What is seeing a weight-inclusive dietitian like?

As with most professions, it’s hard to know what a day in their life looks like. There can sometimes be an apprehension to schedule an appointment, because most people don’t know what it’s like to sit down and talk with a weight-inclusive, health at every size dietitian.

Maybe you’ve had a negative dietitian experience before where they dished out nutrition education and gave you generic recommendations? Maybe just healthcare providers in general, you’re a bit unsure about? 

I think often there is a belief that I’m some food police ready to charge you with a crime. I went through a phase where I didn’t tell people I was a registered dietitian. I told them I worked for a “start up company remotely” but left it vague. More times then not when I said I was a RD, I would get a response similar to “ohhh, don’t pay attention to my plate” or they would inform me of their current yo-yo dieting they’re currently engaging in. I promise you, your plate or your current yo-yo dieting is probably the last thing I am paying attention to at a party.

Even during our nutrition sessions, I am the farthest thing away from judging your food intake, your health, your movement patterns, or whatever else you may decide to share with me. I seek to understand what is driving your patterns, what your health goals are, what feels like barriers for you. I do not make assumptions, but seek to understand what your values are, what feels important to you and how I can support you on your journey!

During our intake, I will gather information to understand YOU - your relationship with food & body, health & mental history, behaviors around food, barriers, lifestyle, priorities, and more.

This is utilized to create an individualized plan to help support your goals. This will serve as the foundation for our future work together as we create small actionable steps to honor your whole health – physical, mental, and emotional.

During follow-ups, this is where we get to dig in! Having training in several different therapeutic modalities in nutrition counseling like cognitive & dialectical behavioral therapy, we will explore what beliefs, thoughts or behaviors feel unhelpful and work on diversifying your tool box of different skills that feel practical. 

Want to learn more? Please reach out and I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about what working together might look like!

“Caitlyn is amazing!!! She is intelligent, realistic, supportive, and resourceful. I have overcome so much and I wouldn't have been able to do it without her support and guidance. I owe her so much and can't thank her enough. Trust her with your care, she is the best!! - B.W. Google Review”