Building the Village: Supporting Body Image & Food Freedom with The Caring Shop
At Aspen Grove Counseling & Wellness, we know that early parenthood can feel both beautiful and overwhelming, especially when you’re navigating it without a trusted support network. That’s why we’re excited to share a new blog series highlighting local professionals and small businesses offering compassionate, grounded care for new and expecting parents in the Atlanta and Decatur area. You can check out the entire series here.
Each post is a chance to learn more about the people behind the services — what they do, why they do it, and how they’re helping build a more connected and supportive village for families in transition.
Some of that support means holding space for what isn’t always talked about — like how profoundly pregnancy and postpartum can reshape a person’s relationship with their body.
This week, we’re honored to feature Carli Packard, LPC, CEDS, a mental health therapist and the founder of The Caring Shop, who offers virtual support to moms navigating body image struggles and disordered eating in pregnancy and postpartum. Through trauma-informed care, intuitive eating work, and specialized training in eating disorders, Carli helps clients quiet the “food noise,” release pressure to bounce back, and reconnect with their bodies from a place of trust and compassion.
Getting to Know The Caring Shop
Welcome, Carli, and thank you for sharing your story with us! Can you start by telling us a little about yourself and the work you do
“I am a mental health therapist and I support moms struggling with body image issues/disordered eating ”
Do you offer in-person, virtual, or hybrid services?
“I offer virtual sessions”
What inspired you to start working with new and soon-to-be parents?
“The transition to motherhood changes your body so much, this goes against many cultural norms and pressures and can weigh so heavily on women. It brings me joy to help provide some freedom from that through therapy.”
What are some of the common challenges your clients face in early parenthood, and how do you support them through that?
“Body image issues/debunking diet culture and the need to "bounce back". I support clients through my experience and training with disordered eating, my training in intuitive eating, and a gentle approach to transforming the way we view our bodies. ”
“Providing a space of safety, freedom, and healing for moms is a huge passion of mine. It’s difficult being a mom in any capacity. Being able to provide a meaningful level of support for them is everything to me!”
What makes your approach unique or different from others in your field?
“What makes my approach different is my training. I have an international training certification in eating disorders, this allows me to approach body image issues, pregnancy, and new moms with education, data, and research based experiences.
I can also provide EMDR around body image and specific food triggers. ”
Are there particular moments in your work that feel especially meaningful or rewarding?
“Providing a space of safety, freedom, and healing for moms is a huge passion of mine. It's difficult being a mom in any capacity. Being able to provide a meaningful level of support for them is everything to me! ”
Can you share one thing you wish all new parents knew or believed about themselves?
“That they can trust themselves. They know their kid best and they can trust themselves. ”
What’s something you wish more people understood or asked about your work?
“I wish people knew that eating disorders and disordered eating is a spectrum. Just because someone isn't significantly underweight or fainting frequently doesn't mean they arent' struggling with food. Someone in any body size can struggle with body image and disordered eating.”
How can someone know if your service might be a good fit for them?
“I would be a good fit for someone if they have a lot of food noise in their mind. Feeling guilty after eating certain foods, feeling like food, exercise, or the desire to change their body is taking over their life and impacting their relationships.”
We’re so grateful to Carli for sharing a window into her work at The Caring Shop and for being part of the village of support around new parents in our community!
You can learn more about her services at www.thecaringshop.com, or follow along at @the.caring.shop
This post is part of our Building the Village blog series, created to highlight trusted providers who support families through every stage of parenthood — from pregnancy to postpartum, and all the complexity in between.
💛 Explore the full series here.
About the Author - Aspen Grove Counseling and Wellness
Aspen Grove Counseling & Wellness is a Decatur-based therapy practice supporting individuals and couples across Georgia. We offer warm, steady, emotionally attuned care through all stages of parenting — from pregnancy and postpartum to the long-term identity shifts and relationship changes that caregiving can bring.
If you’re looking for a postpartum therapist in Atlanta, we specialize in helping clients navigate the emotional and mental health challenges that often follow birth — including anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, and identity loss. We also support clients through pregnancy therapy, parenthood after loss, and the ongoing work of caring for others while staying connected to yourself.
Our services include individual therapy, couples counseling, and The Intentional Babymoon — a private, retreat-style intensive that helps partners reconnect and prepare for life after baby.
💛 Learn more about our services throughout the site or reach out here.