A weight inclusive, anti-diet, theraputic approach to eating.
Inclusive Nutrition
A weight-inclusive, anti-diet, therapeutic approach to eating.
Located in Washington, Inclusive Nutrition Counseling specializes in fostering healing connections with adults (18+) of all sizes and colors dealing with eating disorders, disordered eating and the harms of diet culture.
LET'S TRANSFORM THE NARRATIVE AROUND HEALTH.
If your relationship with food and body is causing distress and upheaval in your life, you've come to the right place; a place of understanding and support.If you're seeking to rediscover a harmonious approach to eating and movement that alleviates stress and enhances your well-being in the body you inhabit today, this is it.If the prospect of nourishing your body has brought feelings of dread, confusion, and frustration, know that you are not alone.With Inclusive Nutrition Counseling, our clients...
Experience a sense of peace and reduced turmoil when it comes to food.
Discover comfort and compassion within a non-judgmental and empathetic environment.
Explore the intricate connections between food, body, and self, and the relationships that have shaped them.
Feel empowered to fight for body liberation for all bodies.
This is a space where healing unfolds.
Offering Services For:
Anorexia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Chronic Dieting
Disordered Eating
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) such as Atypical Anorexia
Our Approaches:
Intuitive Eating
Anti-Diet
Body Neutrality/Liberation
Health at Every Size (HAES)
Weight-Inclusive
Plate-by-Plate Approach
Narrative-Based
Client-Centered
Meet Akiko Laurendeau
Registered Dietitian
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor
Akiko is here to help you heal your relationship with food and body image and build self-acceptance and trust.The primary goal of this nutrition therapy is to confront the thoughts and feelings that are connected to your relationship with food and body and challenge them.This isn't a quick fix. This is a process of discovery and experimentation. It'll be hard work but we will do it together.
Services Offered
Virtual Sessions
We offer online sessions using the HIPAA-compliant video conferencing software, Healthie. The full schedule is available online to make finding a time slot that fits into your busy life, easy.
Free Consultation (15 mins) - a brief meeting, where we delve into your aspirations, address any inquiries you may have, and ensure that our collaboration is not just a match but a supportive alliance on your journey toward recovery.
Initial Session (up to 85 mins) - we will take a deep dive into your relationship with food and your body, address immediate concerns and lingering questions, discuss an agreeable meal plan (if appropriate) and create clarity in your big-picture goals you’d like to achieve in our work together.
Follow-up Sessions (up to 55 mins) - we will continue our exploration of your relationship with food, gently laying the foundation of intuitive eating principles tailored to enrich your unique life. During our time together, we'll reflect on your observations since our last session, discuss topics that resonate with you, and collaboratively decide on the aspects you'd like to delve into further. This is a caring space where your journey unfolds at your own pace.
Why "Inclusive" Nutrition?
RACIAL BIAS
Within the healthcare landscape, there exists a concerning disparity: BIPOC individuals are notably less likely than their white counterparts to get asked by healthcare professionals about eating disorder symptoms. Distressingly, BIPOC individuals with eating disorders are half as likely to receive a diagnosis or access the crucial treatment they deserve.At Inclusive Nutrition Counseling, we understand the importance of fostering an inclusive therapeutic environment that addresses these disparities and ensures equitable access to care for all individuals, regardless of their racial or ethnic background. This is a space for all people to receive care, empathy, and finally feel heard.
weight bias
It is vital to acknowledge that less than 6% of individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder are considered "underweight." This challenges the prevailing stereotype, revealing that the conventional perception of what a person with an eating disorder looks like is inaccurate for 94% of cases. Strikingly, individuals in larger bodies are only half as likely as those considered "normal weight" or "underweight" to receive a diagnosis for an eating disorder. This underscores the need for a more nuanced and inclusive approach that recognizes the diverse presentations of eating disorders, ensuring that everyone, regardless of body size, receives the understanding and support they deserve.At Inclusive Nutrition Counseling, we acknowledge the importance of you being here no matter the size of your body. This is a space for your concerns to be taken seriously and finally get the help you deserve.
