Hi, I'm Iris McAlpin Garrett.
I’m a NARM® Master Therapist (AMFT) and online educator specializing in self-sabotage, eating disorders, grief, and complex trauma. I hold both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in clinical psychology, and have completed four years of advanced training in treating complex trauma. Most recently, I completed a year-long traineeship in hospice care, where I supported individuals, families, and children facing end-of-life, caregiver burnout, and profound loss.
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But my story didn’t start there.
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My interest in mental health began in childhood, when a crisis upended my family. I didn’t understand it fully at the time, but the ripple effects shaped my life in lasting ways. After a series of traumatic events, I began struggling with my own mental health.
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By age nine, I was experiencing depression and body image issues. In the years that followed, this evolved into bulimia and complex PTSD. I turned to self-medication for relief, which only deepened the pain. I spent nearly two decades hiding my struggles—and it’s no exaggeration to say it’s a miracle I’m still here.
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As I began to recover, I noticed something striking: the shame I felt was nearly universal. The stigma around mental illness was feeding the very isolation that made recovery harder. I realized that storytelling—honest, lived storytelling—was one of the most powerful tools we have to combat that stigma.
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In 2015, I launched a mental health awareness campaign on Instagram (@irismcalpin), where I began sharing my journey with trauma, bulimia, and recovery. My goal has always been to let others know they’re not alone, and to support the growing movement toward compassion, education, and healing for anyone affected by psychological distress.
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Today, I work with clients in both private and group settings. While many therapeutic approaches focus on symptom management and changing behavior (which often requires an unrealistic amount of energy and willpower), my work supports clients to gently uncover the unmet needs and survival patterns at the core of their self-sabotage. In my experience, when trauma is effectively addressed in a safe environment, the behaviors and symptoms change organically. No force or superhuman willpower needed.
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I'm deeply grateful for my recovery and the life it has made possible for me. When I’m not working, you'll probably find me outside playing with my daughter, cooking for friends and family, or writing music.
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If you live in California and are interested in working with me in a one-on-one setting, please visit my therapy page to learn more or fill out a contact form. If want to join the waitlist for Bloom, an online program for healing self-sabotage, please click here. Bloom is open to clients anywhere in the world.
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I look forward to connecting with you!
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Xx
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Iris
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