Recovering Again: Navigating Eating Disorders After a Late Neurodivergent Diagnosis (Part 1) With Stacie Fanelli, LCSW @edadhd_therapist

What happens when your eating disorder recovery path no longer fits—because you finally discover you're neurodivergent? In Part 1 of this rich and validating conversation, Dr. Marianne is joined by Stacie Fanelli, LCSW (@edadhd_therapist), a neurodiversity-affirming therapist who specializes in eating disorders, ADHD, and autism. Together, they unpack the layered emotional terrain of realizing you’re neurodivergent after you've already done a round (or more) of eating disorder treatment.

This episode explores why so many late-diagnosed AuDHD folks experience grief, betrayal, and burnout in recovery settings—and what it means to reclaim recovery on your own terms. Stacie shares her own story of late identification, how it reshaped her clinical lens, and why compliance-based care can feel like safety while quietly reinforcing masking. If you’ve ever wondered whether traditional recovery frameworks truly work for neurodivergent brains, this episode offers both clarity and comfort.

💻 Want to learn how to better support neurodivergent clients with ARFID? Explore Dr. Marianne’s ARFID and Selective Eating Course—a self-paced, neurodivergent-affirming, sensory-attuned training for therapists, dietitians, adults with ARFID, and caregivers: www.drmariannemiller.com/arfid

ABOUT STACIE FANELLI, LCSW

Stacie Fanelli (she/her) is an AuDHD outpatient therapist specializing in the intersection of eating disorders, ADHD, and autism with experience at all levels of care. She works primarily with high-masking, late-identified folks using interpersonal and existential approaches to exploring the neurodivergent identity and its impact on the relationship with food and body. Stacie also provides consultation, training, and education via social media about neurodiversity-affirming ED care.

 

Her office is in Rancho Cucamonga, California. She sees clients virtually in California and Pennsylvania.

 

CONTACT & FOLLOW STACIE

www.autonomousmindstherapy.com

@edadhd_therapist on Instagram

staciefanelli.msw@gmail.com

 

CHECK OUT OTHER EPISODES WITH STACIE AND ON NEURODIVERSITY & EATING DISORDERS!

• Minding the Gap: The Intersection Between AuDHD & Eating Disorders With Stacie Fanelli, LCSW on Apple and Spotify.
• Navigating ADHD, eating disorders, and sensory sensitivities on Apple and Spotify.
• The Invisible Hunger: How Masking Shows Up in Eating Disorder Recovery on Apple and Spotify.
• Overexercising, ADHD, and eating disorders on Apple and Spotify.

 

INTERESTED IN HANGING OUT MORE IN DR. MARIANNE-LAND?

• Follow me on Instagram @drmariannemiller
• Check out my virtual, self-paced ARFID and Selective Eating course
• Learn about my self-paced, virtual, anti-diet subscription-based curriculum. It is called Dr. Marianne-Land's Binge Eating Recovery Membership.
• Live in California, Texas, or Washington D.C. and interested in eating disorder therapy with me? Sign up for a free, 15-minute phone consultation HERE or via my website, and I'll get you to where you need to be!
• Check out my blog.
• Want more information? Email me at hello@mariannemiller.com