Mission:
To educate and empower people as they build a positive relationship with their food, bodies, and eating in order to make confident and competent decisions about their health.
About Nimisha:
Hello! My name is Nimisha Patel and I am your Food and Mood Therapist! But here’s a little more about me…
I love watching and reading about dramas based on major historical world events. It’s like I’m looking through a window as people courageously made life and death decisions while major world events unfolded. British comedies, I especially find hysterical as they bring me back to my childhood growing up in England.
Food is not just for nourishing the body but connecting through our minds and souls! Hiking and nature nourish me just like food! I am in awe of the mountains in the Lake District in England, the Rockies, Smokies, and the Blue Ridge Parkway in the US, and I plan to make annual hiking trips in the Fall and Springtime. Nourishment for me also comes through laughing and connecting with friends while we cook and enjoy a meal together. I’m Asian Indian, and I was born in Tanzania, East Africa, and then raised in England. My first exposure to the US was Chicago (Brrr!!) where I completed my undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Medical Dietetics in 1988. I then left for New Jersey where my career in Eating Disorders began and I pursued my Masters in Social Work in 1997. I currently, live in Plano Texas and am going through “empty nesting” as my kids go off to college…. sad, but I’m also looking forward to seeing how this next stage of my life unfolds:)
My journey as a Food and Mood Therapist started as an Eating Disorders dietitian almost 30 years ago. After becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I have offered nutrition therapy and/or psychotherapy to individuals struggling with a variety of Eating Disorders. I discovered that the unique needs of adults struggling with emotional eating like binge and compulsive eating were often overlooked and neglected.
Finally, after going through my own health issues, I saw my role as Food and Mood therapist expand to look further at gut health and brain biochemistry along with intuitive eating. I now practice psychotherapy and integrate functional nutrition interventions into my nutrition therapy.
What’s different about a Food and Mood Therapist?
It’s important to understand that the root causes of your struggles with anxiety, depression, and eating behavior are complex and require specialized treatment. These root causes can include:
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poor blood sugar control
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hormonal imbalances due to aging and stress
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using food as a source of comfort, for reward, or to express emotions
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using food to manage anxiety and depression
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poor gut health, difficulty digesting, absorbing, and using nutrients from food
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stresses related to health, finances, academics, careers, or relationships
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trauma
As your Food and Mood therapist, I will help you identify which of these root causes leads to your struggle with mood and eating behavior. We will develop your personalized plan using psychotherapy and/or nutrition therapy strategies to target your root causes, manage your moods, and stop the emotional eating behavior. What works for “everyone else” may not work for you- what you need is unique to you and your path to joy, peace, and happiness.
If you are ready to let go of dieting, call me for a complimentary consultation so that we can focus on your journey towards a life free of mood and eating struggles.
Call Today and Let’s Get Started!