Restore Your Relationship with Food!
Working with a Registered Dietitian on Your Recovery Journey
At Recovered & Restored, our team knows that successful eating disorder treatment goes beyond weekly therapy sessions. Nutrition plays a central role in healing, so we’re proud to offer specialized meal coaching and individualized care from our registered dietitian, Rachel Dodson, RD, LDN. Whether you’re a teen, young adult, or managing weight challenges later in life, Rachel works with you at every phase of recovery, and no strict meal plans, calorie counting, or food rules are required.
Research shows that having a team on your side (medical doctors, therapists, and dietitians) gives you the best shot at a full eating‑disorder recovery. Even the most proven therapy out there, Enhanced CBT (CBT‑E), suggests working with a dietitian to nail down the right nutrition plan for your needs (National Library of Medicine). We want you to understand that our dietitian doesn’t just hand out meal plans; she brings deep know‑how in nutrition science and behavior change, which is key for things like safely rebuilding your weight and learning healthy eating habits.
Why Work with a Registered Dietitian?
When you begin eating disorder treatment, you’ll quickly learn that therapy and nutrition counseling go hand in hand. A dietitian on your treatment team:
​
-
Ensures you’re nourished adequately for physical healing
-
Helps you move away from rigid diets and restrictive behaviors
-
Guides you through intuitive eating and Health At Every Size (HAES) principles
-
Teaches you the “why” behind each recommendation, not just the “what”
Rachel emphasizes that recovery isn’t about following a one‑size‑fits‑all meal plan. Instead, she meets you exactly where you are, honoring your past experiences, cultural background, and personal preferences to help you rediscover the joy of eating.
What to Expect in Your First Sessions
Whether you’re searching for “eating recovery center” support or looking for a trusted eating disorder therapist near me, Rachel’s process begins with understanding you as a whole person. In the first one to two sessions, you’ll:
​
-
Complete an Intake Conversation
-
Your nutritional history, medical background, and relationship with food
-
Family influences around eating, body image, and dieting
-
Current challenges - whether it’s resisting foods, purging behaviors, or difficulty maintaining weight
-
-
Collaborate on Goals
-
Rachel will ask about your fears (e.g., “What if my body changes?”) and hopes for recovery
-
Together, you set compassionate, realistic objectives - like sitting through a family meal without distress
-
-
Build Trust and Rapport
-
Rachel’s empathetic approach, informed by her own recovery journey, ensures you feel safe sharing struggles
-
After intake, most clients transition to weekly sessions, moving to bi‑weekly and monthly visits as they gain confidence, skills, and stability. The goal is clear: move toward food freedom so you no longer need external structure.
Customized Meal Structure; Not a Meal Plan
Rather than prescribing rigid meal plans, Rachel designs meal structures tailored to your stage of recovery:
-
Early Recovery: Prioritize adequate energy and macronutrient balance using your “safe foods” to stabilize your health
-
Mid‑Recovery: Introduce food challenges - gently expanding your repertoire and dismantling black‑and‑white beliefs around “good” and “bad” foods
-
Advanced Recovery: Fine‑tune intuitive eating skills, listen to true hunger/fullness cues, and confidently navigate social meals and holidays
For clients working on eating disorder therapy online across PA, NJ, or MD, Rachel uses creative strategies, like virtual meal coaching, to help you sit with fullness and process food‑related anxiety in real time.
Collaboration with Your Care Team
True eating disorder recovery is multidisciplinary. Rachel and the entire Recovered & Restored team believe in partnering with a full spectrum of experts. From therapists who specialize in DBT, CBT, and ERP to address the thoughts and emotions driving disordered eating; physicians and psychiatrists to monitor labs, vital signs (including menstruation for females), and any needed medications; and family therapists and parent coaches to help you build a supportive home environment.
​
Whether you’re receiving care at an eating recovery center, participating in an intensive outpatient (IOP) program, or attending weekly outpatient sessions, this integrated team approach ensures you get seamless, comprehensive treatment every step of the way. You can learn more about the other specialists we recommend here.
Nutrition Education & Skills for Long‑Term Success
Throughout your journey, Rachel weaves in practical education:
​
-
Understanding Hunger & Fullness: Reconnecting with your body’s signals after years of dieting or compulsive behaviors
-
Reading Nutrition Labels: When appropriate, learning to interpret labels without fixation or anxiety
-
Supportive Language: Challenging self‑criticism and cultivating self‑compassion around food choices
-
Meal Planning Tools: Building grocery lists, balanced meals, and snack ideas that fit your lifestyle
With each session, you gain tools and confidence to navigate real‑life eating situations: lunch with friends, holiday gatherings, or spontaneous meals on vacation.
Why Rachel’s Clients Succeed
Clients who work with Rachel report:
​
-
Reduced Anxiety Around Eating: Facing “forbidden” foods through gradual exposure and habituation
-
Stable Health Markers: Regular menstrual cycles, normalized labs, and improved energy
-
Greater Self‑Trust: Moving from external rules to internal guidance
-
Sustainable Habits: No more short‑term diets; instead, lifelong skills for well‑being
By the time clients “graduate” from Rachel’s support, they often describe food as a source of pleasure, nourishment, and connection, no longer an arena of fear or guilt.
- Julia S.
"My experience working with Rachel has been nothing but great. She has given me so much hope and courage towards my recovery process. I can now confidently say recovery is so incredibly worth it, and I couldn't have done it without her continuous support. She has taught me so much about food, diet culture, and how to rebuild my relationship with food. She's brought me so much courage and strength, and I couldn't be more thankful for her & Recovery and Restored."
- Tori J.
"Working with Rachel as my nutritionist through my recovery has been an amazing experience! She's helped me through so many challenges with planning meals along with giving me the tools I need to be successful. I couldn't imagine working with anyone else!"
- Emma C.
"Rachel has been so helpful with my recovery. She is compassionate and has taught me so much about the nutrition my body needs. My relationship with food has transformed through working with her!!"
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
If you’re seeking eating disorder treatment or looking to take the next step beyond therapy, reach out today. Rachel Dodson and our team at Recovered & Restored would be honored to guide you toward a healthier, more joyful relationship with food - one meal at a time.
Find your eating disorder therapist near me, explore our online therapy options, or learn more about our eating recovery center services across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, South Carolina, and Florida. Healing is possible, and it starts with adequate nourishment.
