Mental Health Dietitians Central Coast & Newcastle

Nutrition Support For Mental Health

Mental health and nutrition are closely connected. What and how we eat can influence mood, energy levels, concentration, sleep and overall wellbeing.

At Myrtle Oak Clinic, our Accredited Practising Dietitians provide tailored nutrition support for individuals experiencing a range of mental health challenges. We work within a non-diet, weight-neutral approach, helping you build sustainable and supportive eating patterns that fit your life.

Our dietitians often work alongside psychologists, GPs and other health professionals to support both mental and physical health throughout treatment and recovery.

How a Dietitian Can Support Your Mental Health

Nutrition support can play an important role in improving day-to-day functioning and wellbeing.

Our dietitians can support you with:

Regular Eating Patterns

Establish structure and routine around meals and snacks to stabilise mood, energy and appetite throughout the day.

Energy & Nutritional Intake

Improve overall nourishment to support concentration, physical stamina and emotional resilience when things feel hard.

Appetite & Medication Effects

Manage changes in appetite related to medication, low mood or anxiety, finding strategies that work with your body rather than against it.

Digestive Health

Address gut-brain connections and digestive symptoms that often accompany anxiety, stress and other mental health conditions.

Food Anxiety & Confidence

Reduce stress and anxiety around food choices, eating situations and social meals in a safe, non-judgemental space.

Meal Preparation Strategies

Develop practical, low-barrier approaches to planning and preparing meals when motivation or energy is limited.

Navigating Nutrition During Stress

Build sustainable strategies for maintaining nourishment during high-stress periods, life transitions or times when everything feels overwhelming.

Our approach focuses on building a flexible, sustainable relationship with food rather than relying on restrictive or prescriptive diets.

Generalised Anxiety Social Anxiety OCD Depression Low Mood ADHD Autism Neurodivergence Bipolar Disorder Mood Disorders Trauma & PTSD Perinatal Mental Health Stress & Burnout Sleep Difficulties

Personalised Support

Our nutrition support is tailored to you, helping restore energy, bring more balance to your day, and support your mental wellbeing.

Team Support

Our team works alongside you, providing coordinated psychology and nutrition support to help you feel understood, supported and guided every step of the way.

Real-Life, Sustainable Support

Restore balance across mood, thoughts, appetite and daily activities. Our integrated approach creates space for clarity, focus and sustainable wellbeing.

When Nutrition Support May Be Helpful

You may benefit from seeing a mental health dietitian if you:

Find it difficult to maintain regular meals
Notice changes in appetite during stress or low mood
Experience low energy or fatigue throughout the day
Feel overwhelmed by meal planning or food preparation
Experience digestive symptoms that impact eating
Notice increasing anxiety or rigidity around food
Are starting or adjusting mental health medications

Our Approach

At Myrtle Oak Clinic, nutrition care is grounded in evidence-based and trauma-informed frameworks commonly used in both mental health and eating disorder treatment.

Our approach is guided by:

A non-diet, weight-neutral philosophy

Trauma-informed care that prioritises safety, trust and autonomy

Collaborative, person-centred support

Gradual and sustainable behaviour change

Where appropriate, we work closely with your broader care team to ensure your nutrition support aligns with your overall treatment plan.

Integrated Mental Health Care

Mental health and physical health are closely linked. Changes in mood, stress and sleep can influence eating patterns, just as nutrition can impact energy, concentration and emotional regulation.

Our integrated model allows dietitians and psychologists to work together when needed, providing coordinated care that supports the whole person.

If You’d Like Support

If you are unsure whether dietetic support is right for you, we are here to help.

You can speak with your GP or psychologist, or contact Myrtle Oak Clinic to learn more about how our mental health dietitians can support you.