digestive health, eating disorder recovery, nutrition for trauma healing
Approach & Philosophy
All Foods Fit & health at every size
As a trauma-informed Registered Dietitian and Nutritional Therapist, I work with clients to help them reclaim their relationship to food and their bodies. Together, we create a safe and nurturing environment that is free from judgment to explore recovery. Treatment plans are individualized to meet the unique needs of each client, combining evidence-based nutrition therapy with an integrative approach that addresses mental, physical, and emotional health. I firmly believe in Health at Every Size and utilize this philosophy whenever appropriate, which helps clients to debunk diet myths and move toward greater body acceptance. I know that moving from a space of deep inner criticism into body positivity is challenging, so we start with moving into body neutrality, tolerance, and acceptance. From this space, clients are able to truly begin their journey into positivity, because it’s much easier to go from neutral to positive than negative to positive. All Foods Fit means that all types of food have a place in our lifestyle. I will teach you how to include foods of varying nutrient densities and utilize Intuitive Eating principles to legalize all foods. But before you say – “That sounds impossible and scary!”, rest assured that we will go through this process slowly and safely. As a provider, my goal is to combine my knowledge and love of nutrition with a holistic philosophy to provide heart-centered care. |
Naia taught me to take risks with food, even when it was scary. She taught me to challenge my ED thoughts and I learned that taking risks just means challenging something. You don't have to like it or necessarily do it again, but taking the risk is what matters. I learned to sit with the discomfort and nourish myself through it anyway.
-24 year old ARFID & Anorexia Nervosa
supporting:
- Ages 13+
- Providing trauma sensitive care to all cultures, ethnicities, religions, countries of origin, gender identities, abilities, sexual orientations
- Disordered Eating
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge Eating Disorder
- Orthorexia
- Excessive Exercise
- OSFED (Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder)
Naia is such a bomb dietitian. But seriously though, you always have a way of showing up with warmth to meet me where I’m at. You really get it. I appreciate all the ways you make me feel seen and heard, the way you provide such special interventions that are always tailored exactly to me (and I assume it’s the same way with other clients), and even your long and weird analogies that somehow always come back full circle and exactly fit the situation.
- 22 year old Anorexia Nervosa
Client
Quotes
I can't believe I used to be afraid of starches. Now I can't imagine a meal without them!
-22 year old, Rumination Disorder & Orthorexia
I wouldn't have had such a successful first year of recovery without you and the tools you gave me. All your new clients are so lucky to have you!
-21 year old, Anorexia Nervosa
She had a really great relationship with you, so whenever she was having intrusive thoughts I would say to her - "What would Naia say in this moment?"
-Dietitian at Residential Treatment Center for client with Bulimia Nervosa
I feel like I have a "Naia-chip" in my brain now that just entirely changed the way I think about food, which is a really big deal because I had such a challenging relationship with food for my entire life. I was the ultimate victim of diet culture. I could read and article that said something like, "Eat a grapefruit seed and you'll become an astronaut" and I would be like "Yeah that makes sense!". You really changed my entire way of thinking about food.
-20 year old, Binge Eating Disorder
When I first came to recovery, I was terrified to meet with you. I have only had bad experiences with dietitians before who always made me feel shame for the way I ate. But when I met with you and you just understood me, it made me feel okay. I mean this when I say it - thank you Naia, you literally saved my life. I don't know where I would be without you.
-42 year old, ARFID & Anorexia Nervosa
What to expect in a session?
- Compassionate care
- Individualized treatment
- Meal planning support
- Grocery shopping assistance
- Nutrition education
- Debunking diet myths
- Integrating exercise (if desired)
- Exposure therapy to challenge food rules (when you’re ready)
Our mutual client has spoken frequently about how helpful your support has been - the specificity and the concreteness of your suggestions to him were so helpful. He often talked about you and what a positive impact you had on him, helping him recover from his eating disorder in the context of trauma and his multiple medical conditions. You are the first and only positive nutrition experience he has ever had in all these years.
-Primary care doctor of 43 year old client with OSFED and PTSD