Recovery is ignited when you connect your imperfections to your beauty
The Bellatore philosophy is grounded in connection. Our founders are all native Kansans, connected as personal friends and colleagues for over 17 years. Throughout our years treating eating disorders, we’ve consistently seen that building truthful connections with your own courage, your own beauty, and your own people lets you:
Make peace with yourself
Tap into your true unique strengths
Find lasting recovery from eating disorders
Recovery is fortified when you
Connect your vulnerabilities to your strengths
This is not an easy road. It’s populated with dead ends, denial, and shame. Add to that the daily stresses of school and work. It’s no wonder disordered eating becomes something many people deal with… tomorrow.
But there is hope. We see it every day, first-hand. While individuals struggling with eating disorders are rarely successful in isolation, they heal when surrounded with support and guidance. Leaning on people, rather than on an eating disorder, nurtures relationships where we can grow and thrive. We believe this is true for all of us.
Recovery is sustained when you
Connect your fears to the quiet courage of your inner warrior
Bellatore translates to Beautiful Warrior, and we’re ready to help you win this battle. We believe that it is vital that we are present in our program groups every night, to develop connections and relationships with each client.
Our mission is to help you find, explore, and secure the internal and external connections critical to long term self-love and acceptance, and to provide practical tools you can use to anchor this recovery in your day-to-day life.
Recovery is fortified when you
Connect your vulnerabilities to your strengths
This is not an easy road. It’s populated with dead ends, denial, and shame. Add to that the daily stresses of school and work. It’s no wonder disordered eating becomes something many people deal with… tomorrow.
But there is hope. We see it every day, first-hand. While individuals struggling with eating disorders are rarely successful in isolation, they heal when surrounded with support and guidance. Leaning on people, rather than on an eating disorder, nurtures relationships where we can grow and thrive. We believe this is true for all of us.
Recovery is sustained when you
Connect your fears to the quiet courage of your inner warrior
Bellatore translates to Beautiful Warrior, and we’re ready to help you win this battle. We believe that it is vital that we are present in our program groups every night, to develop connections and relationships with each client.
Our mission is to help you find, explore, and secure the internal and external connections critical to long term self-love and acceptance, and to provide practical tools you can use to anchor this recovery in your day-to-day life.
Leadership team
We can’t wait to meet you!
We are Amy, Kirsten and Brooke: A group of eating disorder professionals who connected personally over the years.
We’ve grown together in late-night, post-conference talks about our careers, our children, and our ever-changing roles as clinicians, mothers, wives, and friends. All native Kansans, we noticed a critical need in our community for a strong eating disorder recovery program.
We knew that together we could fill that gap. The result: Bellatore, which translates to “beautiful warrior” to describe each and every one of our brave teen and adult clients.
We are all certified by the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp™).
This certification is awarded to therapists, physicians, and registered dietitians who demonstrate clinical expertise through rigorous examination, education, and experience.
We have devoted our lives to working with individuals with eating disorders, so we know the pain, the fear, and the self-loathing. We also know the path, the hope, the fulfillment, and the ultimate joy of the recovery process.
When you come to Bellatore, you can expect kindness, compassion, and an intimate awareness of the many facets and challenges of disordered eating. You can also expect hope that’s grounded in proven clinical success and recovery techniques.
Please get in touch. We can’t wait to get to know you.
Leadership team
We can’t wait to meet you!
We are Amy, Kirsten and Brooke: A group of eating disorder professionals who connected personally over the years.
We’ve grown together in late-night, post-conference talks about our careers, our children, and our ever-changing roles as clinicians, mothers, wives, and friends. All native Kansans, we noticed a critical need in our community for a strong eating disorder recovery program.
We knew that together we could fill that gap. The result: Bellatore, which translates to “beautiful warrior” to describe each and every one of our brave teen and adult clients.
We are all certified by the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp™).
This certification is awarded to therapists, physicians, and registered dietitians who demonstrate clinical expertise through rigorous examination, education, and experience.
We have devoted our lives to working with individuals with eating disorders, so we know the pain, the fear, and the self-loathing. We also know the path, the hope, the fulfillment, and the ultimate joy of the recovery process.
When you come to Bellatore, you can expect kindness, compassion, and an intimate awareness of the many facets and challenges of disordered eating. You can also expect hope that’s grounded in proven clinical success and recovery techniques.
Please get in touch. We can’t wait to get to know you.
Kirsten Oelklaus
LSCSW | CEDS | MS | Social Work; BA | Music Education/Music Therapy
My interest in eating disorders began over 27years ago at the Menninger Clinic. There I developed and led Adult Inpatient, Adolescent Inpatient, Day Treatment, and Intensive Outpatient groups.
I continued my passion in working with individuals with eating disorders and their families at the Baptist-Lutheran Medical Center Eating Disorder Program. For the past 18 years, I have provided individual, couples, and family therapy on an outpatient basis.
