Celebrating 10 Years of Sunrise Nutrition: A Letter to Our Community

From Mindy Chen, our Clinical Director

Dear Sunrise community,

This summer, Sunrise Nutrition turned 10.

It is hard to put into words what that milestone means to me.

Over the past decade, we have had the privilege of serving more than 870 individuals, and today we are actively supporting approximately 210 clients. Those numbers are meaningful, but what stays with me most are the people and relationships behind them.

Beemo and his human, Mindy

The clients who trusted us with vulnerable parts of their lives. The clinicians who brought care, curiosity, and humanity into the room. The colleagues and referral partners who picked up the phone, collaborated with us, challenged us, and helped create stronger networks of care.

Sunrise has never been something we built alone.

As a first-generation Asian immigrant woman and non-Black person of color, I have always wanted Sunrise to be a place where people are understood in context—where food and body concerns are not separated from culture, identity, family, access, oppression, and lived experience.

I wanted to build something that felt human.

A place where relationships matter. Where people are not reduced to diagnoses, numbers, or productivity. Where we can practice size-inclusive, anti-oppressive eating disorder care while continuing to learn, question, and grow alongside the communities we serve.

Ten years later, that is still who we are.

To our clients and their loved ones: thank you for trusting us. It is an extraordinary privilege to be invited into someone’s healing process, and we never want to lose sight of that.

To our team, past and present: thank you for the care you give, the ways you advocate for your clients, and the ways you continue to push Sunrise to become more thoughtful, inclusive, and compassionate. You are the heart of Sunrise.

And to our professional community and referral partners: thank you for believing in our team and for doing this work alongside us.

When I think about these first 10 years, I do not feel most proud of how large Sunrise has become.

I feel proud of the community around it. Proud of the people who have chosen to do this work with us, and of the conversations we are helping shape about what eating disorder care can look like.

Thank you for growing with us, challenging us, collaborating with us, and being part of this community.

I am deeply grateful for where we have been—and hopeful about what we will continue building together.

With gratitude,

Mindy Chen, LMHC, CN, CBTP

Clinical Director
Sunrise Nutrition

Mindy is a therapist and licensed nutritionist practicing in the state of WA. More importantly, click here to learn about Beemo.