Tackling disordered eating doesn’t need a fancy degree or years of experience – you just need to be equipped with the right framework

Recently I called a dietitian colleague because I was seeing a client with a condition I hadn’t worked with before and, well, I was basically freaking out.

“I thought about referring her on because this isn’t my usual area,” I said to my colleague.

“No no no,” she replied earnestly. “How else can you learn?”

She had a point. A very good point.

When I first saw a client with disordered eating, I worried that I didn’t know enough to help her properly. In truth, I wanted to refer her on… but there was nowhere to refer her to. So I did the best I could and tried my hardest to help her.

Fast forward through the intervening years and now I have the pleasure of being the person on the other end of the phone, helping allay my colleague’s fears about working with disordered eating clients.

It’s so common to think to yourself, “I’m not qualified enough to help this person”. And yes, disordered eating can be complex, and I know the last thing you want to do is say the wrong thing or make things worse.

But here’s the honest truth: if I can do it, so can you. Working in this area isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about having the right approach. You don’t need to be an expert – you just need a clear framework to follow.

The truth about coaching disordered eating clients

Let’s have a look at a few of the most common misconceptions I see.

1. “I need to specialize in eating disorders“

Reality: Not all clients with disordered eating have a diagnosed eating disorder. The bulk of my work in the grey area where things aren’t “bad enough” to meet diagnostic criteria, but the client is still suffering. They’re often stuck in a restrict-binge cycle, trying every fad diet – and they don’t actually need specialized inpatient treatment. What they need is coaching to break free.

2. “If I haven’t struggled with disordered eating myself, I won’t understand“

Reality: Lived experience is certainly valuable because it can give you insights that increase empathy. But having been through something yourself doesn’t actually mean you know how to help someone else through it! And it’s by no means a prerequisite for being an effective coach.

What matters most is your ability to listen with empathy, support, and guide clients with proven strategies to help them heal. I’ve found that a more structured coaching approach is what truly creates impact.

3. “I should refer all of these clients to a therapist, this is out of my scope”

Reality: Therapists are incredibly valuable and I encourage my clients to engage in therapy, especially if there is deep-rooted trauma. But there is a role for coaches, too. Providing the practical day-to-day stuff helps clients to make useful mindset shifts and build habits that benefit them for life.

What clients actually need (and why you’re more prepared than you think)

Clients who struggle with food don’t need a perfect expert. In fact, they usually don’t want a perfect expert. There’s a reason that more people trust nutrition advice from their doctor if there doctor is overweight – they value having a compassionate guide who is non-judgmental and can walk them through a simple step-by-step process to help them heal their relationship with food without feeling overwhelmed.

Here’s what my clients value:

• Support, not shame. Many clients have been trapped in diet culture for years. They need a safe space where they’re not judged, but gently challenged to learn to eat without fear or guilt.
• A structured approach. Overcoming disordered eating isn’t about willpower – it’s about practical strategies that help clients tune into their body’s needs. The natural end result of this is intuitive eating, but it starts off as more structured than that.
• Consistency and accountability. My clients value being able to come to me and say, “I did it, you’ll be so proud of me!” Having someone who “gets it”, supports them through setbacks and celebrates their successes is what they want. And you don’t need any fancy degrees to do that.

The right framework makes things feel simple

Trying to coach disordered eating without a clear plan is completely overwhelming. It’s easy to get side-tracked and feel like you’re stumbling in the dark. But when you have a structured framework to follow, everything becomes more straightforward.

If you’re ready to:
✅ Know exactly where to start with each client
✅ Feel confident guiding them through bingeing, restriction, and challenging food fears
✅ Stop second-guessing yourself and start making a real, lasting impact

Then Disordered Eating Coaching Academy is for you!

Inside this course, you’ll learn my simple step-by-step method to coach clients from restriction and binge eating to food freedom. It eliminates frustration and guesswork and leaves you feel to support your clients with confidence.

Don’t worry about having the right qualifications. You just need the passion to help and I’ll give you the tools you need to make a real impact inside Disordered Eating Coaching Academy.

Learn more here (but hurry, I’m limiting enrolment to just 10 students so I can provide more 1:1 support to each student)