Shannon Kopp, MFA

Shannon Kopp, MFA

National Collegiate Mental Health Advocate

Pronouns: (she/her/hers)

Shannon Kopp, an Eating Disorder Recovery Center National Recovery Advocate, is the best-selling author of Pound for Pound: A Story of One Woman’s Recovery and the Shelter Dogs Who Loved Her Back to Life (HarperCollins).

After battling depression and a debilitating eating disorder for many years, Shannon found hope in the unlikeliest of places: at her local animal shelter. Shannon’s poignant memoir is a story of hope, resilience and the spiritual healing animals bring to our lives. She vividly reminds us that animals are more than just friends and companions—they can teach us how to savor the present moment and reclaim our joy.

Shannon holds an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Pacific University, and has written for CNN, Maria Shriver, The Huffington Post, Good Housekeeping, BarkPost and Salon. Her story has been featured in PEOPLE, NPR, CNN Turning Points with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Women’s Health, and Psychology Today. Shannon is the founder of SoulPaws Recovery Project, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit offering free Animal-Assisted Therapy to people impacted by eating disorders. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, son, and wildly adorable rescue dog, Bella.

Biography

Shannon Kopp, an Eating Disorder Recovery Center National Recovery Advocate, is the best-selling author of Pound for Pound: A Story of One Woman’s Recovery and the Shelter Dogs Who Loved Her Back to Life (HarperCollins).

After battling depression and a debilitating eating disorder for many years, Shannon found hope in the unlikeliest of places: at her local animal shelter. Shannon’s poignant memoir is a story of hope, resilience and the spiritual healing animals bring to our lives. She vividly reminds us that animals are more than just friends and companions—they can teach us how to savor the present moment and reclaim our joy.

Shannon holds an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Pacific University, and has written for CNN, Maria Shriver, The Huffington Post, Good Housekeeping, BarkPost and Salon. Her story has been featured in PEOPLE, NPR, CNN Turning Points with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Women’s Health, and Psychology Today. Shannon is the founder of SoulPaws Recovery Project, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit offering free Animal-Assisted Therapy to people impacted by eating disorders. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, son, and wildly adorable rescue dog, Bella.

Research

Educational Resources

Recovery

15 Ways to Manage Eating Disorder Triggers

Explore 15 practical ways to manage eating disorder triggers, from building support systems to navigating social media without harm.

Eating Recovery Center is accredited through the Joint Commission. This organization seeks to enhance the lives of the persons served in healthcare settings through a consultative accreditation process emphasizing quality, value and optimal outcomes of services.

Organizations that earn the Gold Seal of Approval™ have met or exceeded The Joint Commission’s rigorous performance standards to obtain this distinctive and internationally recognized accreditation. Learn more about this accreditation here.

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