Eating Disorders & Body Image Therapy in Chesterfield, MO
RootED Pathways Therapy with Dr. Tammy Root
Empowering Individuals, Supporting Families
Hi, I’m Tammy, the founder of RootED Pathways Therapy, an outpatient therapy practice in Chesterfield, Missouri, serving individuals and families throughout St. Louis County and West County. I’m really glad you’re here.
If you’ve landed on this page, you, or someone you love, might be feeling stuck or worried. Maybe food has become complicated, your body feels like an adversary, or anxiety has become louder than you want it to be.
Maybe you’ve spent years trying to “figure it out” on your own, only to find yourself returning to familiar patterns or feeling overwhelmed, confused, or exhausted. Or perhaps your child is struggling in ways that feel difficult manage without extra support.
If so, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. You’re human, and you deserve support that understands the layers of what you’re navigating. With over 20 years of experience in the eating disorders field, I’ve learned something important:
Patterns around eating, body image, and anxiety often begin as attempts to cope. They can provide comfort, control, predictability, and a sense of safety when life feels overwhelming. But eventually, they begin taking more than they give. That’s often when people reach out.
My goal as a therapist is to help you move from feeling stuck to feeling more grounded, capable, and hopeful.
Dr. Tammy Root,
PhD, MS, NCC, LPC
Eating Disorders
Body Image Concerns
Perfectionism
Families Members Navigating Eating Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Life Transitions
GLP-1 Patients
Eating Disorders Body Image Concerns Perfectionism Families Members Navigating Eating Disorders Anxiety Disorders Life Transitions GLP-1 Patients
My Specialties
I specialize in treating eating disorders, disordered eating, body image concerns, and anxiety disorders. I work with families and couples who are navigating the challenges that arise when a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder.
I also work with clients who are struggling with food noise or body image concerns while on GLP-1 medications or after bariatric surgery. My work is grounded in body acceptance, compassion, and a Health at Every Size® (HAES®) framework. I do not promote weight loss; instead, I focus on helping you care for your whole self, emotionally and behaviorally, with clarity and kindness.
I also enjoy supporting clients who are moving through life transitions (middle school, high school, college, relationships, career, etc.) or simply managing the ongoing stressors of everyday life.
My Approach
My therapeutic style is calm, compassionate, deeply curious, and collaborative. I’m not here to judge or push. I’m here to understand your experience and help you untangle the beliefs, rules, and fears that are keeping you stuck, so you can move toward a life that feels more manageable and aligned with your values. Clients often tell me they feel safe, understood, and genuinely seen in our work together.
As both a clinician and academic, I am committed to bridging research and therapy practice. Treatment is tailored to the individual, drawing from evidence-based approaches, such as:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–Enhanced (CBT-E)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Family-Based Treatment/Therapy (FBT)
Some clients want help in understanding where thoughts and behaviors come from; others prefer a more active skills-based approach. Many of my clients benefit from a collaborative treatment team which may include a registered dietitian, physician, psychiatrist, or school counselor.
You won’t get a one-size-fits-all plan, but rather thoughtful, individualized support rooted in collaboration, respect, and meaningful progress.
Who I Treat
I work with children, adolescents, and adults, and commonly support:
Children, teens, and adults with eating disorders and disordered eating (clients have ranged from age 7 to 65).
Parents, partners, and family members supporting a loved one with an eating disorder.
Pre-teens and teens experiencing early body image concerns, or disordered eating often emerging in middle school and high school.
Individuals navigating trauma, emotional dysregulation, or long-standing patterns such as binge eating, restriction, or purging.
Individuals exhausted by years of dieting, food rules, or emotional eating.
Clients who have pursued medical weight interventions (bariatric surgery, GLP-1) and continue to struggle with food noise or body image concerns.
People struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, or self-criticism.
Teens and adults managing life transitions and the ongoing stressors of everyday life.
What I Treat
Eating disorders and disordered eating
Body image concerns
Emotional eating and chronic dieting patterns
Anxiety and stress
Perfectionism and self-criticism
Individuals struggling with food noise or body image concerns while on GLP-1 medications or after bariatric surgery
Life transitions (secondary school, college, relationships, career, etc.)
If You’re Considering Therapy
You don’t need to feel certain or have everything figured out to reach out. Many people contact me when something just doesn’t feel quite right around food, body image, anxiety, or a life transition. We can take things one step at a time and explore together what kind of support might feel most helpful for you.
You can contact me through my Inquiry Form.