Top-Rated Eating Disorder Treatment Raleigh NC
Compassionate eating disorder care from registered dietitians in Raleigh, NC & beyond. We accept insurance!
Why choose Ruby Oak Nutrition for eating disorder treatment in Raleigh?
Our Raleigh eating disorder dietitians have experience working at the full continuum of eating disorder care, including residential eating disorder treatment centers, partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, family-based treatment approaches, and outpatient private practice. We offer individual therapy options designed to help you overcome your eating disorder and heal your relationship with food.
Through nutrition counseling, our dietitians can help you:
- Understand your own disordered eating habits and harmful beliefs about food and bodyweight
- Nourish your body properly
- Create flexible and individualized meal plans that you can use each week
- Understand how co occurring disorders may be contributing to your disordered behaviors
- Figure out your triggers for restriction, binge eating, purging, over-exercise and more
- Navigate the eating disorder recovery process from home, or transition to a higher level of care if needed
- Stop obsessing about calories, macronutrients, “good” and “bad” foods, fad diets, and nutrition trends
- Feel confident in your food choices and empowered to eat in a way that supports your overall well-being
Here’s what some of our past clients have to say about working with us:
I was struggling with binge eating. I spent 70 percent of my day thinking about food, my weight, and beating myself up for letting myself go. I was afraid that if I told someone my weight or how much I ate, I would be looked down on. Working with you really changed my life. I was able to let go of portion sizes and just eat until I feel full. You gave me permission to eat. I remember one time you said something really small, maybe it was ‘that’s okay’ when I said I over-ate one day. Until working with you, I had never given myself permission to do that.
I came in struggling with orthorexia, not knowing what to eat, and questioning whether I was eating enough or too much. I’m used to rules and lists, so when there are none it’s hard for me, but I’m shifting. I really valued your calm way of helping me believe that diet culture is bogus, and helping me challenge the food rules in my head. The work we did together has helped me recognize food rules that I thought I had let go of (especially fear of carbs) and I see that carbs aren’t ruining my health. My blood work further proves that this is my truth.
When I sought nutrition counseling, I was starving myself and had extreme food rules. Your honesty helped me snap out of the many years of rituals and rules. You truly listened, and you didn’t brush off the strict, sergeant-like side of my personality—you helped me confront it. I learned more from you than what I learned from my therapist as far as having a relationship with food and not going backwards. I appreciate you letting me have flexibility in exactly what to eat, since I know I would’ve taken it too far if you listed out a ‘diet plan’ or anything of the like.
How does Ruby Oak Nutrition approach eating disorder treatment?
At Ruby Oak Nutrition, we take a collaborative and evidence-based approach to eating disorder treatment. We specialize in eating disorders and work in tandem with other eating disorder providers to help you make a full and lasting recovery. Our mission is to help our clients build a healthy relationship with food, free from disordered eating behaviors like restrictive eating, binge eating, purging, and over-exercise. We work with adults, adolescents, and families.
If you’re struggling and want support, our Raleigh dietitian nutritionists can help. We offer both virtual and in-person appointments, accept health insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and the North Carolina State Employee Health Plan), and typically see our eating disorder clients weekly.
How can our dietitians help with eating disorder treatment?
You don’t need an eating disorder diagnosis to seek treatment. If you feel like thoughts of food and weight are ruling your mind and negatively affecting your life, you deserve help. We see clients who struggle with the following eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
- Binge eating disorder
- Bulimia nervosa
- Orthorexia nervosa
- Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)
- Avoiding certain foods or food groups (like sugar or carbs)
- Difficulty eating “normally” due to OCD, ADHD, ASD, etc.
- Disordered eating
- Experiencing guilt about eating
- Feeling out of control around food
- Obsessively counting calories or macros
- Yo-yo dieting
10 of the best Raleigh eating disorder treatment dietitians
Our Raleigh eating disorder treatment dietitians are trained in a variety of evidence-based treatment approaches. We work alongside our adult and adolescent patients to develop customized treatment plans that promote healing and lead to lasting recovery. We understand tat everyone has unique needs and circumstances. When we provide care, we try hard to work collaboratively with each patient to identify their motivations, circumstances, mental health struggles, preferences, and goals in order to create the best possible healing environment.
Sarah Booth, MS, RD, LDN
Sarah Booth (she/her) MS, RD, LDN is an eating disorder dietitian who practices Health at Every Size® (HAES) and Intuitive Eating. She is deeply passionate about building a collaborative relationship with clients as they progress in their recovery journey. Sarah has experience working in residential eating disorder treatment at Carolina House and is especially skilled at helping clients transition back home from a higher level of care.
