Religious experiences shape how we think and feel. These patterns can transfer to food/body:

• Guilt and Shame

  • Core emotions that attach to eating/body image

• Perfectionism

  • Never “good enough” so people restrict their eating more, exercise more, hate their body more

• Scrupulosity

  • Obsessive rule-following shifts to food rules

• Black and White Thinking

  • No nuance, everything is good/bad leading to more guilt and shame

• Fear of Judgment

  • Hypervigilance, constant self-monitoring

• Loss of Authentic Self

  • Don’t know who you really are which can lead to avoidance of eating, poor appetite and unhealthy weight loss or binge eating to cope

• Body Dissociation

  • Disconnection from hunger/fullness/pleasure

• People-Pleasing

  • Ignoring own needs

• Need for Control

  • Food/body become controllable when life isn’t

• Low Self-Esteem

  • Internalized message of you’re flawed from original sin doctrine

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) defines disordered eating as a spectrum of problematic eating behaviors and distorted attitudes toward food, weight, shape, and appearance that don't meet diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder.

Why it matters?

Physical damage - can lead to nutritional deficiencies, heart problems, bone loss, and weakened immune system.

Mental health - can create relentless preoccupation with food and body image, frequently accompanied by anxiety and depression.

Restricted living - can turn social gatherings into sources of stress, sabotage romantic and other relationships, remove flexibility from daily life, and replace the joy of eating with dread.

Timing matters - behaviors become more deeply rooted as time passes, making earlier intervention more effective.

Hope exists for better quality of life- with support, effort and time, survivors can develop a more confident, balanced, healthy and sustainable approach to eating instead of being controlled by rules, guilt, shame and anxiety.

The following are examples of disordered eating patterns that are harmful:

• Chronic unhealthy dieting or rigid restrictive eating

• Obsessive calorie counting or food tracking

• Unhealthy compensatory behaviors - exercising excessively to "earn" food or "burn off" calories

• Binge eating episodes - eating large amounts of food in a short time, often feeling out of control

• Frequent emotional eating patterns - using food to cope with stress, anxiety, or other emotions often

• Extreme concern with body image - having self-worth heavily tied to weight or appearance

• Food anxiety - feeling significant stress or guilt around eating certain foods

(NEDA)

Serious mental health conditions characterized by persistent disturbances in eating behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that significantly impair physical health, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life.

If not treated effectively, eating disorders can cause medical complications, long-term problems and, in some cases, can cause death.

(Mayo Clinic)

Eating disorders that may be triggered by religious trauma - less is known about rumination disorder and pica, although there may also be a connection to religious trauma in some people:

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Involves recurrent binge eating episodes with marked distress, occurring at least once weekly for 3 months, but without the regular use of compensatory behaviors that define bulimia nervosa.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

Symptoms causing significant distress that don't fit full criteria. Includes atypical anorexia, low-frequency bulimia and binge eating, purging disorder.

Bulimia Nervosa (BN)

Requires recurrent binge eating episodes plus recurrent compensatory behaviors occurring at least once weekly for 3 months, and self-evaluation unduly influenced by body shape and weight. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa (AN)

Severe restriction leading to significantly low body weight, intense fear of weight gain, distorted body perception.

ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food/Intake Disorder):

An eating disorder characterized by avoiding foods or restricting food intake in ways that lead to nutritional deficiencies, impaired growth as a child, or significant interference with daily functioning.

Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not driven by concerns about body image or wanting weight loss.

(American Psychiatric Association)

Dietitians are healthcare professionals who provide preventative care nutrition therapy and medical nutrition therapy.

Dietitians use scientifically proven counseling methods and nutrition education to help clients make changes to their diet and lifestyle. in service of their clients’ own health goals.

We often collaborate with medical providers and mental health professionals as needed to provide ethical care.

Support

The religious trauma dietitian understands the profound pain of losing your entire support network when questioning or leaving a high-control religious group. Many survivors experience devastating loneliness and hopelessness during this time in their lives.

Regular one-on-one sessions—whether weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or at a pace that works for you—provide a consistent hour of connection with a compassionate, nonjudgmental professional who truly validates your struggle. This supportive relationship empowers you throughout your recovery journey, helping you create health and wellness.

Addressing Food-Related Religious Control - Many religious environments impose strict dietary rules, fasting practices, or use food as punishment/reward. A specialized dietitian understands these patterns and can help rebuild a healthy, autonomous relationship with eating that's free from shame or religious obligation.

Healing Body Image Issues Rooted in Purity Culture - Religious trauma often includes teachings about the body being sinful, immodest, or needing control. This can manifest as disordered eating, extreme restriction, or using food to "purify" oneself. A trauma-informed dietitian holds space for these deep-seated beliefs while supporting balanced, healthy and sustainable nutrition.

Safe Space for Deconstruction - Many dietitians have moralistic views about food being "good" or "bad" - terminology that can echo harmful religious messaging about sin and righteousness and reinforce guilt and shame.

Trauma's Physical Impact - Religious trauma creates chronic stress that affects digestion, metabolism, appetite regulation, and nutrient absorption. A specialized dietitian recognizes these physiological effects and can address nutritional deficiencies or gut issues that developed during or after religious environments.

Rebuilding Trust and Autonomy - After experiencing religious authority figures controlling many life aspects, working with someone who respects bodily autonomy and informed consent in nutritional choices supports the broader recovery process of reclaiming personal agency and learning to trust oneself again.

A dietitian has met rigorous academic and supervised practice requirements (including an internship, and newly a Master’s degree as of 2024), passed a national credentialing exam, and maintains ongoing continuing education, as defined by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

In contrast, the term nutritionist is not always regulated and may refer to individuals with varying levels of education and training; in many jurisdictions, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist regardless of formal qualifications.

Typically only dietitians are covered by health insurance.

Dietitians can bill insurance because they're recognized healthcare professionals with standardized education and credentials, providing evidence-based care that's proven effective for managing and preventing disease.

Two Main Types of Coverage:

1. Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) - For Existing Health Problems

• Used when you already have a diagnosed condition

2. Preventive Nutrition Counseling - To Stay Healthy

• Helps prevent health problems before they start

Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and some others.

Reach out and I can run your benefits and let you know.

Most of my clients have a $0 co-pay for unlimited/many sessions as preventative care under the Affordable Care Act.

I can see clients with health insurance in 23 states. I can see clients paying out of pocket in all states. Feel free to contact me for more info.

I can provide a superbill for out of network benefits.

You can also pay out of pocket to see me. $185 for the initial evaluation and $95 for follow ups.

Yes! Feel free to contact me and I’d love to chat more.