Conversations with the Inspiring Holli Zehring

Today we’d like to introduce you to Holli Zehring.

Holli, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Liverpool, NY and was diagnosed with an eating disorder when I was 16 years old. At the time my parents decided my best chances for recovering were to go inpatient at a treatment program in Arizona. So, I spent 4 months of my senior year of high school in a treatment program out west. It was an extremely helpful time for me and my journey to healing. However, as soon as I got back home I was depressed and using my eating disorder to cope again. My parents were concerned and asked why I was back to my old habits and what would be helpful for me to continue recovery. I told them I needed a place to go to continue the support I needed and have a community of people who understand this disease. From that conversation my mom started Ophelia’s Place, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support, access to treatment, and education that raises awareness and reduces shame and stigma for anyone impacted by eating disorders, disordered eating and body image. I ended up moving to Arizona not long after I graduated high school and admired the work of Ophelia’s Place from afar. I knew I wanted to open an extension of the non-profit here. After many years of dreaming and hoping for a place here, the dream became a reality and Ophelia’s Place now has an office inside Arizona Restorative Psychiatry in Gilbert, AZ. My husband is a psychiatrist there who specializes in eating disorders as well. It is an incredible privilege to be able to work with him and to be able to offer these services here.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has been anything but smooth. There have been some pretty intense potholes that I never thought I was going to get through. My biggest struggle in this journey so far was just getting started. Having had an eating disorder and depression my confidence was extremely low and I just didn’t think I was capable of doing it. I also got married, had 2 kids, and supported my husband while he was in medical school, which was an extremely busy and trying time for us. Looking back I realized that even though I had the dream of Ophelia’s Place and helping people with eating disorders, the timing wasn’t quite right. I had a lot of shame feeling like each year that passed I was further away from it becoming a reality, when truly that season of life was devoted to my family and building a personal foundation for the organization to be built on. Part of what is so difficult to start is wanting it to be easy. It wasn’t until I embraced the fear and I embraced the uncomfortableness that I was willing to try. My advice to people just starting out is to understand it is supposed to be hard, if it’s difficult you are doing it right. It also takes practice. I needed to practice putting myself out there, practice being ok with failure, practice the vulnerability of wanting a world where truly everybody is beautiful, practice making friends with the unknown. Also understand that things take time and it’s hard work. Be sure to ask for help when you need it and rest when you need it.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Ophelia’s Place story. Tell us more about the business.
Ophelia’s Place has been a non-profit for 15 years. We are known for the work we do in the community for mental health and eating disorders. We offer support, which is crucial for eating disorder recovery but difficult to find, as well as education which helps to reduce shame and stigma and help people understand what an eating disorder even is, access to treatment and connecting people to providers. We host support groups, we answer calls from families and loved ones who need help, we connect people to the level of care necessary and treatment providers, and we go into the community to educate people about eating disorders and the impact of negative self-image. I am incredibly proud to be a part of this organization. We are passionate about positively impacting communities and connecting people to the help they need. We do not charge for our services and are a low barrier entry point for people with questions, concerns, or in need of guidance. We also have a product line that sells Everybody is Beautiful swag, and all of the profits go back to support the non-profit! It has been an incredible way to raise funds for our work as well as raise awareness!

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
One woman who has inspired me immensely is my daughter, Anna. She has an incredible depth to her that is unmatched. She is kind, smart, hardworking, and is simultaneously aware of her limits as well as pushing herself to be the best she knows she can be. She has become an advocate for all people believing that everybody is beautiful, and it is amazing watching her share that with her friends and at her school.

Contact Info:

• Address: 459 North Gilbert Road
  Suite C-110
  Gilbert, AZ 85234
• Website: www.opheliasplace.org
• Phone: 480-436-7683
• Email: holli@opheliasplace.org
• Instagram: @circlesofchange
• Facebook: @opheliasplace407

Image Credit:
Dream photography studio
Denise Nicole Photography
Rachel Liz Photography

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