Although diet culture tries to convince us that we can control our body weight, in reality, we basically can’t. Efforts to control weight may lead to temporary changes, but in the long run most people regain lost weight. Weight, like height, is a genetic characteristic programmed deep into our cells. What this means is that there really isn’t any way to know what will happen to your body as you heal. Some people gain weight, some people lose weight, and in the end, many people find homeostasis, a place of peace where body size is relatively stable. In our work together, I will help you trust your body to figure out the answer for itself.
Will I lose weight by healing my relationship to food?
But what if I really want to lose weight?
That’s ok, and very normal! After all, we live in a culture where weight is constantly used as a status symbol and a marker of success. Despite the best efforts of size diversity advocates, this is unlikely to go away completely in our lifetimes. In our work together, we will look at the times when you feel less and more comfortable in your body, which can change based on emotions, social interactions, or simply a media exposure. We will work to help you exist more often in a place of comfort, and together we will unpack your body hatred triggers to strategize solutions. Eventually, as you discover that health and weight are separate, you may find that the desire to lose weight is just an occasional annoying thought that doesn’t require action.
The line between chronic dieting and an eating disorder is very fine. Indeed, many people develop eating disorders as a result of dieting, and most people in our culture have accumulated at least a few disordered eating behaviors as a result of external diet pressures. Wherever you fall on the disordered eating spectrum, you will find in our sessions a nonjudgmental space to explore and to shift eating behaviors that no longer serve you. And, if change is feeling too overwhelming, I can connect you smoothly with a higher level of care.
How do I know if I have an eating disorder?
What if I am already happy with my relationship to food, but I want advice for a health condition or symptom?
I’m glad to hear that you like your relationship to food! You are still in the right place. As a master’s level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, I have the highest level of clinical training. Nutrition science can be confusing, and there is a lot of damaging information available in popular media. Whatever your health concerns, I will provide a non-diet, weight inclusive approach to care that challenges popular misconceptions and helps you simplify and sort out the facts. My approach is thorough and compassionate, and we will take the time to integrate changes into your life one step at a time.
Deep and permanent change takes time; after all, your relationship to food and body may have shifted out of place over decades! It is also natural for the journey to recover from disordered eating to have many peaks, valleys, and twists. I will be here as your guide for as long as you need to find stable ground. For some people, dramatic shifts have occurred within a few sessions, but for most people, expect at least 6-12 months.
How long will we work together?
What will my sessions be like?
In your sessions, you will have lots of time to talk and to explore your own relationship to food and body, while I will guide you through reflection and towards change. In our 75-90 minute initial visit, I will assess where you are now and help you dig deep into the “whys” of your food and health challenges. When we meet for our 60 minute return visits, I will provide coaching, guidance, and accountability and help you set and overcome barriers to your goals. For more, visit my Nutrition Therapy page.
Nutrition is a dangerous science. For some people, the seemingly simple idea that certain foods can add to physical health and others can detract from it is as explosive as nuclear fission! After all, having the power to choose what we want to eat at each meal is fundamental to our sense of autonomy. Who really wants an outsider to tell us what to eat? Take away freedom of choice, and our very sense of self is threatened. I believe nutrition is not a science to be practiced lightly, and this means hiring a credentialed provider (RDN- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist or CN-Certified Nutritionist). In Washington State, anyone at all can sell nutrition advice. This can perpetuate falsehoods and diet culture exaggerations that have no basis in fact, and which can cause unnecessary food anxiety for years to come.
Why is it important for me to work with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist rather than someone else who calls themselves a “nutritionist”?
What are your qualifications?
As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, I am a Washington State certified healthcare provider with more than six years in practice. I have a master’s degree in the science of human nutrition (including studying the skill of promoting behavior change through motivational interviewing), and completed a year-long clinical apprenticeship in a myriad of hospital and clinic settings, including public health, oncology, critical care, and endocrinology. In addition, I am a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and complete 75+ hours of continuing education every 5 years to stay up to date on advances in nutrition science. When you meet with me, you can rest assured that there will be no alternative facts, just the simple truth.
I am in-network with many insurance plans including Premera Blue Cross, Regence Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, First Choice, and Kaiser (HMO and PPO). If your insurance plan doesn’t offer nutrition counseling benefits (CPT codes 97802 and 97803), I can provide you with a receipt to submit your payment for out-of-network reimbursement. Nutrition counseling is also a tax-deductible health expense. If you have any questions about your insurance coverage, check out this questionnaire.
What if my insurance doesn’t cover nutrition counseling?
How can I schedule an appointment?
Contact me to schedule an initial visit. Return visits can be scheduled online.
If you are interested in reading more about my approach, check out these great Resources.