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Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
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License number: L00663 (NC)
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Education: Appalachian State University (Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Master of Science in Nutrition)
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Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, teen eating disorders, chronic disease management
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Years in practice: 4
Parker McKinnon, MS, RD, LDN
Parker McKinnon (she/her), MS, RD is a Charlotte-based registered dietitian who specializes in chronic disease management, healthy aging, disordered eating, and sports nutrition. She is passionate about helping clients make realistic, sustainable behavior changes that support their health goals while building a positive relationship with food. Parker takes an individualized, compassionate approach to nutrition counseling, meeting clients where they are and helping them create habits that fit their lives.
- Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
- License number: L008750 (NC)
- Education: Texas A&M (Bachelor of Science in Nutrition), Texas Woman’s University (Master of Science in Nutrition)
- Specialty areas: Chronic disease management, diabetes, healthy aging, disordered eating, and sports nutrition
- Years in practice: 3
Kala Bernard, MPH RD, LDN, CPT
Kala Bernard (she/her) is a Raleigh dietitian nutritionist and certified personal trainer. She has worked in various settings with all age groups, including gyms, inpatient hospitals, and the Durham County Health Department. Kala helps clients manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension through gentle nutrition. Kala’s interest in becoming a dietitian stemmed from her own experience with autoimmune diseases at a young age, and she’s passionate about supporting others with similar health challenges.
- Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina, Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
- License number: L007633 (NC)
- Education: North Carolina State University (Bachelor of Science in Human Biology), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Master of Public Health in Nutrition)
- Specialty areas: Child and teen eating disorders, pediatric nutrition, sports nutrition, and chronic disease management
- Years in practice: 3
Cherisse Chaney, MS, RD, LDN
Cherisse Chaney (she/her) is a Raleigh-Durham dietitian nutritionist who’s passionate about helping people improve their health without fixating on weight or setting unrealistic expectations for themselves. She works with clients who want to manage diabetes and other chronic diseases while still enjoying food and prioritizing a great quality of life.
- Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
- License number: L008932 (NC)
- Education: College of Charleston (Bachelor of Arts in English), Meredith College (Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics)
- Specialty areas: Teen eating disorders, adult eating disorders, chronic disease management, diabetes and GLP-1 support
- Years in practice: 1
Molly Edwards, MPH, RD, LDN
Molly Edwards (she/her) is a Raleigh dietitian who specializes in nutrition therapy for eating disorders, disordered eating, diabetes management, PCOS, hormonal and reproductive health, and co-occurring substance use disorders. She works with children, adolescents, and adults of all genders and gender identities, taking a client-centered, weight-neutral approach rooted in Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size® (HAES) principles.
- Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
- License number: L008244 (NC)
- Education: California State University Channel Islands (Bachelor of Arts in Health Communication), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Master of Public Health in Nutrition)
- Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, child and teen eating disorders, chronic disease management, diabetes, women’s health
- Years in practice: 2
Abby Caudle-Patton, MS, RD, LDN
Abby Caudle-Patton (she/her) is a registered dietitian nutritionist in North Carolina. She specializes in disordered eating, eating disorders, and chronic disease management for teens and adults. Abby enjoys working with these populations because it gives her the opportunity to form meaningful counseling relationships with her clients. She also has experience working at a therapeutic assistant at Veritas Collaborative, an eating disorder treatment center in Durham, NC, which informs her approach to nutrition therapy.
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Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
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License number: L006919 (NC)
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Education: North Carolina State University (Bachelor of Science in Nutrition), Meredith College (Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics)
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Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, teen eating disorders, intuitive eating, chronic disease management
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Years in practice: 4
Serena Hutchinson, MPH, RD, LDN, IBCLC
Serena Hutchinson (she/her) is a board-certified lactation consultant and registered dietitian nutritionist in Raleigh and Durham, NC, who sees clients in person and virtually. She specializes in eating disorders, lactation, and pregnancy and postpartum nutrition. When counseling clients, Serena takes a relational, empathetic approach. She enjoys supporting clients through all stages of eating disorder recovery, as well as collaborating with other members of a client’s treatment team to provide holistic care.
