Background and Experience

While I’ve been practicing as Registered Dietitian for more than 20 years, most of which has been focused on eating disorders and other mental health conditions, along with working with patients with cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, and gastrointestinal disorders in a hospital-based setting. I definitely don’t claim to know everything. I’m continually learning from both my colleagues and clients and am fortunate to be connected with many highly respected colleagues and have access to reputable resources so I can safely guide you towards improved health.

I graduated from San Diego State University (SDSU) cum laude in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Foods and Nutrition, completed a dietetic internship at SDSU in 2000, and became credentialed as a Registered Dietitian in 2001. I hold additional certifications as a Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian (CEDRD) and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor.

My career path has evolved over various settings including acute care medical hospital Clinical Dietitian (2 years), hospital-based Outpatient Dietitian (12 years), residential eating disorder treatment program Nutrition Director (3 years), residential community-based mental health treatment center Lead Dietitian (13 years), and private practice consultant (21 years).

I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most complex mental health conditions including all types of eating disorders (orthorexia, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, OSFED), schizophrenia, psychosis, major depression, severe anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and dissociative identity disorder. My experience working at all levels of care, including residential, partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient program (IOP), and outpatient, has reinforced my appreciation of working collaboratively with my clients’ team members and support systems (therapists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, personal trainers, family, etc.).