Trauma-Informed Nutrition Counseling
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What is Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)?
Medical Nutrition Therapy is a powerful tool for improving nourishment, health, and well-being. This included navigation of complex medical issues or chronic health conditions. For individuals who have experienced trauma, nutrition can be a particularly challenging process. Trauma affects every aspect of a person's life, including their relationship with food and their body. Trauma can contribute to disordered eating patterns, binging, dissociative or emotional eating. As a result, traditional nutrition counseling may not effectively address trauma survivors' unique needs and challenges in recovery. That's where trauma-informed medical nutrition therapy comes in.
A trauma-informed approach recognizes the impact of trauma on a person's physical, emotional, and psychological health and seeks to create a safe and supportive environment for nutrition care.
In a trauma-informed nutrition counseling session, you are empowered to actively participate in your healing journey. Your Trauma-informed Dietitian works collaboratively with you to develop a personalized plan that addresses your unique needs and goals while also taking into account any trauma-related barriers or challenges.
Trauma-informed care is nervous system-informed care, so if you are a human being who has a nervous system, trauma-informed care will be more helpful for you.
Trauma-Informed Integrative Nutrition
Integrative nutrition focuses on the interconnectedness and balance of the body, mind, spirit, and lifestyle. We will not introduce a generic meal plan to you. Our trauma-informed dietitians can help you identify how your nutrition intake and mental health may impact your overall health. We will consider you as a whole when providing nutrition counseling advice. Our providers will listen to your goals and help with both knowledge and empathy.
Unlike conventional practices, trauma-informed and integrative nutrition focuses on an individual’s unique nutritional needs and health conditions. This means considering any intolerances, deficiencies, preferences, or allergies and determining what nutrients your body lacks. Factors like how we eat, where we get our food, and our environment can significantly impact our health.

Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Nutrition Counseling:
Safety and trust: Creating a safe and supportive environment is essential for trauma survivors to feel comfortable and open to exploring their relationship with food and their body. Nutrition counselors will prioritize building trust and rapport with their clients and avoid any actions or behaviors that may trigger feelings of fear or anxiety.
Empowerment and choice: Trauma can leave individuals feeling powerless and out of control. Trauma-informed nutrition counseling seeks to restore the client's sense of agency and autonomy by empowering them to make their own choices about their health and wellness.
Holistic approach: Trauma affects every aspect of a person's life, and as such, trauma-informed nutrition counseling takes a holistic approach. Counselors may explore not just the client's diet and exercise habits but also their sleep, stress management, and social support systems.
Sensitivity and compassion: Trauma survivors may be experiencing a range of emotions, including shame, guilt, and fear. Trauma-informed nutrition counselors will approach their clients with sensitivity and compassion and avoid any language or behaviors that may be triggering or re-traumatizing. You have the right to inform your Nutrition Counselor of language or experiences that don’t work for you.
By taking a trauma-informed approach to nutrition counseling, Nutrition Counselors can help clients holistically shift their experience and relationship with food. Clients can achieve greater physical, emotional, and psychological well-being by addressing the underlying trauma that may be contributing to disordered eating habits or other health concerns. With the right support and guidance, anyone can learn to nourish their body and soul in a way that promotes wellness.

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