How the Healing Power of Conversation Changed My Life and Sparked Sesh: An Interview with Sesh Founder, Tori

Eating disorders affect millions of people worldwide, yet they are often misunderstood and stigmatized. For Vittoria "Tori" Lecomte, CEO and Founder of Sesh, her experience with an eating disorder was no different. Tori lived with an eating disorder for years, and like many others, found it difficult to find the right treatment and support. In this article, we share excerpts from a conversation with Tori where she shares her lived experience with an eating disorder, the treatment she received, and the impact that support groups had on her recovery journey. Tori's story is not only one of courage and resilience but also sheds light on the importance of creating and supporting safe spaces for those who are struggling with mental health issues. Join us as we dive deeper into Tori's journey and how it inspired the work we’re doing through Sesh to connect people to the healing power of community.

Q. When and how did you first realize that you had an eating disorder??

I realized it really, really late. There were many years where I was not aware of my eating disorder — it wasn’t something that I named as an eating disorder for many years. I needed to see a diagnosis written on paper. I didn't fully internalize it until I left work and went into treatment.?

Q. What motivated you to seek treatment at the Eating Recovery Center?

The biggest motivator was how [my eating disorder] was affecting my physical health. It was beyond the behavioral: no longer something that I was doing just to cope or feel in control. This was now having an effect on my physical well being. This was affecting my long-term health, longevity, and potentially my ability to have children. I waited way too long to seek help because I was working and excelling in my career. I really thought, “That can’t be me” until it was almost too late.

Q. What type of treatment did you receive for your eating disorder??

[During in-patient treatment] we got one, or maybe two, individualized one-on-one therapy sessions a week. We were there all day and all night and had a whole itinerary every single day. It was like being in school. Scheduled activities and meals, and no phones.?

Everything involved being around other people. We would go to an art therapy group, then a process group, etc. We even ate together as a group - there was almost no alone time. Everything was focused on groups.

Q. What role did individual (one-on-one) therapy versus group support play in your recovery??

Individual therapy provided me with a little bit more direct, professional treatment alongside the groups, but it was really a compliment [to the groups]. It was a smaller part of the later stages of my recovery. I was in one-on-one therapy for years before I went into treatment, so it played a big part, but I wish that it was the other way around because groups got me the help that I needed.

The other people that I was surrounded by — that I had the pleasure of being around — were the ones that helped me heal and recognize that I shouldn't be ashamed of what I was going through. Not only should I not be ashamed, but I'm also unique in my own circumstances.?

Other people in my situation were the key ingredient in me fully digging myself out of years and years of struggle, and that struggle was something that I couldn't solve in one-on-one therapy alone. I had an empathetic therapist, sure, but she wasn't going through it with me. I think that's important. You want to see that you're not alone. Seeing other people go through what I was going through. It wasn’t this thing that I was experiencing alone and reading about on WebMD anymore.?

Q. Were support groups ever provided to you as an option before you decided to seek inpatient treatment?

Never. Not once. Not once in college and not once in individual therapy. The therapist [I found] in college was able to recognize that I needed support, but there was no support group. There was no group in a giant public university with 50,000 students. So where the f*** are the groups?! Groups are not a niche thing and so they shouldn't just be for a niche population.?

Q. Before attending a support group what thoughts did you have on them? Were there any negative connotations?

I was so scared. I was envisioning the room with the creaky chairs sitting there, the white walls and horrible lighting. Looking back, I wouldn’t focus on the physical aspect of what groups look like. I would say that you're going to meet some of the most amazing, smartest, funniest people that you'll ever meet and that this experience will reinvigorate you. The way that you'll see yourself after this is going to be so refreshing.?

Q. How would you describe the Tori you met living below the surface of your eating disorder??

She was really familiar. Familiar because I was already an adult before I had developed an eating disorder, so I felt like I was coming back to myself. There were 10 years of my life where I felt truly disconnected, kind of like a shell. After treatment, I was back home with the person that I always was. I was creative and social. Passionate about things and energized! With my eating disorder I didn't have energy for anything or anyone. I rediscovered someone who had the ability to love, focus on, and cherish relationships with others. I was able to laugh a lot more and enjoy things again.?

Q. When and why did you decide to start Sesh??

I decided to start Sesh in 2019. I saw that there was a big, big gap in the mental health resources that people had access to and groups weren't, and aren’t, at the forefront for those of us that are struggling. Especially not for people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, work, relationships, body image — you name it there was a gap. [Support groups] don't need to be this thing that only exists in acute care centers. It's really an approachable concept that can help a lot of people. I believed it would help a lot of people just like it helped me. I now know that my experience wasn’t novel after being around others recovering from disordered eating. Once I started viewing myself as a person — a person who was so much more than her illness — I realized that group support was an obvious thing that so many people could benefit from. I knew they helped me and could help others.?

Q. How do you think that benefits leaders can better support employees struggling with eating disorders in the workplace?

I think acknowledging that people in your organization could be struggling with an eating disorder is something that's left for other companies or other types of employees. I guarantee you know someone in your own organization with an eating disorder and you're just not providing space for them to connect with other people on the topic, so they feel that they're probably the only one dealing with this. If you aren’t providing space for people to talk about these things, you aren't even seeing the person past your employee. What else are you missing? There's so, so much to be discovered there.

Provide spaces for your employees to connect with other people that are going through this and destigmatize eating disorders. Most people know someone who has a destructive relationship with food, period. What does that mean for productivity? Providing resources is one thing, but publicly recognizing and normalizing things like eating disorders should be as normal as talking about stress and anxiety. Stress, anxiety, burnout… these are all of the “socially acceptable” struggles to talk about. However, eating disorders are, for whatever reason, not being talked about explicitly by benefits leaders.

This really comes down to a conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Not just in the sense of people who may look different than us, but including the person underneath. If you have a resource that just meets surface-level needs, you’re missing the component of the person beneath the surface.

Q. In one sentence, what advice would you give to someone struggling with an eating disorder who may be hesitant to seek help??

You're going to be so much happier when you tackle this.

Tori’s story is a powerful reminder that eating disorders affect people of all backgrounds and that recovery is a journey that requires community, conversation, and support from others. Through her experience, she learned that support groups can play a crucial role in recovery, providing a space for individuals to connect with others who understand what they are going through.?Sesh?offers a unique and accessible way to connect with others who are on a similar journey, providing a safe and supportive community for those seeking to find healing in community. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, we encourage you to explore the resources available through?Sesh?and take the first step towards a healthier, happier life. Remember, recovery is possible, and you are not alone.