Health at Every Size® Healthcare Provider Listing
Allison Gasca-Backman, LCSW/MPH
(she/her)
Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Therapist
Brown Dog Therapy and Wellness
virtual,
Virginia,
United States
Contact Me:
Make an Appointment:
Special Instructions: Feel free to email me directly, or submit an inquiry form on my website.
Sliding Scale Available
Waitlist Available
Specialties & Areas of Focus:
- trauma
- eating disorders
- weight stigma
- mental health
Age Groups Served:
- Adults (18 years old and up)
- Older Adults (65+ years old)
- Adults (18 years old and up)
- Older Adults (65+ years old)
Additional Populations Served & Allied Groups:
- LGBTQIA+
- folks in larger bodies
- Jewish
Languages Services Offered In:
- English
- English
My Philosophy of Care
My care philosophy is rooted in the belief that you are enough exactly as you are, and your body was never the problem. At Brown Dog Therapy and Wellness, I offer a trauma-informed, weight-inclusive space where clients can explore their relationships with food, body, identity, and self-worth without shame or judgment. As a Health at Every Size® provider, I honor bodily autonomy and reject the notion that health is determined by weight or appearance. Instead, I focus on fostering self-compassion and body trust, meeting each client where they are.
My approach is collaborative and grounded in social justice, recognizing that healing occurs within the context of systemic oppression and cultural narratives. I integrate liberatory frameworks, including fat liberation, disability justice, and intersectional feminism, to support clients in reclaiming their bodies and stories. By addressing the impacts of Diet Culture, perfectionism, and trauma, I aim to create a therapeutic environment where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered to pursue well-being on their terms.
Being a HAES® provider means committing to ongoing learning and advocacy to dismantle weight stigma and promote equitable care for all bodies. It's about shifting the focus from weight to holistic health, acknowledging that well-being is multifaceted and deeply personal. Through this lens, I strive to support clients in cultivating a compassionate relationship with themselves and embracing their inherent worth.
My approach is collaborative and grounded in social justice, recognizing that healing occurs within the context of systemic oppression and cultural narratives. I integrate liberatory frameworks, including fat liberation, disability justice, and intersectional feminism, to support clients in reclaiming their bodies and stories. By addressing the impacts of Diet Culture, perfectionism, and trauma, I aim to create a therapeutic environment where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered to pursue well-being on their terms.
Being a HAES® provider means committing to ongoing learning and advocacy to dismantle weight stigma and promote equitable care for all bodies. It's about shifting the focus from weight to holistic health, acknowledging that well-being is multifaceted and deeply personal. Through this lens, I strive to support clients in cultivating a compassionate relationship with themselves and embracing their inherent worth.
About Me & My Practice
I came to this work through both personal and professional paths—unlearning diet culture in my own life led me to support others in doing the same. As a therapist, I specialize in helping people heal their relationships with food, body, and self, especially those in larger bodies who have been harmed by fatphobia in medical, family, and cultural systems. I’ve practiced from a Health at Every Size® lens for over seven years, with specific training in eating disorders, body liberation, and trauma-informed care for people in fat and superfat bodies. My approach centers liberation, autonomy, and trust—your body is not a problem to be fixed.
Outside the therapy room, I’m a parent to a curious and strong-willed toddler and share life with my partner and our beloved dog, Oakley (the inspiration for the name of my practice). I find joy in travelling, cooking meals that nourish in all senses of the word, and being in nature. My advocacy shows up in the therapy space, in community education, and by challenging fatphobia wherever I encounter it.
Accessibility Considerations
I work in an entirely virtual setting, where accessibility barriers for clients may include them not having reliable Internet or privacy during sessions.