental, attachment and relational trauma, and over 8 years of experience in the coaching field. My passion for mental health is at the core of everything I do.
I want to take a step back though, because my story doesn't begin there. My interest in mental health began at a very young age when a close family member attempted suicide. Although I didn't fully understand what was going on, the ripple effects in my life were significant. After being sexually assaulted a few years later,
my mental health began to take a turn as well.
It started with depression and body image issues when I was 9 years old, and slowly
escalated to bulimia and complex PTSD. I used drugs and alcohol to self-medicate, which created problems of their own. I did everything I could to hide my struggles, and my self-sabotaging behaviors went almost completely unchecked for over a decade.
As I progressed through recovery in my 20’s, I began to realize that my fear of talking about my experiences wasn't just about me, and that stigma was a larger issue. I knew the only way to destigmatize mental illness was for people like me to share our stories.
Thus, in February 2015 I launched a mental health awareness campaign on my Instagram account @irismcalpin. There I discuss a wide range of concerns from trauma to bulimia, and share the tools and wisdom I picked up on the road to recovery. My intent in sharing my story is to show that no one is alone, recovery is worth the hard work, and support the global movement toward awareness, acceptance and support for everyone affected by psychological disorders.
Now I work with clients all over the world in both private and group settings. While many coaches emphasize symptom reduction and behavioral shifts, I use my training in developmental trauma to heal the trauma driving self-destructive behaviors and troubling symptoms. In my experience, when the trauma is effectively addressed, behaviors change organically and the symptoms resolve themselves.
I feel deeply grateful for my recovery, and helping others heal is the privilege of a lifetime. I would be honored to assist you in your healing process.
If you are interested in working with me in a one-on-one setting, please visit my coaching page to learn more. If for some reason I am unable to take you on as a client, I will happily provide referrals and resources that may be helpful for you. To learn about Bloom, a group program for healing self-sabotage, please click here.
I look forward to connecting with you!
Xx
Iris
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