Chamber Insider Blog

Thank you to Helena and Alison from Enlighten Nutrition, Counseling and Care for sharing your story with us. Congratulations on being a finalist for the 30th Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards! View all finalists here and event info here.

Tell us the story of your business and how it’s evolved.

Enlighten Nutrition, Counseling and Care began its journey in late 2021 when Alison and Helena decided to launch a private practice focused on eating disorders in the Leesburg, VA area. Their friendship blossomed while working together at an eating disorder treatment facility, then later evolved into a strong business partnership.

After leaving that facility, both Alison and Helena gained valuable experience in different settings while keeping in touch. Eventually, they felt ready to embark on their own venture. They spent several months discussing their company’s name, mission, principles of care, and goals before ultimately choosing “Enlighten” to symbolize their commitment to guiding clients through recovery, rather than simply focusing on the end result.

Upon opening in November 2021, Enlighten started as a virtual practice but quickly recognized the strong demand for in-person services in Leesburg and Western Loudoun.

Since being founded, Enlighten has remained committed to providing accessible and affordable care, choosing to become an insurance-based private practice. While this decision posed challenges, it aligns perfectly with their mission. Today, Enlighten has expanded to include four additional providers alongside Alison and Helena, relocated to a new space in downtown Leesburg, and opened an office in Silver Spring, MD. They are dedicated to continuing to provide valuable resources and accessible care to their community, with endless possibilities ahead.

What are you most proud of when it comes to your team

At Enlighten Nutrition, we take great pride in our team’s individuality and diverse skill sets. Working in the eating disorder field can be challenging, requiring dedicated professionals with a genuine passion for serving this population. Alison and Helena consistently recognize the commitment of each team member through the exceptional care they provide, their eagerness to grow within the field, and the positive feedback from clients.

Each team member has a unique story and motivation for joining this field, allowing them to offer personalized care that meets clients where they are. By leveraging their individual strengths and specialties, our team delivers comprehensive care in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

In what ways do you give back to the Loudoun community

Enlighten has a strong focus on providing our services and expertise to the community as a goal of ours is to continue to spread awareness for eating disorders/disordered eating treatment.  We do this by attending various health fairs within the community each year and offering speaking engagements.  Enlighten continues to give back to the Loudoun community by offering a twice-a-year outpatient support group that dives further into the Intuitive Eating framework to anyone interested at a low cost to encourage accessibility.

What would it mean to you and your business to win a Small Business Award?

For Enlighten, winning a Small Business Award would underscore the significance of our work and the importance of the eating disorder field as a whole. We recognize that our business is unique, which can sometimes make promotion and fitting in a challenge. Given that the eating disorder community is relatively small and still fighting for recognition, receiving this award would shine a light on the positive impact our practice and others like it have on the community.

Moreover, we hope that winning the Small Business Award will help elevate our work and increase visibility for our field. This recognition would enhance our ability to provide accessible resources to anyone struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder, as well as those looking to navigate diet culture through our Health At Every Size and Intuitive Eating framework in nutrition and therapy services.

Who is the one person that has influenced you the most in your career?

For Helena, her parents have been the cornerstone of her journey as a confident businesswoman. They instilled hard work, resilience, and self-belief in her, teaching her to embrace challenges and view failures as growth opportunities. Their unwavering support and belief in Helena’s potential have inspired her to chase her dreams and take risks, shaping her into the strong woman she is today.

Similar to Helena, for Alison, her parents have strongly influenced her most in her career.  Her father in particular has been a successful business owner for most of Alison’s life.  She has been able to witness the ups and downs of being a business owner through her father and he continues to be a strong influence and positive example of the business owner Alison hopes to continue to be.  Her mother is one of the most committed and passionate people to their work that she knows while also being an attentive parent.  Alison now similarly has her own passion and commitment to her work and she credits her mother for that influence displaying that you can be successful within your career and a parent.  Furthermore, her mother is a woman in STEM and seeing her flourish in her own career has instilled confidence in Alison to reach for the stars both professionally and and personally.

What did you want to be when you grew up as a child?

For Helena, growing up, she dreamed of endless possibilities, never wanting to limit herself to just one career. She envisioned herself being a writer, a scientist, and an entrepreneur, each reflecting her diverse interests and passions. This multifaceted dream shaped her journey, allowing her to embrace new experiences and adapt to various roles, ultimately leading to a fulfilling career that encompasses many of her childhood ambitions.

For Alison, growing up she always knew that she wanted to be in a career that encompassed helping and serving others with a strong desire to be a healthcare provider early on.  While she bounced around from what type of healthcare provider she wanted to be, she has had an innate desire to help others and her career allows her to flourish both as a co-owner and a provider.

If you’re not in the office, where can we find you/what is another passion you have?

When they’re not in the office, you can often find Alison and Helena engaged in their “fun jobs” as fitness professionals, a passion they both share. Their dedication to fitness complements their roles as co-owners and providers, as joyful and mindful movement is a key principle of the Intuitive Eating framework they embrace. Alison works as a Certified Personal Trainer at Burn Bootcamp in Leesburg, VA, while Helena teaches various modalities of Pilates.

How do you see your business evolving in the next 5 years?

In the next five years, Enlighten aims to strengthen our mission and principles of care by providing affordable and accessible services. We envision expanding our team to offer even more support to those in need, enhancing our ability to deliver personalized care. Additionally, we plan to identify underserved areas and explore opportunities for expansion to reach more individuals seeking help. We also hope to develop new programs and partnerships that promote community awareness and education around eating disorders, furthering our impact. Ultimately, our goal is to create a supportive environment where everyone has access to the resources they need on their journey to recovery.

Check out the Enlighten Nutrition, Counseling and Care website here!