What is the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian?

Basically anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. However, a Registered Dietitian, is someone who has completed the required education including completion of an accredited dietetic internship program, has passed the Registered Dietitian’s exam through the Commission on Dietetic Registration, has completed the requirements for ongoing continuing education hours and is licensed in the state they are practicing in (if required by that particular state).

Additionally, a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) has undergone extensive training in the area of eating disorders to include professional supervision, completion of core courses, approved direct patient care hours, has passed an accumulative exam and has completed the requirements for ongoing continuing education hours.

What is the difference between nutrition counseling and traditional counseling?

Nutrition Counseling services are provided by a Registered Dietitian and the topics discussed are within a dietitian’s scope of practice whereas traditional counseling is typically provided by a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), both often referred to as therapists. It is ideal that clients have a Registered Dietitian as well as an LPC or LCSW as part of their treatment team. In our practice, our role is to help you separate emotions from food.

Once we have done this, we will work with you on the food component while a therapist works with you to find appropriate coping skills in dealing with underlying emotions related to eating behaviors. If you have a therapist in place when scheduling a nutrition counseling session, with your signed consent, we will coordinate care by communicating regularly with them and will update them with a nutrition summary after each session. If you do not have a therapist, but would like to see one, we are happy to provide you with referrals. Meeting with a therapist in conjunction with nutrition counseling is recommended, but not required.

Do you accept insurance?

Our practice is private pay. We do not accept insurance at this time; however, we can provide a Superbill (invoice with insurance code) to you after each session for possible reimbursement.

If interested in reimbursement, ask your insurance provider if nutrition counseling is a covered benefit within your plan (CPT codes 97802 and 97803). Coverage may also depend on the ICD-10 diagnosis code.

Sliding scale rates can also be provided on a case-by-case basis.

What should I expect in the first appointment?

The initial assessment is 60-90 minutes and an opportunity for us to get to know you better, as well as a chance for you to ask any questions you may have about our practice or approach to nutrition. In the initial assessment, you will be asked about your medical history, any medications you may be on, food allergies, diet history, disordered eating behaviors, a typical day of eating and your main goals regarding what you want to get out of meeting with a dietitian. From there, in follow-up sessions, we will dive deeper to begin working together on your goals and having you set tangible things to be working on in between sessions.

How frequently should I expect to meet with a dietitian?

The frequency of sessions is different for each client. Many clients will start out with weekly sessions in order to establish a relationship and build momentum. Some clients prefer every other week. Overtime, some clients may end up doing monthly sessions or even check-in sessions every few months. After an initial assessment, your dietitian can share their professional recommendation regarding frequency of sessions needed. Ultimately, the decision is yours based on your schedule and financial ability. Someone with an active eating disorder can expect at least 6 months to a year of meeting with a dietitian.

If I am the parent/guardian of a client, should I expect to be involved in sessions?

Usually we prefer for a parent or guardian to be present for the initial assessment for clients < 18 years in order to get both the client and the parent/guardian’s perspective. This is also a time for you to get to know your child’s dietitian and to learn more about their approach to nutrition counseling. In follow-up sessions, your child will meet individually with their dietitian and the dietitian will either bring you in for the last 10-15 minutes for a nutrition summary or provide you with an email update after the session. You can also schedule an individual session without your child present in order to have specific questions/concerns addressed regarding how to best support your child in their recovery.