Dietetic and Nutritional Therapy

Dietetic and Nutritional Therapy

Accredited Practicing Dietitians are qualified and registered health professionals who can assist people to translate scientifically relevant nutritional information to their own lives and circumstances, establishing eating pattern which nourish body and mind, enabling people to live well.

A dietetic consultation can assist anyone who wants to improve their health and nutrition through food and lifestyle change, supporting people to build a healthy relationship with food and with their bodies.

Dietetic therapy not only focuses on food and eating but can also address concerns about body image, weight, physical activities and thought patterns that may be preventing people from living a healthy balanced life. The team of Dietitians and Nutritionists at Mind Body Well are experienced in this field and provide therapy at our Melbourne office and also via online sessions.

Therapy Structure

Assessment Phase

All therapy at Mind Body Well begins with an initial Assessment Phase, which may take between 1-3 sessions, depending on the complexity of the issues to be addressed in therapy. At the end of this Assessment Phase, your therapist will negotiate with you a Treatment Plan, which will outline:

  • the focus and goals of your therapy
  • the treatment approaches to be used
  • your treatment team – which along with seeing a psychologist may also include seeing one of the dietitian’s at Mind Body Well

Treatment Phase

Each ‘Phase’ of therapy will have clear treatment goals, and a timeframe after which the effectiveness of therapy will be measured by you and your therapist. Some clients will have multiple ‘phases’ of treatment, whereas others may have more short term treatment.

MEDICARE AND PRIVATE HEALTH CLAIMS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY

You may be eligible to claim Medicare OR Private Health Insurance rebates for part of your session fees at Mind Body Well.

In order to claim a Medicare rebate you will need:

  • A current Medicare card, details of which you will have the opportunity to provide us in your initial client forms
  • A valid written referral and treatment plan from your Doctor (which needs to be provided to our administrative team prior to your appointment). These treatment plans can include the following types: Mental Health Care Plan, Eating Disorder
  • Management Plan, and Chronic Disease Management Plan
    We will process Medicare claims on your behalf, providing the above two have been provided to us prior to your appointment
  • Please note – this is a partial rebate only, we are not a bulk billing service.

In order to claim a rebate from your Private Health Insurance you will need:

  • An appropriate level of cover (check with your fund)
  • A receipt from us which you issue yourself to your private health insurance provider (we are unable to process these on your behalf)
  • Please note – you are unable to claim from both Medicare and Private Health insurance for the same session

Please contact our administrative team if you need any further information about claiming rebates.

Speak to our team about dietetic and nutritional therapy at our Melbourne clinic

At Mind Body Well we provide a supportive and safe environment for people to . Our team of experienced psychologists and dietitians can work collaboratively to help you make change and achieve your goals. We offer support for people experiencing a range of issues including body image concerns, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.

Dietetic and nutritional Telehealth therapy

We also offer therapy via a secure and confidential online platform for people who are unable to get to our Melbourne office. Feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss online therapy.

Want more details about Psychological Counselling at Mind Body Well? Click the button below to see our Information Form.

Frequently asked questions

What does a Dietitian do?
Dietitians support people to take care of their bodies and wellbeing with food, with a focus on understanding eating attitudes and behaviours. Dietitians may work in a variety of settings such as private practice, community health, food service, public health, and hospitals.

Accredited Practising Dietitians have university qualifications which enable them to provide individual dietary counselling, medical nutrition therapy, group dietary therapy and food service management. In Australia, an Accredited Practising Dietitian is a regulated title and these professionals must adhere to a formal code of conduct.

 

Nutritionists are trained in a range of areas including community nutrition and public health, however they are not qualified to provide medical nutrition therapy. The title ‘Nutritionist’ is not protected under law, therefore the profession is not formally regulated.

Dietitians are trained in creating meal plans with their clients; however, not all Dietitians routinely provide them. Ideally this would be individually assessed and discussed between the client and their Dietitian. In some cases a meal plan can provide valuable assistance, however in others broader nutritional education is more appropriate.

This is something to discussed directly with your Dietitian. The frequency of sessions can vary, often involving more frequent sessions at the beginning of therapy, and becoming less frequent once you are engaging in behaviour change. This will also vary depending on the complexity of the issues you are addressing with your Dietitian.
Yes, most Dietitians are able to see clients via telehealth. In Australia, you may be able to claim Medicare or Private Health Insurance rebates, check this with your Dietitian prior to commencing nutritional therapy. Some limitations may apply regarding suitability.
Spend some time thinking about how you would like your Dietitian to support you. Once you have a list or preferences, start exploring professional websites or social media profiles to see if the Dietitians you’re researching seem aligned with your requirements. You could also ask your other health professionals for recommendations of Dietitians they know. Look for Dietitians who are accredited with the Dietitians Association of Australia.

Contact the Psychologists and Dietitians at our Melbourne Clinic

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