HER STORY ⟡ Tamie Gangloff

Jun 11

Today, we are meeting Author Tamie Gangloff MA, MFT!

Tell Us About You:

I am a retired athlete living with a disability, a devoted cat mom, and an unapologetic coffee lover. I’m a therapist, author, and professor — a connector, empath, curious nerd, a little silly, and forever loyal to 80’s music.

After spending a decade in another field, I returned to graduate school with a new sense of clarity and purpose. I have been sober for nearly three decades and in recovery from an eating disorder for almost as long. My recovery journey, medical challenges, and life experience — paired with a deep commitment to transforming pain into purpose — led me to become a therapist, national speaker, and author. I write and teach so that my story, insight, and clinical work can help others heal. I remain a work in progress and continue to prioritize my own growth and healing.

Tell Us About Your Business

My work lives at the intersection of chronic illness, eating disorders, addiction, and medical trauma. I provide compassionate coaching and counseling for individuals navigating complex and often misunderstood health experiences.

Living with chronic illness myself, I blend lived experience with clinical expertise to support clients managing anxiety, depression, PTSD, and the identity shifts that accompany prolonged health challenges. My practice is rooted in empowerment, medical skill-building, self-advocacy, and sustainable resilience — helping clients rebuild trust in their bodies and move from survival mode toward intentional, values-driven living.

I collaborate closely with interdisciplinary treatment teams and provide peer case consultation for clinicians working at the intersection of chronic illness and disordered eating. As a national speaker, I deliver experiential, empowerment-focused presentations on chronic illness, medical trauma, eating disorders, and resilience. My signature presentation, Gratitude, Grief, Grace… and Some Grit!, explores how we hold sorrow and strength simultaneously — offering practical tools to cultivate grounded gratitude, honor grief, build resilience, and live with courageous authenticity. I am the author of Chronic Illness and Eating Disorders: Assessment, Clinical Skills, and Lived Experiences and offer a professional referral network, a free clinician support group, and educational trainings for providers and organizations.

What Type of Impact Do You Hope to Have?

I hope that those I meet feel deeply seen, heard, and understood. I want people to leave with tangible tools and renewed confidence to navigate life’s physical and emotional challenges. Most importantly, I hope they begin to believe in themselves — and know that I hold hope for them, even when they are not yet able to hold it for themselves. I strive to be both a resource and a connector, widening the circle of support whenever possible.

What Advice Would You Give Yourself From Five Years Ago?

You deserve more. You do not have to settle — not in your career, relationships, friendships, or medical care. You are allowed to set boundaries and release what no longer serves you. You are about to enter a season of profound letting go. It will be painful at times, but it will also be transformative. (And perhaps skip the race where you broke your wrist.) Keep going. You cannot yet see what is ahead. Work a little less. Take more vacations. Your worth is inherent — it is not measured by productivity or achievement.

What Does BEAUTY Mean to You?

Beauty is authenticity. It is the courage to show up fully and honor your need for rest, connection, and meaning. External beauty is joyful and expressive — for me, that looks like pink clothing and sparkly shoes. It is not the entirety of who I am, but it is one playful expression of self. True beauty is being yourself in a world that often encourages conformity. It is allowing yourself to be loved — not in spite of who you are, but because of it. Beauty is taking up the space you need and deserve.

What Do You Love Most About Owning Your Own Business?

I love the freedom to create, evolve, and grow. I love that I am not waiting for a seat at the table — I am the seat. While I welcome collaboration and wise counsel, I ultimately shape my vision. I am the CEO of my purpose.

Who or What Inspires You?

Athletes who have overcome unimaginable odds deeply inspire me. Reading their stories following my spine surgeries strengthened my own recovery. Women who have paved the way ahead of me, including mentors such as Carolyn Costin and Jessica Setnick, continue to influence my work and leadership. My sister inspires me through her athletic journey, and my clients inspire me daily as they advocate for themselves and accomplish what once felt impossible.

What Would You Like Our Beauty Boost Members to Know?

If I ask how you are, I genuinely want the real answer — and I will offer the same in return. I value depth over small talk. We have all walked through dark seasons. I may share pieces of mine more openly than expected — not for attention, but to remind others they are not alone. I believe in widening the circle. There is always room for one more at the table.

Favorite Quotes