Have you heard of the term ‘Trauma Informed?’
What about a ‘Trauma Informed Dietitian’?
The role of a registered dietitian extends beyond merely providing nutrition guidance. For those living with mental illness or eating disorders, a specialist mental health/ eating disorder dietitian can play an important role in recovery. In this blog post, we’ll explore the concept of being trauma informed.
What does it mean to be trauma informed?
Being trauma informed involves understanding and responding to the widespread impact of trauma. In the context of dietitians, it means acknowledging the connection between trauma, mental health, and one’s relationship with food. Trauma can significantly influence an individual’s eating habits, leading to disordered eating or, in severe cases, eating disorders.
Trauma informed means understanding and working with and around trauma. It is different to trauma-focussed therapy, which is therapy that focusses on directly on trauma and healing from it. Trauma-focussed work would be done with an experienced therapist or psychologist.
How can a dietitian be trauma informed?
Specialist mental health and eating disorder dietitians undergo extensive training to develop a good understanding of the psychological aspects of their clients’ relationship with food. They approach nutrition guidance with sensitivity and empathy, recognising that each person is unique. By being trauma informed, dietitians can address not just the physical aspects of nourishment but also the emotional and mental aspects that may be connected with food.
What does a specialist mental health and eating disorder dietitian do?
Mental health dietitians, are dietitians that have gained additional training and experience to support those whose eating is impacted by their mental health.
The British Dietetic Association has a page that further explains the role of a Mental Health Dietitian:
Eating disorder dietitians play a key role in recovery by working with clients on the dietary change and relationship with food aspect of healing. Whether someone is struggling with disordered eating or battling a diagnosed or undiagnosed eating disorder, a trauma informed dietitian provides support for both the physical and emotional aspects of nourishment.
How can trauma informed dietitians help?
Trauma informed dietitians create a safe and supportive environment for their clients, fostering open communication and trust. They assist individuals in identifying and addressing the root causes of their struggles with food, promoting healing from the inside out. By understanding the interplay between trauma and nutrition, these professionals contribute significantly to the broader process of mental health recovery.
Where to find a trauma informed dietitian?
If you are seeking the expertise of a trauma informed dietitian, then we would love to help. The dietitians in this clinic are trained and experienced in working with those with complex trauma histories. If you have any questions about that we would love to answer them here. Alternatively you can book a free call below.
Summary
- Trauma informed dietitians are trained and experienced in acknowledging the connection between trauma, mental health, and one’s relationship with food.
- They can help support their clients to improve their eating habits in the context of trauma.
- This is different to trauma-focussed work that may be done with a psychologist or psychotherapist.
- Mental health dietitians are specialist dietitians that have gained additional training and experience to support those whose eating is impacted by their mental health.
- Eating disorder dietitians are specialists that work with clients on the dietary change and relationship with food aspect of recovery.
- If your eating is impacted by a history of trauma then it is advisable to seek support from a trauma informed dietitian.
