Kalon Collective

Website: www.Kaloncollective.com

1) Kena Watson, LPA

What is your current position?

I am the administrator for Kalon Collective LLC and a psychologist in private practice. I am the first point of contact for new clients seeking services.

How did you get started in your career?

I gained insight into the need for Kalon Collective LLC’s services through my work as a direct care staff member and then a therapist at an eating disorder treatment facility. It was through aftercare planning for my individual clients that I saw that there was a gap in outpatient resources, especially for accountability and education in preparing and cooking meals or even having meals alone, with friends or on the job. Kalon Collective LLC was started to fill those gaps and further promote clients in their recovery.

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

Self-care, self-care, self-care! No one is immune to negative self-talk and/or poor relationships with food and body (including mental health professionals). Be sure you are taking time for yourself as you hold space for your clients.

2) Jennifer Murphy

What is your current position?

I am the Culinary Consultant for Kalon Collective LLC.

How did you get started in your career?

I started my work with folks in eating disorder recovery employed at an eating disorder treatment facility, where I obtained my experience through various roles in direct patient care. Throughout the years of working for this facility I moved into the role of Culinary Director at one of the two locations. It was in this role that I saw how effective one on one interactions, challenges and education in the kitchen were for the patients there. This insight led my partners and I to form Kalon Collective LLC as an outpatient resource, providing again the one on one care that people might have not received during their time in treatment.

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

Keep an open mind, be patient, try to put yourself in your client’s shoes, and be yourself. Remember that you are planting a seed in someone’s life and even if you see the fruits of your labor or not, you are still making a significant impact.  

3) Sara Riggs MSW, LCSW

What is your current position?

I oversee the marketing and social media for Kalon Collective LLC and am a licensed clinical social worker in private practice.

How did you get started in your career?

I first found my way into helping folks with eating disorders after undergrad, working as an administrator at an outpatient eating disorder center. From there I moved into a direct care staff role at a different eating disorder facility, and then was offered a therapist position once I graduated with my master’s degree at that same facility. I worked full time as a therapist until fully licensed as a clinical social worker and then began my yearlong transition to outpatient, while building Kalon Collective LLC with Jennifer and Kena. Our combined, unique experiences allowed us to see what was missing in the eating disorder recovery community and generally in the world of effective health and wellness practices.

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

Find a good supervisor and network/group to consult and work with. I felt incredibly lucky and appreciative to work with some really talented, supportive, generous and compassion folks over the years either as supervisors or as colleagues. You can learn a lot from working side by side with people, as well as offer and receive true support from others who are doing similar work. Kalon Collective LLC wouldn’t have been created or what it is today without the support from many awesome folks in our community and field.