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What is the difference between a Nutritionist or Health Coach & a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?

REGISTERED DIETITIAN NUTRITIONIST
Qualifications
  • Minimum of bachelors degree from an accredited university with coursework in nutrition and dietetics designed by the national credentialing agency, ACEND.
  • Completion of a Dietetic Internship consisting of a minimum of 1200 hours of supervised practice.
  • Passed a national board exam.
  • Maintains continuing education credits to maintain Registration and Certifications. 
Definition
A qualified health professional who helps promote good health through proper nutritional habits.
Legal Status
  • An expert in nutrition 
  • Registered with the Commission of Dietetics Registration (CDR)
  • Licensed to practice diet and nutritional consultation
NUTRITIONIST or HEALTH COACH
Qualifications
  • None required
  • In some cases it is a self-proclaimed title. 
Definition
Someone who works with food and nutritional science, aiming to prevent disease related to nutrient deficiencies.
Legal Status
Not legally accepted as an expert

Nutrition Sessions, What can I expect?

  • The initial appointment, is one hour long, and the focus is on getting to know you as an individual and learning about your nutrition-related challenges and goals. In the initial assessment you will be asked about your medical history, current physical activity, daily stressors, and sleep habits. You are encourages to bring any labs/blood work to this appointment.
  • Follow up appointments are usually weekly for, at least 6-8 weeks, or as long as is needed to develop and sustain healthful physical, psychological, and emotional behavior change around food and the body. Once a strong recovery foundation as been cemented, appointments will move to bi-weekly check-ins.
  • In follow up appointments we will review therapeutic and behavioral change tools, sometimes this involves nutrition activities to be completed at home, and you will be provided with research based nutrition education specific to your nutritional needs. â€‹
  • Grocery shopping tours, food exposure, meal and/or snack sessions, can also be scheduled as a follow-up session. The only thing I cannot do at this time are on-site cooking demos.

What forms of payment do you take?

Cash, check, and all major credit cards are accepted as payment. Even if you plan to pay by cash or check, a credit card is required to be on file and will only be charged for a late cancellation or a no-show appointment per the cancellation policy.

What is your Cancelation Policy?

If you are unable to attend a scheduled session, please make sure to cancel at least 24 hours beforehand. Otherwise, you will be charged for the full rate of the session. Insurance does not cover cancelation fees, if you do not cancel your appointment within 24 hours you will personally be responsible for the cost of the reserved session. 

What is Danielle's education?

Danielle earned her Bachelor of Science in Food & Nutrition, from LaSalle University. She became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist after she completed her post-graduate work through the competitive Greater Los Angeles Veteran Affair Healthcare System.  Additionally, Danielle pursued advanced expertise and proficiency in the field of eating disorders, from the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) Foundation, becoming a Certified Eating Specialist (CEDS). Danielle then went on to get additional training specifically in the treatment and care of those struggling with eating disorders, with the goal to mentor, educate and encourage other clinicians in the field of eating disorders, Danielle attaining the Approved Supervisor designation (CEDS-S)  from the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) Foundation.

What is required to become a
Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS)?

Initial Process:

​​

  • 2500 supervised patient care hours. 2000 (80% of 2500 hours) directly in the field of eating disorders supervised by an International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) approved Supervisor.​
    • "direct patient/client contact" defined as anything related to specific patient/client care (i.e. chart notes/documentation, other consultations regarding patient/client care, case coordination, etc.)​
    • 25% of total supervision hours can be provided be from supervisors in non-primary discipline.
  • 24 supervision hours over 2 years minimum.​
    • Monthly contact encouraged.​
    • Up to 50% of supervision hours can be through group supervision.
  • Complete iaedp™ core courses. The four core courses include:
    • Introduction to Eating Disorders
    • Treatment Modalities of Eating Disorders
    • Medical Aspects of Eating Disorders
    • Nutritional Guidelines for Treating Eating Disorders.
  • Pass iaedp™ Certification Exam
  • Additional education requirements included 6 clock hours in each area:
    • Body image, weight and food issues.
    • Abnormal psychology/addictions.
    • Counseling/psychotherapy.
  • A 1500 word case study which must be of a patient that was treated by the applicant.
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation from professional peers who are experienced in the field of eating disorders and familiar with the applicant's personal work in the field of eating disorder. 
  • Completion of a Statement of Intent and Ethics Statement.​
​Maintenance of Certification:
On-going continuing education requirements which are to be met, in order to maintain certification include
  • 20 hours of continuing education directly in the field of eating disorders each two-year period of certification.
  • Attendance at an iaedp™ Symposium once every four years.​

What is required to become a
Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Supervisor (CEDS-S)?

An approved Supervisor is defined as a professional with a minimum of five years of experience treating persons with eating disorders, no fewer than 6,000 hours of approved work experience in the treatment and diagnosis of eating disorders and holds the appropriate state licensure, certification, or registration qualifications.

Tell me more about the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) Foundation.

Established in 1985, iaedp (http://www.iaedp.com) provides educational programs and training standards for eating disorder specialists and other medical professionals caring for those suffering from the full spectrum of disordered eating. The group offers the most widely respected certification process for specializing in eating disorder treatment.
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