Nutrition counseling frequently asked questions.
What will happen at my first nutrition counseling session?
The goal of the first nutrition counseling session is for me to get to know you, but also for you to get to know me. I will gather a detailed history of your relationship with food and body, current and previous eating patterns, self-care habits, and all of the factors that have made your relationship with food what it is today. We will collaborate to create treatment goals, and to construct a picture of what recovery might look like for you.
What will non-diet nutrition counseling and eating disorder treatment look like?
Treatment looks a bit different for everyone, but in general, you will meet with your dietitian once per week or once every two weeks. Most eating disorder treatment will focus first on renourishment—establishing consistent and sustainable eating habits—which will reduce vulnerability to disordered behaviors, such as restricting, binging, and the resulting shame spiral. When renourishment is well underway, we will begin to challenge the eating disorder to work towards our long term goal: intuitive eating: flexible, joyful eating. Ultimately, our goal is for you to think less about food and more about, well, all of the other things in your life.
What is weight inclusive nutrition counseling?
Weight inclusive care embraces the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes, and rejects the pathologization of certain body sizes. Body weight will not be the focal point of our work. At RootED Nutrition and Counseling, we know that weight stigma unequivocally worsens health outcomes, and we patently reject weight stigmatizing treatment.
Do I need an eating disorder diagnosis to work with a dietitian for nutrition counseling?
In short, no! Diagnostic criteria notoriously does not capture many individuals who are struggling with disordered eating. If your relationship with food is causing you pain, you deserve treatment, full stop.
What is the cost of eating disorder nutrition counseling treatment?
Treatment costs can vary widely, but we will do our best to provide you with an estimate of the cost of treatment if requested.
Effective January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act* (NSA) protects uninsured (or self-pay) individuals from many unexpectedly high medical bills.
If an individual does not have certain types of health insurance, or does not plan to use that insurance to pay for health care items or services, they are eligible to receive a “good faith estimate” of what they may be charged, before they receive the item or service.
A new patient-provider dispute resolution (PPDR) process is available for uninsured (or self-pay) individuals who get a bill from a provider that is substantially in excess of the expected charges on the good faith estimate.
Please reach out to info@rootednutritionandcounseling.com for an estimate of your treatment costs.
What is the difference between a nutritionist and a registered dietitian?
People often use the term interchangeably, and quite frankly, I’m happy with either. However, there is a big difference, and one that is helpful to keep in mind when looking for a provider. Registered dietitians have undergone rigorous academic and evidence-based training, including a full academic course load that includes topics in medical biochemistry, medical nutrition therapy, human metabolism, and empirically supported patient care; a Master’s degree in nutrition; 1200 hours practicing under the supervision of a registered dietitian; and the successful passing of a board-regulated exam. Additionally, registered dietitians are required to pursue continuing education units each year to maintain their licensure. Unfortunately, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, but the term Registered Dietitian (RD), or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), are legally protected. When you are looking for a nutrition expert with whom to do clinical work, it’s always helpful to ask your potential provider if they are a registered dietitian, and if so, to provide their license and registration number.