Frequently asked questions

Yes, absolutely. I fully believe in client autonomy. Because it is impossible for me to know exactly how another person feels in their own skin, it is not my place to decide if a medication is right for you. Your medical decisions are yours to make, and you will always find a safe, non-judgmental space here.

While I practice from a weight-inclusive, non-diet framework and do not promote intentional weight loss, my primary goal is to support your overall health and well-being. Many individuals utilizing these medications experience a significant drop in appetite, which can make it difficult to get adequate nutrition. I am here to help ensure your body is fully nourished, protecting your muscle mass and bone density as you move through this process. To do this accurately, I use a validated nutrient intake analysis tool called VioScreen™.

If you have endured the pain of weight stigma, please know that there is no shaming here, ever. Together, we can explore how to nurture your relationship with food, listen to your body, and develop values-driven health habits that feel good to you. You can expect compassion, accurate science-backed information, and a generous helping of encouragement every step of the way.

"I've never met a dietitian like you before." This is something I hear from my clients all the time, and it speaks directly to what sets my practice apart. Many people come to me feeling completely exhausted after years of trying strict diets to change their bodies or "fix" a medical condition, only to end up feeling like they’ve failed. I firmly believe the diet cycle failed you—not the other way around.

With 24 years of experience working in medical practice (including specialties like OB/GYN, ENT, and Sleep Medicine), I bring a unique and deeply helpful perspective to your care. I understand the clinical complexities of medical conditions, treatments, and how overwhelming it can be to navigate the healthcare system. Please note that while my clinical background is rooted in my past work as a Physician Associate, AND in nutrition, I now practice exclusively as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. This allows me to focus entirely on all aspects of your nutritional well-being. 

As a weight-inclusive nutritionist and dietitian, I combine this strong medical background with deep compassion and body respect. I honor your absolute autonomy. Whether you are recovering from addiction, eating disorders, or just trying to manage a health condition—with or without medications—you will find zero judgment or shaming here. My goal is to help you feel seen as a whole person, reduce the stress around eating, and build a peaceful relationship with food that truly supports your long-term physical and mental well-being.

A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is a professional who has met specific academic and professional requirements to provide nutrition counseling and expertise. The term "dietitian" is often used interchangeably with "nutritionist" in many countries, including the United States. Here's what distinguishes an RDN:

1. Education: RDNs typically hold at least a bachelor's degree in nutrition, dietetics, food science, or a related field. Many also pursue advanced degrees or certifications in specialized areas of nutrition.
2. Internship or Supervised Practice: Following completion of their academic coursework, aspiring RDNs must complete an accredited supervised practice program, often called a dietetic internship. This typically involves over nine hundred hours of supervised clinical, community, and foodservice experience.
3. Passing a National Examination: After completing their internship, individuals must pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.
4. Licensure or Certification: In addition to national registration, some states require dietitians to obtain a state-specific license to practice. This ensures that practitioners meet certain standards of competence and professionalism.
5. Continuing Education: To maintain our registration and stay current with the latest developments in the field, RDNs must complete continuing education requirements on an ongoing basis.

RDNs are trained to provide evidence-based nutrition counseling and education to individuals and groups across various settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, community health centers, sports nutrition programs, and private practice. We assess individual nutritional needs, develop personalized meal plans, provide guidance on healthy eating habits, and address specific dietary concerns or conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, food allergies, and weight management.

Overall, RDNs play a crucial role in promoting health and wellness through nutrition education, counseling, and advocacy, and are recognized as the trusted experts in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

A Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor is a professional who has undergone specific training and certification in the principles and practices of intuitive eating. We have to practice Intuitive Eating ourselves, and must agree to refrain from representing Intuitive Eating as a weight loss tool or method. 

Intuitive Eating is NOT a weight loss program. It is an approach to health and nutrition that emphasizes tuning into one's body cues, emotions, and hunger signals to guide eating habits rather than following externally dictated rules, diets, or "lifestyle" plans.

Certified Intuitive Eating Counselors are typically trained to help individuals develop a healthier relationship with food, eating, and their bodies. We work with clients to:

1. Understand, recognize, and trust internal hunger and fullness cues.
2. Reject, challenge and reframe dieting mentality and beliefs.
3. Cultivate body acceptance and respect.
4. Address and overcome emotional eating patterns.
5. Encourage food enjoyment and mindful eating practices.
6. Learn to make peace with food and approach nutrition from a place of self-care instead of self-control. 

Like me, many Certified Intuitive Eating Counselors have backgrounds in nutrition. In addition, many have training as psychotherapists, psychologists, or other related healthcare fields. Regardless of background, we have all completed specific training programs and certification exams from the original founders of Intuitive Eating. We can be found in private practice setting, as well as clinics, wellness centers, or as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Yes! I am currently accpting VA Community Care, AEtna and United Healthcare (commercial plans). If you are covered by another carrier, you may be able to use HSA funds for my services, if allowed by your plan. 

For those with no insurance or HSA benefits, I do keep my fees reasonable, in comparison with many others in the industry. I also offer group programs which require a lower financial investment while still providing many valuable benefits. 

Yes, for cash-pay clients. My hourly rate is less when you purchase a package that includes several sessions. I also find that my clients are most successful in making sustained lifestyle changes when they commit to several sessions, whether those are individual one-on-one or group coaching. 

You still have to eat, right? I will always meet you where you are. If you don't like to cook, we'll leverage convenience items, show you lots of time saving tips, and hold your hand so that it's fun. Unless you can hire a personal chef, the reality is that if you want to improve your health through nutrition, some basic cooking skills will make the difference between achieving and sustaining your goals, or not. 

As an ethically driven nutritionist, I practice a conservative, ideally food-first approach to supplementation. I will recommend vitamins, minerals, or other supplements when meeting your body's specific needs through food alone is difficult, or it results in more obsessing about food. 

When I do make a supplement recommendation, I do so based on safety, individual needs, and objective lab data,  To ensure my guidance remains completely unbiased, I never make a personal profit from any supplement I recommend. I believe it is impossible to give objective, honest healthcare advice if a provider stands to benefit financially from selling you a product. Your trust and your health are my only priorities.