The Hunger to Be Seen: Childhood Emotional Neglect & Emotional Loneliness with Mary Dobson, LMFT

What if your struggle with food isn’t about food at all?

In this raw and revealing episode of The Dr. Sylvia K Show, licensed psychotherapist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Mary Dobson, LMFT, joins us to explore Family Systems Theory and hidden roots of disordered eating—childhood emotional neglect (CEN) and emotional loneliness. We unpack family systems theory, the roles we play in our families, and why so many high-functioning people feel numb, disconnected, or constantly “not enough,” despite looking like they have it all together.

Mary shares how perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the pressure to perform often begin in emotionally neglectful environments—and how these patterns become embedded not just in the mind, but in the body. She introduces her Recover Your Self™ framework and daily practices that help you come back to who you really are—beneath the masks, the roles, and the “shoulds.”

We also discuss:

• How emotional neglect shapes identity, not just behavior
• The link between emotional abandonment and disordered eating
• Why community service—not just talk therapy—is essential for recovery
• The radical power of joy, pausing,  and breaking free from performative living

If you’ve ever felt emotionally invisible or like your struggles are “too much,”  or whatever you do, it never feels enough, you're not alone. This conversation will meet you right where you are—with truth, compassion, and a path home to yourself.

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For more information on Mary Hobson,LMFT, visit her website: https://www.marydobson.com/

Follow her on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/realpsychotherapist/