Alisa Karmel, PsyD, LPC
Meet Alisa
Hi, I’m Dr. Alisa Karmel (she/her). I’m a licensed psychologist in Oregon, a mother, an author, and a fat person. I offer virtual individual therapy for adults ages 18 and older, as well as group therapy.
I provide fat-affirming, weight-inclusive care for people who are tired of being shamed, managed, or treated as though their bodies need to be fixed. I work with people in fat bodies across the full range of relationships to weight: people who are not pursuing weight loss, people who feel ambivalent, and people who are actively pursuing it, including through GLP-1 medications or weight-loss surgery. There is no “right” way to be in a fat body, and your care here is never conditional on changing yours.
I also facilitate groups, including T-Shirt Swim Club, a fat-affirming support group for people navigating body image, food, and health in a weight-obsessed world.
You Might Be a Good Fit If...
You want support that respects your autonomy and takes the effects of weight stigma seriously. You may be:
Experiencing body image distress or a complicated relationship with food.
Navigating emotional eating, binge eating, or concerns related to disordered eating.
Feeling anxious, depressed, stressed, or having trouble sleeping.
Living with the effects of weight stigma, medical fatphobia, or harm in healthcare.
Considering or using a GLP-1 medication, or considering or recovering from weight-loss surgery.
Unsure how you feel about weight loss and wanting space to explore that without pressure.
Looking for care that makes room for your lived experience, values, and choices.
How I Work
Our sessions are collaborative, consent-based, and paced with care. I’ll listen to what feels most present for you, help you make sense of your experiences, and support you in deciding what you want for yourself. We can explore emotions, patterns, and possible next steps without shame or rigid expectations.
I won’t prescribe rules about food or exercise or make weight loss the measure of progress in therapy. If you are pursuing weight loss, you are still welcome. My role is to offer thoughtful support that respects your choices and keeps your dignity and well-being at the center of our work.
My Approach
My work brings evidence-based behavioral interventions into a trauma-informed, fat-affirming, weight-inclusive framework. I primarily use motivational interviewing and patient-centered language to support autonomy and decisions grounded in your values. My background in health psychology, counseling, and nutrition helps me attend to the ways mental health, food, bodies, and healthcare experiences intersect.
Education & Credentials
Licensed Psychologist, Oregon
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Master’s Degree in Nutrition (MSnC)
My training spans education, counseling psychology, nutrition, and clinical psychology through the University of Oregon, Pacific University, and the National University of Natural Medicine. I am also completing ongoing fat-affirming, weight-inclusive training through the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH).
I am the co-author of T-Shirt Swim Club and co-host of The Forking Truth podcast.
Interested in Working With Alisa?
Submit a prospective patient inquiry and let us know that you’re interested in working with Alisa. We’ll review your needs, preferences, insurance, scheduling availability, and current provider openings to determine whether Alisa may be a good fit.