In my private practice, I love engaging with teens, and find that applying my Music Therapy training and expressive arts therapies helps them to identify, connect, express, release, and ultimately resolve pent-up emotions.
I have served in organizations that bring awareness to eating disorder-related issues and currently serve on the Missouri Eating Disorder Association board (MOEDA). I enjoy music, dancing, and being active with my family.
Kirsten Oelklaus
LSCSW | CEDS | MS | Social Work; BA | Music Education/Music Therapy
My interest in eating disorders began over 24 years ago at the Menninger Clinic. There I developed and led Adult Inpatient, Adolescent Inpatient, Day Treatment, and Intensive Outpatient groups.
I continued my passion in working with individuals with eating disorders and their families at the Baptist-Lutheran Medical Center Eating Disorder Program. For the past 14 years, I have provided individual, couples, and family therapy on an outpatient basis.
In my private practice, I love engaging with teens, and find that applying my Music Therapy training and expressive arts therapies helps them to identify, connect, express, release, and ultimately resolve pent-up emotions.
I have served in organizations that bring awareness to eating disorder-related issues and currently serve on the Missouri Eating Disorder Association board (MOEDA). I enjoy music, dancing, and being active with my family.
Amy Sullivan
MC | RD | LD | CEDRD Master of Counseling (MC); BS | Dietetics
I began helping individuals recover from eating disorders 27 years ago at a residential treatment center in Arizona. Since that time, I have supported adolescents and adults in recovery in a variety of settings.
A Registered and Licensed Dietitian, I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling. This unique combination has allowed me to help hundreds of clients achieve recovery and gain freedom from disordered eating.
Along with Brooke, I founded Kansas City’s first and only transitional living facility for eating disorder recovery. I also owned a private adolescent nutrition practice and am the Founder of an online support platform for adults struggling with emotional and binge eating.
I am proud to bring awareness of eating disorder prevention and treatment through numerous non-profit organizations and local school districts. I enjoy family mealtime, golfing, and traveling.
Amy Sullivan
MC | RD | LD | CEDRD Master of Counseling (MC); BS | Dietetics
I began helping individuals recover from eating disorders 25 years ago at a residential treatment center in Arizona. Since that time, I have supported adolescents and adults in recovery in a variety of settings.
A Registered and Licensed Dietitian, I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling. This unique combination has allowed me to help hundreds of clients achieve recovery and gain freedom from disordered eating.
Along with Brooke, I founded Kansas City’s first and only transitional living facility for eating disorder recovery. I also owned a private adolescent nutrition practice and am the Founder of an online support platform for adults struggling with emotional and binge eating.
I am proud to bring awareness of eating disorder prevention and treatment through numerous non-profit organizations and local school districts. I enjoy family mealtime, golfing, and traveling.
Brooke Wesley
LSCSW | CEDS | MS | Social Work; BS | Psychology
My desire to help individuals struggling with and recovering from eating disorders began shortly after I recovered from my own eating disorder. Today, I run my own private counseling practice for adolescents, adult women, and families.
I have been in the field of social work for over 20 years, having started as a technician on the Eating Disorder Unit at Baptist Lutheran Hospital. From there, I moved to the Women and Children’s Unit at Northstar, working in substance abuse recovery. After earning my Master’s in Social Work, I worked in the Olathe school system.
My true passion was fulfilled when I opened my private practice 16 years ago. I love working with teens and adults. I have a unique ability to connect, support, and encourage individuals and families as they navigate the often, overwhelming path to wellness.
I co-founded Kansas City’s first and only transitional living program for women with eating disorders, wrote Hungry To Be Whole: A Therapist Story of Healing from Anorexia, and served on the board of REbel. I enjoy hiking with my family, biking, and reading.
Brooke Wesley
LSCSW | CEDS | MS | Social Work; BS | Psychology
My desire to help individuals struggling with and recovering from eating disorders began shortly after I recovered from my own eating disorder. Today, I run my own private counseling practice for adolescents, adult women, and families.
I have been in the field of social work for over 20 years, having started as a technician on the Eating Disorder Unit at Baptist Lutheran Hospital. From there, I moved to the Women and Children’s Unit at Northstar, working in substance abuse recovery. After earning my Master’s in Social Work, I worked in the Olathe school system.
My true passion was fulfilled when I opened my private practice 14 years ago. I love working with teens and adults. I have a unique ability to connect, support, and encourage individuals and families as they navigate the often, overwhelming path to wellness.
I co-founded Kansas City’s first and only transitional living program for women with eating disorders, wrote Hungry To Be Whole: A Therapist Story of Healing from Anorexia, and served on the board of REbel. I enjoy hiking with my family, biking, and reading.
COntact Us
We Would Love to Hear From you
Office
16979 W. 94th St. Lenexa, KS 66219
Office
16979 W. 94th St. Lenexa, KS 66219