Eating Disorders

Recovering from Eating Disorders

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, or disordered eating, negative relationship with food or a history of problematic dieting, then this is your chance to learn a new food language that works for you!

Rachael has over 25 years’ experience in the world of eating disorders, working with pre-adolescents, adolescents, adults and families in the private sector.

She helps her clients realise that recovery is possible, and empowers them to live their life free from an eating disorder, disordered eating practices and body image concerns.  Her compassion, empathy, nutritional support and guidance form the foundation to navigate her client’s journey to normalised eating and food calm.  Recovery from an eating disorder takes time, patience, courage and hope.  Rachael will walk alongside her clients on their path and  forms a respectful and authentic connection with each individual that she sees.  She has an extensive knowledge of nutrition science, a deep understanding of eating disorders and the negative mindset.  She provides a safe space for each client to feel heard and understood. Rachael’s special interests within her world of eating disorders also include gut nutrition, hypersensory systems and neurodiversity.   To which she delights in the challenge and individuality of every client, she works with, to provide personalised and flexible nutritional care at their stage of their recovery.

Types of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders and disordered eating are a group of illnesses where someone may have a distorted view of their body shape, image or weight, may need to control something tangible in their life, may have extreme instabilities in their eating behaviours.  These include:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Binge eating disorder
• Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)
• Problematic dieting and diet merry-go-round
• Body image concerns

Her nutrition care process for eating disorders has been developed using a combination of evidence informed practice, current research, peer support, clinical experience and effective nutrition practice models.  Further, she obtains a wealth of knowledge from each client and their family, which she takes time and interest in getting to know and understand their history, stories and food archaeology.  Rachael works with the general practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor and carers and family to ensure that a collaborative approach is adopted.

It is not about the food …. Carolyn Crostin

It is not about the food………but then it is all about the food.  Food becomes an individual’s way of feeling in control, often when other things in their world feels totally outside their control.  This can manifest into food restriction, overeating then followed by compensatory behaviours, avoidance of certain types of food, altered eating behaviours, distorted and rigid views and rules about food.  However, with such extreme behaviours that are not consistent with happy or healthy bodies, unfortunate physical, mental and emotional changes happen as the body tries to preserve itself.   It then does become all about the food, in the sense of nutritional rehabilitation process that needs to happen to nourish the body back to its health and optimal functioning.  Renourishment and nutritional repletion needs to happen from the inside out, and the cellular nutrition of each individual is foremost in her mind to help the body restore its functioning.  From this point, Rachael works on building a positive, nourishing, balanced and freeing relationship with food to help you learn your new food language.  The old food language patterns have to be unlearnt, new food language developed, and then practiced regularly enough so that it becomes fluent and effortless.

If you would like Rachael to help you share and navigate your journey to normalised eating, health and wellness, please book an appointment at Eat and Enjoy Nutrition.