About Katherine

Hello, I’m Katherine, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Therapist. Welcome to the Compassionate Body Center, the online home for my compassion-centered approach to nutrition therapy, yoga, and mindfulness for people struggling with eating issues.

I created this site to help people help themselves, whether or not they are working directly with a professional. Here you will find a food-positive environment designed to help you tap into and trust your own innate wisdom.

I am devoted to transforming the way people think about food and their bodies for a full and lasting recovery from eating issues. In short, my job is to make eating easier.

But it’s so hard!

Eating can be hard for a lot of reasons, I know. I’ve been working with people and food for over 20 years. Between my first decade as a chef and food writer and my latest as a dietitian, I have definitely learned a few things.

First, everyone has eating quirks, but not everyone develops food issues or an eating disorder. And for those that do, each presentation is unique. But it turns out that most food issues, whether it be overeating, chronic dieting, or anorexia, stem from the same place: a desire to belong and feel loved and accepted, veiled in unworthiness. Somewhere along the way, food becomes the enemy.

Eating isn’t supposed to be hard. As humans, we come fully equipped with the ability to choose nutritious and satisfying foods in the appropriate amount.

It gets hard when the mind thinks it knows better than the body and messes with this intricate system.

It gets hard when we try to control the very biological functions that have kept our species surviving for millions of years.

It gets hard when we stop trusting and start using food to cope.

Our work together will be to help you learn to trust your body to do what it does best while slowly bringing ease into the day-to-day act of feeding yourself.

What does eating with ease really mean?

It means reducing the obstacles that make eating hard.

It means applying the principles of nutritional adequacy, balance, and variety to your own eating, knowing that being nourished makes the rest of your life easier.

It means accepting that your eating isn’t always perfect.

It means taking small steps now knowing they will lead to more ease in the long run.

It means taking risks when it feels safe.

It means setting compassionate boundaries with food to manage permissiveness and restraint.

Sound scary?

Change is often scary and that’s normal. It’s OK. Let’s start where you are. If we didn’t, it wouldn’t be compassionate. Together we will decide where to begin and progress at your own pace. Don’t get me wrong; you will do some work. As collaborators, we will find that sweet spot between striving and resisting where real change thrives.

From the Blog

Praise

“I have worked with Katherine for a decade and always appreciate her compassionate yet direct way of connecting–both with me as a treatment team member and for my clients. The clients I send to her get practical and useable help, whether they need support with meal plans or intuitive eating. It can be hard to find RDs who truly “get it” about eating disorders–and Katherine has a gift for reducing shame, promoting acceptance, and increasing clients’ flexibility and self-empowerment. She gives them the tools so they don’t need her forever. I recommend her very highly!”

Suzannah Neufeld, MFT

“Katherine is astute, knowledgeable and compassionate. She cares for her clients’ well-being and deeply supports each person’s journey to health. I recommend Katherine to my clients wholeheartedly and without hesitation.”

Olga Rocklin, LMFT

“Katherine is a warm, compassionate, and mindful healer! She is incredibly knowledgeable about eating disorders and understands the challenges and struggles that individuals face in recovery. She is direct and honest in her work and always speaks with empathy and integrity. Katherine is a true asset for the eating disorder community!”

Rachel Goldstein, Psy.D

“When I first came to work with Katherine, she asked, “How can I help you?”

to which I responded, “I need you to kick me in the butt.” After working with her for over a year now, Katherine has guided me in new directions with a very direct approach filled with knowledge and compassion.

She always has a different angle to offer and gives me just enough to work on or ‘tweak’ at each session so I don’t walk away feeling overwhelmed by change. Has she ‘kicked me in the butt’? Yes, in a very gentle and encouraging way!”

R.M.

“I never thought I would enjoy food again!”

“Katherine immediately gained my trust with her calming demeanor and in depth knowledge of nutrition. In a short time she has already helped me to build a better relationship with food and take steps toward eating more intuitively. I am so thankful for her and appreciate how she goes out of her way to support me and my growth. Her willingness to respond promptly to e-mails and questions throughout the week, work around my schedule, meet me for dinners to conquer food fears and supply great materials for outside work has been incredibly helpful for me. Thanks Katherine!”