By Myah Griffin
Resilience in Recovery
Tori Minteer, a graduate student at Western Kentucky University, exemplifies hope, bravery, love, and advocacy in her journey through recovering from an eating disorder.
Psychology major and graduate student, Tori Minteer, brings a story of hope and strength with her everywhere she goes on campus and beyond the Hill. After graduating high school in 2020, beginning college during COVID-19, and losing loved ones, Minteer's mental health started suffering at the beginning of 2021. In an effort to fully grieve these losses, she had begun going to therapy and seeing a dietician because of food struggles. However, Minteer ultimately had to move back home to be admitted into eating disorder treatment in November of 2022. While in treatment from November of 2022 to June of 2023, Minteer took classes online as a part-time student at WKU. After graduating from eating disorder treatment, Minteer returned to school full-time, graduating last December with an undergraduate degree in Psychology, and will graduate with a Master's of Clinical Mental Health Counseling in May of 2025. After earning her master's degree, Minteer will become a therapist and open a private practice with her mother, who is also a therapist. Minteer hopes to work with those who struggle with eating disorders or trauma once her own recovery is consistent and she is in a healthy place to do so.
Minteer journals outside of Christian Student Fellowship on April 24, 2024. She often journals to slow down, focus on herself, and see all her personal growth. To understand what she is feeling and going through in the moment, Minteer conducts a brain dump, where she writes down whatever comes to her mind and sorts through that to find an answer to what is going on.
Minteer converses with Emma Smith, a freshman at WKU, on April 16, 2024, during the mental health support group she leads at CSF each week. After becoming best friends with the leader of the mental health group during her sophomore year, Minteer was inspired to step into this leadership role, helping and supporting a group of girls every week.
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I think it is important to talk about mental health in a Christian setting because people think Christians have it all together, and that is not true. It is okay to be hurting and still love Jesus. That is what I hope to share at CSF.
Minteer cheers on one of the Bowling Green Junior High School Dance Team members at practice after she successfully finished a cartwheel for the first time on April 18, 2024. Minteer serves as the dance team's assistant coach a few times a week after having been a dancer her whole life.
Minteer plays with her dogs Roo (left) and Mav (right) in her apartment at Midtown on April 27, 2024. Minteer's dogs have significantly aided with her mental health amid her struggles. They love Minteer unconditionally and provide constant companionship, joy, and peace to her days.
Minteer watches a dance routine video with some junior high dance team members at practice on April 18, 2024. She wants to use her coaching position for good, encouraging the girls that their bodies are great as they are and having them eat a snack before each practice for fuel.
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Most dancers grow up thinking their bodies must look a certain way or that they need to watch what they eat and how much they work out. I know I grew up with that mindset and it influenced the development of my eating disorder.
Minteer works the front desk at the WKU Talley Family Counseling Center on April 24, 2024. She began interning at the counseling center as an undergraduate student in 2022 and has been working there since. Minteer counsels clients, helping others through their struggles. "It is not my job to 'fix' them, I am just there to provide support," said Minteer.
Minteer worships during service at Christian Student Fellowship on April 16, 2024. CSF has served a crucial part in her mental health journey, providing her with a close group of friends and support throughout her eating disorder struggles and recovery.
Minteer's laptop displays numerous stickers advocating for mental health and eating disorder recovery. "Mental health is so important to me because I felt alone a lot of the time and did not know who I could go to for support. A lot of people don't want to talk about the dark thoughts they have because there is such a huge stigma surrounding it, but talking about it actually leads to healing," said Minteer.
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You are never alone in your struggles.
