Health at Every Size® Healthcare Provider Listing
Courtenay Vickers RD
(she/her)
Registered Dietitian
Courtenay Vickers RD
Hamilton,
Ontario,
Canada
Contact Me:
Make an Appointment:
Takes Insurance
Sliding Scale Available
Specialties & Areas of Focus:
- Eating Disorders
- Intuitive Eating
- Disordered Eating
- Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
- Bulimia Nervosa (AN)
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
- Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
- Atypical Anorexia
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
- Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder (UFED)
- Emotional Eating
Modalities & Theoretical Lenses:
- Trauma-informed care
- Recovery-oriented practice
- Anti-oppressive
- Weight-inclusive
- Harm reduction
- Intersectional feminism
- Intuitive eating
- Mindful eating
- Dialectical-behavioural therapy
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy
- Person-centred care
Age Groups Served:
- Adults (18 years old and up)
- Older Adults (65+ years old)
- Adults (18 years old and up)
- Older Adults (65+ years old)
Additional Populations Served & Allied Groups:
- 2SLGBTQIA+
Languages Services Offered In:
- English
- English
My Philosophy of Care
I have been practicing as an RD for nearly a decade and have been focusing on eating disorder care for the past 6 years. I use a weight-inclusive and recovery-oriented approach is used with all client interactions. This approach focuses on promoting health and well-being through a non-diet approach that emphasizes the unique needs of an individual, intuitive eating, body neutrality, and a holistic understanding of health that goes beyond weight or BMI.
When a client starts to work with me, I always do my best to meet them where they are at. I strongly believe that lived experience is evidence too - I definitely don't know it all. I believe there is value in holding space as we gentle explore one's relationship with food and body, offering small steps along the way to make change.
About Me & My Practice
I came to this space after working in hospital-based settings for several years. I was very focused on clinical work at the time, and would get referrals for weight loss - these never sat well with me. I felt there was a better way to support individuals in improving their overall health and well-being without focusing on a number on the scale. This was the beginning of my HAES journey. From here I dove into research looking at weight stigma and medical fatphobia. I knew I needed to shift the way I practiced to be more ethical, anti-oppressive, and inclusive. Starting my own private practice in 2018 allowed me the opportunity to truly share my perspective as a weight-inclusive dietitian without pressures to promote weight loss. I've been practicing from a HAES-informed lens now for about 6 years and am still learning and unlearning so much every day. I've shifted my mindset from being the dietitian who 'knows it all and is here to educate' to the dietitian who believes YOU are the expert of your own body and honours your stories of lived experience. I'm humbled daily by my clients who show up to explore their relationship with food and body. It is truly an honour to help individuals with this deep healing.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my dog Murphy and hanging out in nature, backcountry camping, hiking, and climbing are current favourites of mine. I also enjoy being creative by painting with watercolours, taking in live music and baking.
Accessibility Considerations
My practice is 100% virtual, meaning all sessions are conducted online using a secure video system (Jane app). If you do not have stable internet you can use privately, our nutrition counselling sessions can be done over the phone.
I never require individuals to use a scale when working with me, however, it may be necessary for us to involve a primary care provider for medical monitoring. If this is the case, I do my best to support this being set up including collaborating with the in-person medical provider, providing education about weight-inclusive practices and giving the option for blind weights (if medically necessary).