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Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
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License number: L007181 (NC)
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Education: Florida State University (Bachelor of Science Dietetics and Psychology), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Master of Public Health in Nutrition), Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant)
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Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, teen eating disorders, lactation/breastfeeding, pregnancy and postpartum nutrition
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Years in practice: 4
Megan Shawver, MS, RD, LDN
Megan Shawver (she/her) is an eating disorder dietitian nutritionist in Raleigh, NC. She sees clients in person and virtually. She specializes in eating disorders, pediatrics, and intuitive eating, and she brings a mix of curiosity and expertise to her work with each client. During her internship year, Megan got hands-on training at an eating disorder treatment facility, where she learned about different eating disorders and disease states. She’s knowledgeable about eating disorder meal planning, realistic goal setting, nutrition restoration, and collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team to manage the symptoms and potential medical complications of eating disorders.
- Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
- License number:
- Education: Franklin Pierce University (Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences), Meredith College (Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics)
- Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, child and teen eating disorders, pediatric nutrition, intuitive eating
- Years in practice: 1
Deidra Sisk, MS, RD, LDN, CEDS
Deidra Sisk (she/her) is a registered dietitian nutritionist in North Carolina who offers virtual nutrition counseling. She specializes in teen and adult eating disorders and is a certified eating disorder specialist (CEDS) through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). Deidra also sees clients who want to improve their health with a non-diet, Health at Every Size® (HAES)-aligned approach to nutrition. Deidra has experience working at several levels of eating disorder care, including residential treatment and outpatient nutrition counseling. Deidra understands that disordered habits do not discriminate based on race, age, gender, or social, health, or economic status, and she brings a whole-person approach to her work.
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Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
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License number: L004298 (NC)
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Education: Eastern Carolina University (Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science, Master of Science in Nutrition Science)
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Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, teen eating disorders, chronic disease management
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Years in practice: 10
Christine Byrne, MPH, RD, LDN
Christine Byrne (she/her) is a registered dietitian in Raleigh, NC who sees clients virtually and in person. She specializes in eating disorders and works primarily with adults who struggle with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. She believes that recovery is possible, and she helps clients tap into their unique motivations and strengths in order to make nourishing food choices that honor their values.
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Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
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License number: L006631 (NC)
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Education: Northwestern University (Bachelor of Arts in English), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Master of Public Health in Nutrition)
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Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, intuitive eating
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Years in practice: 5
FAQs about eating disorder treatment in Raleigh
How does eating disorder counseling work?
No matter the treatment approach, eating disorder recovery involves various different types of providers. In addition to working with one of our dietitians for nutrition counseling, you’ll also work with a mental health therapist, a primary care provider, and maybe a psychiatric provider.
In nutrition counseling, you’ll meet regularly with your registered dietitian. Most of our clients see us at least once per week, although some people see us less frequently as they move forward in recovery. In session, you’ll work with your dietitian to challenge your disordered eating thoughts and behaviors. Together you might create meal plans or movement plans, do food exposures to help you get more comfortable with fear foods, talk through challenges from the week prior, and set other behavioral goals that aid eating disorder recovery.
How can I pay for treatment?
Eating disorder treatment can be expensive, which is why we’re in-network with North Carolina’s largest insurance companies. Most plans cover the full cost of a dietitian for eating disorder treatment for children and teens, while others require a small co-pay or co-insurance (usually $20-$40) for appointments.
If we’re out of network with your health insurance provider, we can provide a super bill for appointments that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
To see the exact cost of appointments and get more information on insurance coverage, visit our Insurance and FAQ page.
What’s the difference between an eating disorder therapist and a dietitian?
Eating disorder therapists and eating disorder dietitians are two different but equally important members of your treatment team.
An eating disorder therapist is trained in mental health concerns and therapy. These therapists can help you better understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors about food through various treatment modalities. They can help you process past traumas that could be contributing to your eating disorder. A therapist can also help address co-occuring mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and other concerns. Therapists are also able to diagnose eating disorders.
A dietitian is trained to help you nourish yourself properly. Dietitians also have some knowledge of the medical complications of eating disorders and can communicate with your doctor regularly to make sure you remain medically stable. Like a therapist, an eating disorder therapist can help you better understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors about food — but, instead of digging into the causes of these things (which dietitians aren’t really trained to do), a dietitian will help you come up with strategies for overcoming harmful behaviors. A dietitian can help with meal planning, food exposures, nutrition education, and more. Dietitians aren’t able to diagnose eating disorders, although they can conduct assessments and pass along information to other diagnosing providers.
We’re here to support your recovery.
If you’re struggling with food or body image, you deserve help. You don’t need a diagnosis or a referral to work with us — in fact, many of our clients don’t have these things when we begin working together. To work with one of our dietitians, fill out our appointment request form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.