The Eat Clinic

About Me / Professional Background

I am a registered dietitian with specialist experience in eating disorders, disordered eating, and complex nutrition-related mental health presentations.

I completed my Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. After graduating, I worked in private practice in Australia for one year, before returning to New Zealand in 2018. Since then, I have worked continuously in private practice in Christchurch, supporting adolescents and adults with eating disorders and related conditions.

My clinical work focuses on anorexia nervosa, ARFID, bulimia nervosa, refeeding and medical risk, and the intersection between nutrition, the brain, and behaviour. I work with individuals, families, and caregivers, and regularly collaborate with GPs, psychologists, and other health professionals.

Professional Development & Clinical Training

My ongoing professional development reflects both evidence-based eating disorder treatment and emerging neuroscience-informed approaches. This includes formal training in:

• Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for Dietitians

• Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), with a focus on eating disorder presentations

• Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO-DBT)

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

I have a particular clinical interest in neurodivergence and eating disorders, including how autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, and cognitive rigidity can influence eating behaviour, treatment engagement, and recovery pathways. This informs how I adapt nutrition education, communication, and treatment pacing to reduce distress and increase safety.

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Nutritional Neuroscience Focus

Over the past year, my primary area of advanced learning has been nutritional neuroscience — specifically how malnutrition, refeeding, and nutrient availability affect brain function, cognition, emotional regulation, and recovery capacity. I am currently undertaking targeted study in this area through a Duke University course, which has become a central focus of my clinical practice and education work.

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Additional Clinical Interest

I also have a clinical interest in connective tissue disorders, including Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS), and their overlap with neurodivergence, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), eating disorders (particularly anorexia nervosa), and gastrointestinal symptoms. This includes an awareness of how chronic pain, autonomic dysfunction, fatigue, gut dysmotility, sensory sensitivity, and medical trauma can complicate nutrition, refeeding, and treatment engagement. Within my role as a dietitian, this informs careful pacing, symptom-aware nutrition planning, and close collaboration with medical and allied health professionals.

Clinical Approach

I take a neurobiologically informed, compassionate, and non-judgemental approach, recognising that eating disorders are brain-based illnesses with serious medical consequences — not lifestyle choices. My work prioritises medical safety, adequate nutrition, and helping clients and families understand why eating is essential for recovery, even when it feels distressing or illogical.