What are people saying about Kathleen's presentations?

"from my point of view, and I think what is truly most helpful and was so powerful, was when you explained the games, the self deception etc. Being completely recovered is a whole different ball game and I felt your discussion of what that really means, and the process you had to go through to get there is the important take away message."

Amy Dennis, PhD, Board of Directors, National Eating Disorders Association

"I have had the pleasure of coordinating with Kathleen to provide information and education to the University of Michigan students. I am particularly struck by Kathleen's effectiveness with our student population. She has a wonderful way of connecting with groups passionately empowering individuals to consider their own body image and encouraging those who are struggling to reach out for help"

EricaNoelle V. Dodde, LLMSW, Health Educator/Program Coordinator, University of Michigan

"I did come up and say hello to you, and it took everything I had to do it. Luckily, you were wonderful. You asked my name and gave me a hug, and I felt more "seen" by someone than I have in a long time. It felt like being home. You have quite a beautiful gift. Thank you for that. I hold onto the memory like the smiling joy of seeing a bright red cardinal on a very snowy day. You also talked about how you can be "recovered". I've never heard anyone say that before. It has been mulling around in my mind. A possibility that I never thought could exist for me. But now I have you to think of as a model of "recovered". Thank you. And, for the first time in 27 years, I feel like I will be joining your ranks."

L.M.

"Kathleen is one of the most genuine, honest, and up-front people to ever take a stand against eating disorders. She approaches this morose subject with enough courage and hope to inspire an entire generation, and its dedicated people like her who are changing and saving lives every day just by being honest about her experiences. The first time I met Kathleen was at Lobby Day 2007 with the Eating Disorders Coalition; I had wanted to organize some kind of eating disorder awareness on my campus for almost 3 years, and it was after meeting her that I found the inspiration and motivation to finally do it. The following year, she was our first guest speaker to a group of almost 300 students, and it couldn’t have gone better. We both received emails from students thanking us for the presentation, most of which went on to say they were inspired by her speech to ‘not just become a statistic’ and were going to start going to counseling. I have nothing but love and positive regard for Kathleen, and can’t recommend her enough."

Matthew Wetsel, eating disorder survivor, President and Founder of Students for the Elimination of Eating Disorders at Virginia Commonwealth University

"Your speech was absolutely amazing. There are no words that can explain exactly how much it moved me. I felt like I could relate to everything you said. Lobby Day was great, but nothing touched me as much as your speech did. You mentioned the way that you felt when you left the congressional briefing in 2002. That is how I felt at Lobby Day a few weeks ago. Now, I can never imagine falling back into my eating disorder...ever again. Thank you."

D.D.

"I had the honor and pleasure of speaking with Kathleen at a Congressional Briefing in April, 2008. I wish that every patient I have ever treated, every family member, and every clinician who works with eating disorders could hear her speak. Her disarming honesty unveils the lengths to which the anxiety associated with anorexia nervosa can drive someone to deceive themselves and the ones they love. Her honesty, compassion, and humor demystify eating disorders. She helps us understand and be less fearful of a disorder that we know can take lives. When she spoke at the briefing, I cried, not because of the sadness of her story, but out of joy that she was alive to help others discover the path to life that she had found."

Cynthia M. Bulik, PhD, FAED, Jordan Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders, Director, University of North Carolina Eating Disorders Program, Past-President, Academy for Eating Disorders, Vice-President, Eating Disorders Coalition

"I attended your presentation at Beaumont on Wednesday, Feb. 28th. You did a very good job. I am currently recovering from an eating disorder and that powerpoint helped me so much. For some reason I never believed anorexia could really have killed me until I saw that movie. For the first time, after watching the movie, reality hit me and I saw how serious eating disorders are. Thank you so much for coming."

R.M.

"I didn't personally come up to you and introduce myself after your amazing presentation this morning but I was sitting in the second row listening very carefully. one because it was so interesting and honestly, life changing and two because i know two people personally that have eating disorders. unfortunately one of the people i know missed the assembly today but it she had a good reason. she was in florida getting help. but i really wanted to thank you for everything that you talked about it and i am glad that you were there today at school because it was amazing and i really enjoyed it"

"...I was one of the students at your presentation today and i just wanted to let you know that today really changed what i thought about alot of things. i dont have an eating disorder, but i have thought about it more than once. Any thought that was ever in my mind has totally gone away. I have realized that my life is more important to me then what people see me as and i want to thank you so much for that. I thought the presentation today was amazing and everyone i talked to thought the same..."

Virgina Commonwealth University Student

Please contact Kathleen MacDonald for booking or more information

Phone: (202)203-0999
Email: kathleen@freedfoundation.org