About Alli

Alli Spotts-De Lazzer is an educator, speaker, author, eating disorders expert, and licensed mental health therapist with nearly two decades of experience. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS), CEDS-Approved Consultant (CEDS-C), and Inclusive Eating Disorders Specialist (IEDS). She serves as adjunct faculty within Antioch University’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Program.

Alli is the lead author of My Child Has an Eating Disorder: An Essential Guide for Parents of Kids, Teens, and Adults (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026)—originating the concept, guiding the clinical content, and spearheading the integration of all research. She invited a recovery coach to co-author, which added practical skills and rich, lived experience of both recovery and live-in coaching. Alli's longstanding caregiver support group taught her what parents need to become more confident, effective allies in treatment. The book is designed to help families move from fear, confusion, and self-blame to more grounded, effective support.

Alli is also the author of MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, and Body Image Issues (Unsolicited Press, 2021) and a contributor to Body Image and Self-Esteem (Independence Educational Publishers, 2024). Through her Psychology Today column, academic journals, and trade publications, she has authored more than 100 articles.

A frequent speaker and trusted media resource, Alli has presented at conferences, universities, training programs, and community events. Her expertise has been featured by outlets including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Parents, SELF, KTLA broadcast news, and Sky News (international).

Passionate about advocacy and public-facing education, Alli created and directed #ShakeIt for Self-Acceptance!, a national mental health initiative that used movement, joy, and embodiment to spark conversations about self-acceptance and body image. #ShakeIt appeared throughout the nation—from Capitol Hill to the former Staples Center. She has also facilitated a no cost, community resource support and education group for friends and family of individuals with eating disorders since 2011.

Alli has held leadership roles with the Academy for Eating Disorders and the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals. She has helped develop the current national CEDS curriculum and has served on the CEDS faculty. 

Her honors include receiving the Member of the Year Award from the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, serving as an invited expert reviewer for the American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders (2022 draft), appearing as an expert panelist for Harvard Alumni for Mental Health, and having #ShakeIt for Self-Acceptance! Day declared in the City of Los Angeles by the former Mayor.