As a registered dietitian specializing in eating disorder care, I’ve made the decision not to contract directly with insurance companies. When dietitians become in-network providers, they are required to follow the insurance company’s terms, which often means accepting limited or restricted coverage—regardless of the time, expertise, or individualized care the client truly needs.
Unfortunately, insurance plans tend to undervalue preventive, long-term, and mental health-focused nutritional support. They frequently place limits on the number of sessions allowed per year, restrict treatment options, and often deny coverage for the very services that are essential to healing.
Should I choose to participate in-network, I would be bound by the constraints imposed by insurers including treatment coverage parameters—regardless of whether they align with the true needs of my clients. This would inherently compromise the standard of care I am dedicated to delivering, and undermine the depth of support that is essential for my clients’ well-being.
The current healthcare system, particularly in the realm of specialized and supportive care like eating disorder treatment, is not designed to accommodate the intensive, nuanced work that this population needs. While the cost of providing high-quality care continues to rise, insurance reimbursements are declining. At the same time, the profits of insurance companies continue to grow. This imbalance makes it increasingly difficult for independent providers to sustain ethical, effective practices within the constraints of insurance contracts.
My approach to care is deeply individualized and relationship-based. I work closely with each client to understand their unique needs, goals, history, and lived experience. This work simply cannot be rushed into a 15-minute session, nor can it be driven by a checkbox-style model of care.
Many providers who remain in-network are forced to shorten their appointments or care frequency drastically. Often, this means the majority of the session is spent on charting and administrative tasks—leaving little time for real therapeutic engagement. You may have experienced this before: a provider offers surface-level advice without understanding what you’ve already tried, what you know, or what you truly need.
Another common response to the limitations of insurance is for specialized providers to join larger healthcare systems. While this can offer financial security, it often shifts the focus from client-centered care to high-volume referrals and billable services.
That is not how I practice.
I’ve chosen to remain an independent provider because it allows me to offer a level of care that’s truly personalized—grounded in evidence-based practices, flexibility, and, above all, empathy. Many of my clients have been with me for years, and I’m privileged to now support not only them, but their loved ones as well. This continuity of care is increasingly rare, and it’s a quality I hold in the highest regard.
The feedback I receive from clients—through their messages, reflections, and enduring trust—validates that this approach is effective. It’s a model of care that produces meaningful, lasting outcomes in healing and recovery.
For information about session fees, please visit the Services page.
While I don’t bill insurance directly, many clients are able to receive partial reimbursement through their out-of-network benefits. If your plan includes these benefits, you can typically submit a receipt (also called a superbill) via your insurance company’s portal. Reimbursement varies depending on your plan and may range from partial to none.