Frequently Asked Questions
About The Mental Health RD
Q: What is the difference between a Registered Dietitian and a Nutritionist?
A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a regulated healthcare professional with accredited university education, supervised clinical training, and ongoing licensing to provide evidence-based nutrition care. In Ontario, Dietitian" is a protected title. Working with a Registered Dietitian ensures you're receiving personalized nutrition advice from a qualified, regulated expert.
Q: What does a Mental Health Dietitian do?
A Mental Health Dietitian is a Registered Dietitian who focuses on the relationship between food, the brain, and emotional wellbeing.
Q: Why should I work with a Mental Health Dietitian?
Unlike traditional nutrition counselling that focuses only on what to eat, my mental health focused approach combines evidence-based nutrition, mental health nutrition, behaviour change strategies, and Emotional Brain Training (EBT) to address the thoughts, emotions, and habits that influence what we eat, why we eat, when we eat and how we eat.
Working Together
Q: What does it look like to work with you?
We begin with a comprehensive initial assessment conducted via secure video chat or phone. We'll take a deep dive into your medical history, lifestyle, eating habits, relationship with food, mental health, and goals. Together, we'll identify the biggest opportunities for change and create a few realistic, personalized goals to focus on before your next appointment.
Each follow-up session builds on the last. We'll review your progress, celebrate what's working, troubleshoot barriers, answer questions, and adjust your plan as needed. Every appointment ends with clear, actionable goals so you always know what to focus on next. You'll also receive personalized resources, handouts, meal ideas, or worksheets based on what we discuss.
Q: Are your appointments virtual?
Yes. All appointments are conducted securely online or through phone call, allowing you to access personalized nutrition counselling from the comfort of your home anywhere in Ontario. Virtual care offers the same evidence-based support as in-person appointments, with the added convenience of eliminating travel time and making it easier to fit nutrition counselling into your schedule.
Q: What happens between appointments?
Depending on your needs, I'll provide personalized handouts, educational resources, meal ideas, worksheets, and practical tools to help you implement what we've discussed. You can also message me anytime through the secure Practice Better chat if questions come up between appointments.
Q: How often should I book follow-up appointments?
Most clients begin with weekly or bi-weekly follow-up appointments to build momentum, establish new habits, and receive ongoing support. As you become more confident, appointments can be spaced further apart based on your goals, progress, and preferences. You can always book appointments using my booking page
Q: How many appointments will I need?
The number of appointments varies from person to person and depends on your goals, health concerns, and the level of support you're looking for. There are several package options available.
Q: Can I continue working with you after the sessions are done?
Once you've completed your initial package, you always have the option to continue with additional follow-up packages if you'd like ongoing support.
Q: Do you provide meal plans?
Yes, when appropriate. Every client receives individualized nutrition recommendations, and if a meal plan would be helpful for your goals, I can create one tailored to your preferences, lifestyle, schedule, and nutrition needs. Meal plans include balanced meal and snack ideas, recipes, grocery suggestions, and are designed to be flexible rather than restrictive.
Payment
Q: What areas of Ontario do you serve?
Because appointments are offered virtually, I work with clients across Ontario, including Toronto, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Hamilton, Ottawa, London, Barrie, Kingston, and surrounding communities.
Q: Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly with a Registered Dietitian in Ontario without a physician referral. However, some extended health insurance plans may require a referral for reimbursement, so it's a good idea to check with your insurance provider before your appointment.
Q: Are appointments covered by insurance?
A: Many extended health insurance plans include coverage for services provided by a Registered Dietitian. Coverage varies depending on your individual plan, so I recommend checking your benefits before booking.
Q: How does payment work?
Payment depends on the type of appointment you book. Individual pay per session appointments can be direct billed to participating insurance providers , or paid through e-transfer at the time of your appointment. Nutrition packages are paid in full by e-transfer before your first session, and you'll receive an individual receipt after each appointment to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement if applicable.
Specific Medical Conditions
Q: Can food affect mental health?
Yes. Research shows that nutrition can influence mood, energy, concentration, stress resilience, and overall brain health. While food isn't a replacement for therapy or medication, eating regular, balanced meals plays an important role in supporting a healthy brain.
Q: Can nutrition help anxiety?
Yes. Research shows diet can play an important role in supporting anxiety management through food's effects on blood sugar, gut health and inflammation.
Q: How can a Mental Health Dietitian help with emotional eating?
Emotional eating is rarely about a lack of willpower. It's often the result of stress, irregular eating patterns, restrictive dieting, poor sleep, ADHD, and learned coping habits. Together we'll identify your triggers and create practical strategies that help you respond to emotions without relying solely on food.
Q: Can a Dietitian help with binge eating?
Yes. If you experience episodes of overeating or binge eating, nutrition counselling can help rebuild regular eating patterns, reduce restriction, improve hunger awareness, and create a healthier relationship with food.
Q: Can a Dietitian help with ADHD?
Nutrition cannot cure ADHD, but it can help support attention, energy, executive functioning, mood, and overall wellbeing. I take an ADHD-friendly approach to nutrition counselling by focusing on realistic, low-effort strategies that meet your nutrition goals.
Q: Can I lose weight without dieting?
Yes. Rather than focusing on the number on the scale or meticulous tracking, we work on habits that optimize your eating patterns without putting your relationship with food at risk. Together we'll focus on balanced meals, protein and fibre intake, emotional eating, cravings, and sustainable behaviour change. The goal is long-term weight management that supports both your physical and mental health- not another restrictive diet.
