Eating Disorder Recovery
Victoria has 17 years of experience as an eating disorders nutrition therapist. In addition to private practice experience, she served on one of the best eating disorders treatment teams at Princeton University for 8 years. She collaborated with and learned from highly skilled and talented colleagues from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, sports medicine, and internal medicine. She has experience caring for men, women, non-binary, gay, and transgender clients. Whether you are seeking help for the first time, going through a difficult period, or are transitioning home from residential treatment, you will be in good hands.
How a dietitian can help-
Eating disorders are serious psychological problems with an estimated suicide mortality rate for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa that is 23 times greater than that of the general population. Eating disorders affect people from all walks of life, all ages, all genders, and all backgrounds. They are complex bio-psycho-social problems that severely impact health and wellbeing; more so when the brain and body are deprived of adequate and consistent amounts of quality nutrition. The psychological consequences of eating disorders include depression, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and impaired executive reasoning. Increased thoughts about food, exercise, and body shape may be a result of the eating disorder, or a sign of an emerging problem. Medical complications may arise including missed menstrual periods for females, low bone mineral density, nutrient deficiencies, impaired physical performance, and heart problems. For both medical and psychological recovery, normalizing eating patterns and restoring or stabilizing body weight is essential to treatment. Weight restoration alone is a key indicator of long term recovery in Anorexia Nervosa.
Dietitians with training and experience will understand the complexities of co-morbid illness, medical complications, and the psychological needs associated with eating disorders. They are also skilled in working alongside therapists and clinicians as vital team members in patient care. In the beginning, your dietitian can provide more structure with meal planning if that is needed, and will help you work towards more intuitive and mindful eating. This is accomplished by helping individuals re-build their belief systems based on factual information and what they discover in therapy. Learning to distinguish eating disordered thoughts and behaviors from those that promote a nourished and properly functioning body is foundational to the recovery process. For more information, please visit the Academy of Eating Disorders.
Dietitians with training and experience will understand the complexities of co-morbid illness, medical complications, and the psychological needs associated with eating disorders. They are also skilled in working alongside therapists and clinicians as vital team members in patient care. In the beginning, your dietitian can provide more structure with meal planning if that is needed, and will help you work towards more intuitive and mindful eating. This is accomplished by helping individuals re-build their belief systems based on factual information and what they discover in therapy. Learning to distinguish eating disordered thoughts and behaviors from those that promote a nourished and properly functioning body is foundational to the recovery process. For more information, please visit the Academy of Eating Disorders.
Vegetarian & Vegan Diets in Recovery
Victoria is extremely supportive of those in recovery who are committed to choosing a whole foods and/or plant-based diet and will be glad to work with you. Traditionally, a hallmark of recovery is someone's ability to include all foods and food groups into their diet within the context of overall balance and variety. This includes treats, desserts, foods chosen at restaurants, foods served during religious and cultural events, and convenience items. Unfortunately, much of what is produced and sold as food today, is not actually food. While there is a paucity of research on effective forms of treatment for eating disorders, there is a growing body of evidence showing what wisdom has made clear for decades- highly processed products void of nutrition and containing a multitude of additives and preservatives are likely contributing to metabolic disease, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, and anxiety and depression. Our food system is a serious contributing factor to the level of worry and dysregulation experienced by many. Make an appointment to learn more and make sure your recovery process is well supported.
