My relationship with food was fairly normal growing up until I reached senior year in high school. I began to struggle with food and once I went away to college, my disordered eating became unmanageable. I soon left school to focus on my recovery and a whole new world (with food and otherwise) emerged. I had no idea what life was really like. I had been living so much of my life asleep. As I became stronger in my own recovery, it was clear that I wanted to help others transform their relationships with food and allow their true selves to emerge. I went back to school and decided to pursue nutrition and so I could help others the way my dietitian helped me.

I studied Nutrition and Dietetics at California State University, Northridge where I received both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. I went on to complete my dietetic internship at multiple locations throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Once I finished my internship I worked in clinical and community settings before landing in an in-patient eating disorder facility. Since then I have worked in various eating disorder and substance abuse treatment facilities and now I solely have a private practice. I am devoted to helping others overcome their struggles with food and body image issues to live a more fulfilling life.

I believe in Health at Every Size® and practice weight neutral nutrition counseling. This means that I believe we can pursue health without worrying about or trying to change our weight.

The HAES Principles are:

• Weight Inclusivity: Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealizing or pathologizing of specific weights.
• Health Enhancement: Support health policies that improve and equalize access to information and services, and personal practices that improve human well-being, including attention to individual physical, economic, social, spiritual, emotional, and other needs.
• Respectful Care: Acknowledge our biases, and work to end weight discrimination, weight stigma, and weight bias. Provide information and services from an understanding that socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and other identities impact weight stigma, and support environments that address these inequities.
• Eating for Well-being: Promote flexible, individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and pleasure, rather than any externally regulated eating plan focused on weight control.
• Life-Enhancing Movement: Support physical activities that allow people of all sizes, abilities, and interests to engage in enjoyable movement, to the degree that they choose.

I know that thinking about health without focusing on weight may be a radical idea. I strive to meet my clients where they’re at so they can make lasting and sustainable changes that truly do promote health, joy, and freedom.