Liana is passionate about providing nutrition information that helps people form healthy relationships with food. She has a dedicated interest in working with people experiencing mental health issues including body image concerns, disordered eating behaviours, and clinical eating disorders. Using the Health at Every Size (HAES) model and taking a non-diet approach, Liana focusses on all aspects of health that contribute to a person’s wellbeing.
Liana believes that the role of food in our overall wellbeing extends beyond the impact of nutrition, it allows us to connect to our culture, form social relationships, and to nourish ourselves emotionally. She strongly believes that everyone deserves this relationship with food. Her compassionate nature allows her to work with people in a client-centred way and empower them to challenge the barriers they face and help bring a sense of joy and pleasure back to eating.
Liana supports both individuals and families throughout treatment. She uses the evidenced-based Maudsley Family Based Therapy model to support adolescents and their families through treatment and recovery of eating disorders.
Liana also has a passion supporting those who experience Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and has undergone additional training in this area. She uses an evidenced-based, transdiagnostic approach focussing on the management of emotional disorders which she combines with her nutrition knowledge to offer a wholistic approach to normalising eating behaviours. Liana is able to support clients and their families to become aware of, and manage strong emotions they may experience when confronted with feared or avoided foods. She shows a great empathy towards her clients and helps to develop confidence to allow for flexibility with food choices.
Liana is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) and a member of the Dietitian’s Australia. Liana graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours). Liana is accessible at both our Wallsend and Tuggerah clinics, and available for telehealth consults online.
