Nutrition Counseling

Nutritional Counseling in our Portland area office is a process where one of our medical professionals works with a patient assessing their typical dietary intake, and identifies areas where change is needed. The nutrition counselor provides information and support through educational materials, to help the individual make and maintain the needed dietary changes.

Nutrition counseling is an integral part of treatment for persons with eating disorders or chemical dependencies. Persons taking certain drugs, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, used to treat depression and anxiety disorders, need to follow a tyramine-controlled diet to avoid dietary interference with their medication. It is common for some drugs used to treat mental disorders to cause weight gain or loss, so anyone taking these medications would likely also benefit from nutrition counseling.

The nutrition counselor and patient work together to assess current eating patterns and identify areas where change is needed. Registered dietitians have met certain education and experience standards, and are well qualified to provide nutrition counseling, but nurses, physicians, and health educators also provide nutrition counseling.