Here in Canada, we often pride ourselves on having "universal healthcare," but it doesn't take much to see that our healthcare is not universal—vision, dental, prescriptions, and allied healthcare providers like myself, are just some of the services not covered by our healthcare system. Moreover, systems of oppression like white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism further contribute to disparities in access to care.

My journey to becoming a more inclusive provider started with recognizing how medical fatphobia creates barriers to care, and shifting to a weight-inclusive approach to practice. As a woman of colour, it quickly became clear that inclusivity and equitable access to care needs to extend to all people and all identities.

It would be misleading to say that the care that I offer is truly inclusive—finances can be a barrier for some (even with a sliding scale), my office hours are only on certain days, a certain level of mental capacity is required to engage in working together, my office is not wheelchair accessible (and you will need an Internet connection or phone for virtual sessions), and I probably have knowledge gaps and biases that I might not be aware of.

To say that I am "striving" means that I am committed to making the care that I provide as inclusive as possible while continuing to advocate for better, more equitable access to care for all.

Weight-inclusive care challenges the common but erroneous belief that health is predicated on body weight. One of the key differences between a weight-inclusive approach and conventional care is that the former rejects weight management as a health intervention. Weight management perpetuates weight stigma by pathologizing body size, as well as increasing the risk of weight cycling and disordered eating, thereby causing harm and contributing to worse health outcomes.

A weight-inclusive approach works to promote overall well-being, regardless of a person’s size. The term “weight-inclusive” (rather than “weight neutral”) describes an active position to include all weights and bodies in care. This approach is rooted in social justice, particularly the fat activism, fat acceptance, and body liberation movements.

Practitioners often work with clients/patients to promote multidimensional self-care, including awareness of internal cues, self-acceptance, and resilience.

Based on my interpretation of the literature and the experiences of my clients in my 14+ years as a dietitian, I feel that the risks of weight loss outweigh any potential benefit. While intentional weight loss (aka diets) can “work” in the short-term, the vast majority of people regain their weight within 2-5 years. Many people end up even heavier than when they started. (Not to say that weight gain is a bad thing, but noting that is the opposite of the intended effect.)

Moreover, a focus on weight upholds weight stigma and other oppressive systems that value certain bodies over others. Stigma and oppression have been shown to be independently harmful to health, regardless of a person’s size. Intentional weight loss/dieting is also associated with an increased risk of harmful outcomes like disordered eating and weight cycling (aka yo-yo dieting).

In short, I do not provide weight loss services in most cases, but am happy to support health and wellbeing in other ways.

My office building is located on the corner of 19 St & 10 Ave in SW Calgary. It is less than 500 m from Sunalta LRT station, and accessible by bus route #90. The building is not wheelchair accessible (there is one step into the main door.) There is an elevator to the third floor, where my office is located. The seat of the chairs in my office measure 50 cm wide and 61 cm deep.

I can also meet you virtually via online teleconferencing (I use a PIPAA/PIPEDA-approved version of Zoom, but will also use Skype or Facetime with your permission) or phone. Please note that I am registered to practice in the province of Alberta, Canada. I am also able to see clients in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and the Territories.

Many health benefits plans cover services provided by a registered dietitian (that’s me!) If you are receiving my services online, please note that I am registered with the province of Alberta, Canada, and some plans do not cover out-of-province practitioners. Check with your HR department/plan provider.

Yes! I offer direct billing with some benefits plans, including Alberta Blue Cross, Canada Life (formerly Great West Life), GreenShield, and others. Please note that most benefits providers won’t cover the full cost of a session, so be prepared to pay for part of your session out of pocket.

Unfortunately due to the nature of this work, completed sessions cannot be refunded. However, I hope to be able to help you get the most out of our time together.