Frequently Asked Questions

Initial sessions are focused on getting to know each other and getting the lay of the land. We talk about what brought you here, what’s been going on with food, and what you’re hoping for from our work together. Talking about food can feel surprisingly vulnerable, so sessions are approached with curiosity, care, and a non-judgmental tone, moving at a pace that feels supportive.

Every session looks a little different. Typically in an initial session we’re gathering history and getting a clearer picture of your current patterns with food. Occasionally we may offer brief education if it feels appropriate, or simply create space to reflect—there’s no pressure to perform, have the “right” answers, or make progress on a set timeline. Typical “homework” after a first session is simply to observe.

Follow-up sessions often start with a simple check-in like, “How was food this week? What did you notice?” From there, we use a motivational interviewing approach to explore what’s coming up—whether that’s identifying areas where more support or education might be helpful, unpacking thoughts or beliefs about food and body, or practicing new skills.

Sessions may include brainstorming meals or snacks, building coping tools, exploring body image, and talking through next steps with food.

We describe our work as nutrition therapy. Sometimes that looks like practical, science-based support- learning how to eat in a way that supports stable energy and blood sugar. Other times, it means gently exploring your relationship with food and your body: where certain rules, fears, or beliefs came from (like the idea that carbs are “bad”), and how they impact your daily life.

While therapy often focuses on emotions, relationships, and mental health more broadly, our work stays rooted in food, eating, and the lived experience of being in a body. It’s common for themes to come up that are helpful to explore more deeply in therapy, and we value collaboration—we’re always happy to coordinate care with your therapist if that feels supportive.

An anti-diet dietitian is a dietitian who rejects diet culture’s focus on changing the size or shape of your body. Instead, we help you build a relationship with food and your body rooted in self-acceptance, intuitive eating, and body trust.

This means we don’t prescribe weight loss, food rules, or rigid plans. We focus on nourishment, health-supportive behaviors, and understanding your body’s cues—so eating can feel more supportive and less stressful over time.

The length of our work together is very individual, so there isn’t a single, definitive answer. Some clients come in with a specific concern and find that a shorter course of care—often around 6 sessions—gives them the support and tools they need to move forward with confidence.

For others, especially those working to untangle years or decades of diet culture beliefs, the process can take longer. This kind of work is often gradual and layered, and we’re honored to walk alongside you at a pace that feels sustainable.

We’ll regularly check in about your goals, progress, and level of support so the frequency and length of care continue to make sense for you.

We typically recommend meeting weekly for the first 4–6 sessions. This helps us establish a strong working relationship and provides consistent support as we get started. From there, we’ll talk together about whether moving to biweekly sessions feels like a good fit.

Monthly sessions are usually reserved for clients who are transitioning out of care or stepping down after more frequent support. That said, we aim to be flexible and collaborative, and we’ll regularly check in to make sure the frequency continues to feel supportive and sustainable for you.

We don’t encourage or support intentional weight loss as a treatment goal. That said, we do hold space for your desires, questions, and mixed feelings around weight. It’s common to want weight loss in a culture that constantly reinforces that message, and we approach those conversations with curiosity and care.

Our work focuses on self-acceptance, rebuilding trust with your body, and supporting consistent, adequate nourishment. Many clients find that over time, food feels less stressful, takes up less mental space, and becomes easier to navigate. As nourishment becomes more regular and barriers around movement are explored, relationships with food and body often improve.

When clinically appropriate, we may monitor weight as one piece of information, alongside many other markers of health such as energy levels, labs, digestion, menstrual health, strength, and overall well-being. Weight is never used as the sole measure of progress.

We’ll always be honest about our approach and make sure it feels aligned for you before moving forward.

Yes. We understand that people take medications like GLP-1s for a variety of reasons, and many medications can affect hunger, fullness, and how eating feels. We work with clients to support regular, adequate nourishment and body care regardless of what medications they may be taking.

Our approach centers autonomy, informed consent, and awareness of diet culture. We help clients understand how these medications and procedures can impact eating, metabolism, and overall health, so you can make decisions that feel informed and aligned for you. We also support clients who are transitioning onto or off of GLP-1 medications, as well as those who have had bariatric surgery.

Our role is to support your relationship with food and your body within the context of your lived experience and medical care.

Sometimes, but not very often. Rather than handing you a pre-made meal plan, we focus on helping you build the skills to create meals that are nutritionally balanced and aligned with your goals.

We may use tools for creating more structure with meals, brainstorm sample meals or snacks, or help you plan out a week of eating together. For clients who need more structure or support—whether due to disordered eating, ADHD, or life circumstances—we can also help with in-session meal planning and grocery lists.

We tend to avoid clinician-generated meal plans because they often don’t translate well to real life. They can be time-intensive, include foods you don’t enjoy, or end up unused.

Our goal is flexibility, sustainability, and confidence—so you’re building a system that works for you. That said, when a more structured plan is therapeutically appropriate, we absolutely use one.

Yes—when it feels clinically appropriate, we may recommend supplements as part of your care. We take an individualized approach and consider things like symptoms, labs, medical history, and dietary intake when making recommendations.

We don’t sell supplements and don’t work with any affiliate companies. Our recommendations are based on your needs, not on product sales.

Body image concerns and disordered eating are often shaped by diet culture, perfectionism, and rigid ideas about how we’re “supposed” to eat or look.

Creativity—especially process-based practices like art journaling—can offer a different way of relating to yourself and your body.

Creative practices help challenge perfectionism by inviting experimentation, flexibility, and curiosity. Rather than striving for a specific outcome, art journaling focuses on the process. Many people find that this approach makes space for self-compassion, self-awareness, and a more forgiving relationship with food and body.

In our work, creativity may also be used as a metaphor. Just as you don’t have to get art “right” the first time, eating doesn’t have to be perfect to be nourishing. Play can support variety, coping, and resilience—especially for people who feel stuck in food rules or all-or-nothing thinking.

Creativity is always optional in our work and this is not art therapy. You don’t need to consider yourself artistic, and there’s no expectation to make “good” art. While Kathy often incorporates art journaling, we welcome any form of creative expression—or none at all—based on what feels supportive for you.

Yes. We are in network with BCBS and Cigna, and Kathy is also in network with Aetna. Coverage varies by individual plan, but many insurance plans offer strong benefits for nutrition counseling.

Because coverage details differ widely, our intake paperwork includes a benefits-check form that walks you through the specific questions to ask your insurance company. This can usually be done by calling the number on the back of your card or using the chat feature on your insurer’s website.

Occasionally plans include copays, deductibles, or coinsurance. We keep a card on file and submit claims on your behalf. Once we receive information back from your insurance company about a claim, we charge any remaining balance based on your plan’s benefits.

As a small practice, we ask clients to complete the benefits check independently so there’s a clear, shared understanding of what is and isn’t covered before we begin. This is part of our intake paperwork and we’ll guide you in what to ask. We’re always happy to help clarify questions along the way.

If we don’t accept your insurance, we’re happy to help refer you to another provider who is in network with your plan. We believe in using insurance benefits when they’re available, and we want care to feel accessible.

If you’d still like to work with us, we do offer private-pay options. We can also provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your plan.

We’re always glad to talk through your options and help you decide what feels like the best next step.