My professional background in the field of nutrition spans more than 3 decades and has evolved from an academic career to my clinical work in nutrition therapy and education. I am primarily focused on the prevention and treatment of eating disorders, obesity, and lifestyle-related chronic disease. My teaching and research experience and my desire to discover what is true and most helpful for people struggling with food, eating and lifestyle-related health issues laid the foundation for my current practice, the seeds of which were planted when my daughter was affected by a serious eating disorder.
Clinical research I have conducted with patients with type 2 diabetes allowed me to identify personal and relational factors that promoted good self-care around eating and physical movement. I began to learn effective methods for behavior change that could make a difference for both individual patients and groups. Moreover, the essential role for self-acceptance in successful behavior change became evident to me and has become a fundamental component of my work.
I hold a PhD from Cornell University in Nutritional Sciences and a Master of Public Health Nutrition from the University of Washington. I am a licensed (certified) nutritionist and have expertise with intuitive eating (am an “Intuitive Eating Pro”) and the Behavioral Decoding Method™. I have been in private practice in the state of Washington since 2013.