Contact Inclusive Nutrition Counseling
Have Questions?
Don't be afraid to shoot us a message or schedule a free consultation so we can chat.
Virtual Sessions
Rates
We strongly believe in transparent pricing information to help inform the choices you make regarding your recovery. The following prices are for cash-pay clients. Sliding scale is available; just ask!
| Service | Length | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | 15 mins | FREE |
| Initial Session | Up to 85 mins | $200 |
| Follow-up Sessions | Up to 55 mins | $150** |
**Sliding Scale Pricing available for follow-up sessions. Self-assessed; just ask!
Insurance
Currently, Inclusive Nutrition Counseling is in-network for the following insurance companies:
We are working diligently on paneling with more insurance companies. Please be sure to let Akiko know what insurance you have to help direct paneling efforts.If cost is a considerable concern to you, please schedule a free consultation to discuss this. We will gladly find an arrangement with sliding scale pricing in order to increase the accessibility of our services.
Out-of-Network Benefits
While we currently may not be in-network for your particular insurance provider, there's still a possibility that you could leverage out-of-network benefits for our services. To determine out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance company click here to download a script that you can use to call your insurance company to see if you have coverage for nutrition counseling and/or eating disorder care, if applicable.Looking for more assistance navigating your insurance coverage? Check out Project Heal's Insurance Resource Hub!
Thank you
Thanks for reaching out!
Akiko will get back to you as soon as she is able.Our business hours are as follows:
Tuesdays & Thursdays
1pm-6pm (PST)
Disordered Eating
Diet culture in the United States tells us that our bodies are wrong and that we need to change them. It tells us that the shape of our bodies is a choice. It tells us that if we just tried hard enough, we could be worthy of love and belonging. But not now; not in our current bodies.This culture has created a society entrenched in weight stigma. Weight stigma is the social rejection and diminishment that accrues to those who do not fit within the prevailing social norms of expected weight and body size. This stigma has led to increased weight discrimination which now has prevalence rates comparable to racial discrimination.With weight discrimination on the rise, it makes sense that disordered eating is also increasing. Not only is it increasing, but it's being normalized. It's seen as "good" to skip meals, fast, go on "cleanses", etc. It's "good" to count calories/carbohydrates/fats. It's "good" to plan everything you eat. It's "good" until it's not.We all have some level of internalized weight bias and we must actively combat this with in-depth reflection and exploration. We must question the norms of our society. It's time to take back your narrative and not let the size of your body dictate your self-worth.
About Akiko Laurendeau
Professional
Registered Dietitian #86036468
WA Certified Dietitian #DI60872397
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor
Year long intensive training at Seattle University as a therapist to develop richer counseling skills
lived experience
Akiko Laurendeau (she/her) is a Registered Dietitian and Intuitive Eating Counselor. She got into nutrition due to her own history with disordered eating. She received her BS in Nutrition & Dietetics from Bastyr University in 2014. Acknowledging the hold her ED still held over her, she took two years away from her career path to work on her own recovery. In 2017, she came back and completed her dietetic internship and began work as a Clinical Dietitian at a local hospital. Disappointed by the heavily weight-centric and dehumanizing environment, she set out on her own and opened this private practice where she works with clients on developing self trust, body liberation and healing their relationship with food.She is a fourth-generation Japanese American who was born and raised in Montana. In this white-centric environment, she endured explicit racism and used food to comfort and numb her distress as a child. In her teens and early 20s, she continued to struggle with distorted body image and self-worth until she found intuitive eating. Not only was she able to heal her relationship with food and herself but it gave her the critical awareness to denounce diet culture and embrace diversity and liberation. Knowing the impact the freedom from disordering eating has had on her life, she strives to help others do the same.Outside of Inclusive Nutrition Counseling, Akiko also works at Opal: Food & Body Wisdom, a local eating disorder treatment clinic in Seattle. She enjoys reading psychological thrillers, cross stitching, lap swimming, video gaming, and entertaining her two cats, Momo & Tofu.
