About Me
I help people who feel stuck in a constant battle between what they should eat and what they want to eat. People who are mentally exhausted living in that chaotic space.
I became a registered dietitian never imagining that I would do the work I do today. I began my career working for a dialysis company. That experience segwayed into a ten year career in pharmaceutical sales, a career my wallet loved, but my soul didn’t. I knew I was meant to do something more meaningful. So, I took the biggest leap of my life: I left corporate America, invested $60,000 of my own money, and built a business rooted in purpose instead of pressure.
What motivated me?
I saw a void no one else was filling.
There were programs for people who just needed guidance and accountability to lose weight. Follow the plan – get results. Easy enough.
There were plenty of resources for people with diagnosed eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.
But what about the people who don’t fit into those boxes, but still struggle deeply with food?
What about the ones who binge at night and then beat themselves up in the morning, who know all the “rules” but still feel powerless to follow them consistently?
That had been me; and some days still was. And I knew I wasn’t sitting at that table alone.
My Story
I grew up in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Maggie Valley, North Carolina, is my hometown. I was raised by a mother shaped by the Great Depression. Her parents were focused on survival—putting food on the table, keeping the lights on. Emotional support wasn’t part of the equation.
My mom tried to do better—and she did—but emotions were still something we didn’t really talk about. You held them in, kept things even keel, and didn’t cause waves.
Tragically, my dad passed away suddenly when I was just 13. He was the parent who expressed anger well—but little else. As little ones, we need our parents or primary caregivers to model how to cope with emotions. We learn by watching. We also need parents to come beside us when we experience heavy emotions and support us. If you grew up in family like mine, where showing emotions was not really encouraged, you become an adult without the tools to name, feel, or process your emotions in a healthy way.
And boy did I have some big ones. My childhood was riddled with sudden loss and illness of those I depended on. Grief, fear, too much responsibility and growing up too fast marked my childhood.
Food became my outlet. My comfort. My escape. It was crucial for my survival.
The interesting thing is I didn’t know that’s what I was doing. I just thought I was broken—sneaking candy into my bedroom at 10 p.m., ashamed and defeated. I could not make sense of why I continued to eat in a way that made me feel so terrible.
But here’s what I’ve learned, and now teach my clients:
We cannot change what we don’t recognize and understand. That’s where it starts.
Every eating behavior—every one you want to change—exists for a reason. And often, that reason is incredibly valid. My candy eating helped me survive the loss of my dad. For that, I am grateful. I needed emotional eating back then. It served me well.
But now, as an adult, I’ve built new skills. I can grieve, feel, and process emotions without food. And that’s what I help my clients do, too. It’s not easy but it is SO worthwhile and rewarding.
What I Believe
Overeating usually isn’t about a lack of discipline or willpower.
Nutrition is science, not opinion. My recommendations are evidence based.
The behaviors you feel ashamed of and are desperate to change often began as survival strategies.
My favorite method of uncovering root causes of disordered eating is by using Internal Family Systems (IFS).
Real change happens when we understand the why, not just the what and commit to doing the internal work that’s necessary.
Quick weight loss that involves unsustainable changes does more harm than good.
Whether you were rewarded with dessert as a kid, told your worth was tied to your weight, or learned perfection was the way to earn love—you didn’t choose those patterns. But you can choose to change them.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
My Training & Credentials
- BA Exercise Science – UNC Chapel Hill
- MS Nutrition – Winthrop University
- Registered Dietitian since 1995 with special training in nutritional psychology.
I’m trauma informed meaning I’ve studied how childhood trauma can show up in eating patterns. I’m also IFS (Internal Family Systems) informed. IFS is my favorite modality. I have special training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness. I work closely with therapists to support the whole person, not just their plate. My approach blends science, self-compassion, and psychology.
I’m in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem BCBS, Aetna, MedCost, and Medicare.
Fun Facts About Me:
- I have a reputation as a cat whisperer. I am considering training to be a cat behaviorist.
- I love my alma mater, UNC! I spend many Saturdays at football and basketball games in Chapel Hill. As an undergraduate, I spent 4 years as a student manager for the women’s basketball team.
- I find I do my best thinking out in nature. A walk in the woods is good for the soul.
- I’ll never say no to a winery visit, especially if pinot grigio is involved.
Who I Work With
I work with individuals who feel frustrated, hopeless, and stuck in a cycle of overeating, emotional eating, and body shame. They have lost and regained weight enough times to know that another fad diet or expensive weight loss program is not their solution.
- They’re not looking for another meal plan.
- They want to feel at peace with food.
- They want to trust their body—and themselves.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re still reading, something here has probably struck a chord. You’ve tried being hard on yourself. You’ve tried strict accountability.
What if you tried something different?
