If you’re considering working with a dietitian online, you may be wondering:
“What is this actually going to be like?”
Most people come in with a pretty specific idea.
They assume:
- they’ll get a meal plan
- they’ll be told what to eat and what to avoid
- they’ll be weighed every session
- they’ll be given rules and goals to follow
And while that’s how some nutrition counseling works…
That’s not how I work.
What Most People Expect (But Don’t Get)
When clients start working with me, they often expect:
- “You’re going to tell me what I can and cannot eat”
- “You’re going to hold me accountable”
- “You’ll give me goals for the week”
- “We’ll track my weight closely”
In fact, I recently had a new client end her first session by saying:
“I do well with goals — can you give me goals for the week?”
It’s a very common mindset.
People assume they need more structure, more discipline, more rules.
But in most cases, that’s not actually the problem.
What the First Session Is Really About
The first session is not about a getting a diet.
It’s about understanding you.
We talk about:
- your weight history
- what has worked and what hasn’t
- whether weight changes are connected to life events
- your relationship with food, the scale and your body image
I also explain how I work — and how it’s different from what many people expect.
For example:
- I don’t require weigh-ins at every session – that’s a discussion between you and I
- I am not a cheerleader that tells you to try harder when you have a setback
- I don’t automatically give a meal plan – creating a calorie deficit can be done multiple ways
If someone asks for a meal plan in the first visit, we talk about why — and whether that’s actually the best next step.
Usually, it’s not.
What Ongoing Sessions Look Like
Between sessions, clients are not just “trying harder.” They are doing structured work.
Together, we choose an online course that fits their needs.
They:
- watch my training videos
- apply what they learn
- come to weekly Zoom sessions to discuss what happened, gain insight, discuss challenges
If something didn’t go well that week, we don’t say:
“Try harder next week.”
We ask:
👉 What happened?
👉 What were you feeling? What was the trigger?
👉 What did you need in that moment? Did the food meet that need?
For example, one client was working on stopping when he felt full instead of stuffed.
He came back and said:
“I didn’t even think about stopping until I was already stuffed. I realized I eat on autopilot.”
Instead of seeing that as failure, we explored it.
He realized something important:
👉 He actually found the feeling of being stuffed comforting.
That was his lightbulb moment.
That’s where the real work begins.
This is where I may use tools from:
- mindfulness
- cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
to help change long-standing patterns. Awareness is a start but not a solution.
Why Online Counseling Works So Well
Many people wonder if online counseling is “as good” as in-person.
In my experience, it’s often better. Before Covid I ONLY saw people in my office. Now, I ONLY see people online.
Convenience
You don’t have to drive across town.
Some clients meet with me:
- during their lunch break
- from their car
- from home
This leads to fewer missed sessions and more consistency.
Access
I’m not limited to Charlotte, where I live.
People can work with me from anywhere — and access my courses anytime. Can’t sleep? Log on and watch your next session. Want to go back and rewatch a session from 6 months ago? Do it anytime.
Privacy
Clients are in their own space, which often makes it easier to open up.
Less Focus on the Scale
Online removes the pressure of stepping on a scale in front of someone.
- Some clients weigh weekly
- Some choose not to weigh at all
And if there’s anxiety around the scale, we talk about that.
A Real Example
Tara came to me thinking:
“I need more discipline.” She realized she depended on food for comfort but thought she could stop it by simply choosing to do so and being consistent.
She had done Weight Watchers before, lost weight, and gained it back.
She had even considered starting a GLP-1, but wasn’t ready. She saw it as a last resort.
After our first session, she took some time to reflect.
At the beginning of our second session, she told me something that surprised her:
She had already learned more than she expected.
She realized her eating patterns started when she was very young.
Her parents were emotionally unavailable, and when she needed comfort, she didn’t receive it.
So she turned to sweets. A treat made her feel better in the moment.
For the first time, she felt compassion for herself. “I realized this pattern is not my fault.”
And something shifted immediately:
👉 Her inner critic got quieter. You know, that inner voice that beats you up and calls you names.
Over the next three months, we met weekly while she completed my Willpower and Weight Loss course.
She learned how to:
- recognize her emotions as she felt them
- process them without turning to food
- respond to setbacks with curiosity instead of criticism
She chose to weigh weekly and lost 15 pounds.
But more importantly, she gained tools she can use for the rest of her life.
And here’s the key point:
👉 I never met Tara in person.
And I didn’t need to.
The Bottom Line
Online nutrition counseling with me is not about being told what to eat.
It’s about understanding:
- why you eat the way you do
- what drives your choices
- how to respond differently
Doing it online gives you a safe, calm space to explore and discover without judgment. In your own time. At your own pace. It can be as effective or more so than in person counseling.
