If you’re hovering over the “book appointment” button, or you’ve filled out a form, but let our calls go to voicemail and our emails unread or maybe you’ve already booked and you’re lying awake wondering what’s going to happen, this post is for you. Reaching out takes real courage, and you’ve already done the hardest part.
Let’s take some of the mystery out of that first session, whether you work with one of the eating disorder dietitians at Namaste Nourished or work with a dietitian somewhere else.
What it’s Not
A lot of people picture a dietitian visit as someone handing over a meal plan, a list of “good” and “bad” foods, and a lecture on all the things you’re doing wrong. Eating disorder care doesn’t work that way. A dietitian who specializes in eating disorders won’t scold you about what you eat or shame you about your body. Ever. You also don’t need to show up with everything figured out, feel “sick enough,” or have the perfect words.
It Starts With a Conversation
Most first sessions are predominantly talking. Your dietitian wants to get to know you as a person, not just a list of symptoms. We want to understand your health history, current symptoms, and also what your life looks like. You might be asked things like:
What’s been going on with food, eating, or your body lately?
What made you decide to reach out now?
What does a typical day of eating look like? (No judgment here. They’re just trying to understand your reality.)
Have you worked with a dietitian or had treatment before?
What are you nervous about? What are you hoping for?
You can answer as much or as little as feels okay. If something is too hard to say out loud yet, tell them. “I’m not ready to talk about that,” is a perfectly good answer, and a good dietitian will respect it. We might ask a lot of questions, but we invite you to ask questions of us too. We want you to collaborate with us in your treatment, and understanding more about you and your life is how we can personalize your treatment.
A Little Practical Stuff
Before your first appointment, expect some paperwork, including your health history, medications, current and previous medical conditions, and consent forms. Your dietitian may also ask whether you’re working with a therapist, doctor,, specialist, or psychiatrist or other healthcare professional. Eating disorder recovery tends to go best when your support team isare on the same page, so they may ask your permission to coordinate with them. That’s always your call, but we do find that when we can collaborate and be part of a team, rather than an individual provider, you have better success
You may also be asked about sleep, energy, digestion, movement, and any physical symptoms. It’s for no other reason than it helps your dietitian see the whole picture, because eating disorders affect so much more than food, and it gives us a way to track your progress outside of your weight or calorie intake Read more about goals beyond weight in our blog here.
Let’s Talk About Weight, Numbers, and Meal Plans
This is the part that worries people the most, so let’s be upfront to hopefully alleviate your concerns
Weight and other health markers can be part of eating disorder care, often in coordination with your medical provider. But it looks very different from a weight-loss setting, and many dietitians can adjust how it’s handled to fit you. If numbers are a big source of anxiety, tell your dietitian before or at the start of your appointment. It’s one of the most common concerns they hear, and you can talk through options together.
As for meal plans, you won’t leave your first session with one. The first visit is about understanding where you are right now. From there, a plan is built gradually and with you, with the goal of making eating feel more regular, adequate, and less scary, at a pace that fits your situation. Meal plans aren’t always indicated for our patients. If one is requested or deemed to be helpful, we want to create it collaboratively together. Read more about why we don’t always provide meal plans in our blog here.
You Get to Ask Questions Too
This is your appointment, and we want you to feel engaged and involved. A few things you might want to ask:
How do you approach weight and weigh-ins?
How often will we meet?
What if I’m not ready to change certain behaviors yet?
How will you work with my therapist or doctor?
And if something doesn’t feel right, say so. Finding a dietitian you feel comfortablesafe with matters. If you have other questions that come up, don’t hesitate to ask. We love questions, we love educating, and we want you to feel empowered in your treatment.
How You Might Feel After
How you might feel after varies. Some people feel relieved, like they finally set something heavy down. Some feel tired. Some feel anxious or a bit raw, which is normal after opening up about things you’ve kept to yourself. Be extra gentle with yourself that day. If you can, plan something easy afterward, like a walk, a call with a friend, or your favorite comfort show. You also don’t have to decide right away whether it’s the right fit. Take a day or two to think about how it went, and try another session or two before deciding.
If You’re Still On the Fence
Showing up imperfectly to your session with an eating disorder dietitian is enough. You don’t need to be ready, have the right story, or be certain you want to change. You just need to walk in, and a good dietitian will meet you where you are.
If you’re considering it, take that as a sign that part of you is ready for support. Remember that your eating disorder wants to keep you stuck, and change is uncomfortable. Wherever you land, we’re glad you’re here, and we’re cheering you on. Reach out to Namaste Nourished to learn more about working with an eating disorder dietitian.
Sources
American Psychiatric Association. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Eating Disorders, 4th ed. 2023.
Hackert AN, Kniskern MA, Beasley TG. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Revised 2020 Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (Competent, Proficient, and Expert) in Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2020;120(11):1902-1919.