In our world of dietetics, we are often trained to lead with the “science”—the meal plans, the refeeding protocols, and the metabolic data. But if you’ve spent any time sitting across from a person struggling with an eating disorder, you’ve likely realized that the most sophisticated protocol in the world often takes a backseat to the person-to-person connection. There is a mountain of evidence suggesting that the therapeutic alliance—that sense of trust, transparency, and collaboration—is actually a stronger predictor of a positive outcome than any specific modality we might use. It’s a powerful reminder that while the “what” of our work matters, the “how” is often the real mechanism of change.
It can be incredibly liberating to realize that the skills you already possess—the rapport building you did in community health or the empathy you bring to a difficult conversation—are not just “soft skills,” but the very core of effective eating disorder care. You aren’t starting from scratch or needing to adopt an entirely new identity to be “good” at this. Instead, think of this work as the “art” of applying the science to the living, breathing human being in front of you. When we lead with relationship first, we create a safe container where the nutritional changes actually have room to take root.
This relational approach also allows us to use one of our most potent tools: externalization. By building a strong alliance, we can help the client separate themselves from the illness, creating a space where you and the client are on one side, looking at the “eating disorder voice” as an external force together. This shift changes the dynamic from a power struggle over food into a collaborative mission. You are not “fixing” a broken person; you are partnering with a whole person to help them navigate an incredibly difficult externalized challenge. In the end, it’s that sense of being truly seen and supported by another human that allows our clients to take the brave risks required for recovery.
We’re Jo and Christie—Accredited Practising Dietitians and Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians with a shared passion for disordered eating, eating disorders and body image work.
Our resources are developed alongside people with lived experience and designed for health professionals who want to deliver high-quality, client-centred care.