Meet Jane Wynne, Registered Dietician (RD)
The outgoing, fun and loving Jane Wynne is a registered dietitian that I have met along my journey at Monte Nido & Affiliates. Jane, like me, is someone who did not struggle with an eating disorder but found passion in her work with clients struggling from an eating disorder. Jane is sharing her story.
Why did you decide to work with clients struggling with eating disorders?
When I was younger, my childhood best friend struggled with an eating disorder. As a teenager, I remember feeling frustrated and powerless watching her wither away both physically and mentally. In her recovery journey, a dietitian was her primary source of support to help her weight restore and return to being the best friend who I know, love, and is still a huge part of my life today.
While studying nutrition, eating disorders were simply one page in a textbook or a couple of slides in a lecture during my entire two years of graduate school. Because I was determined to learn more about eating disorders and become comfortable with this population, I became a recovery coach at a nearby residential eating disorder facility.
What is it like being a dietitian specializing in eating disorders who has never struggled with an eating disorder herself?
As someone who has never experienced an eating disorder before, I was driven to ask more questions and learn more about others' experiences in order to better familiarize myself with the thoughts, feelings, and challenges that come up around it. As the only recovery coach on staff who did not come from a mental health background, I was extremely nervous and felt very far outside of my comfort zone.
Little by little, I became familiar with eating disorders by listening to patients, learning from staff, and continuing to immerse myself in the mental health field. When the facility needed a new lead dietitian, I was happy to accept the position and continue to heal others through food, compassion, and collaboration with the recovery coaches, therapists, nurses, and medical staff. Now, as a private practice dietitian who specializes in eating disorders, I am so grateful to have chosen this population in my career.
What other thoughts do you have for other struggling with an eating disorder?
Eating disorders can rob patients of their passion, personality, job, life, family, and soul. I'm passionate about working with patients to combat the eating disorder thoughts, to nourish their bodies, and to become the best version of themselves. The recovered staff I have worked with are some of the strongest, bravest, and most amazing people I have ever met.
By witnessing others take their lives back and seeing patients improve immensely, I know that although recovery is extremely difficult, it is completely worth it. I'm so grateful for all of the people who have been a part of my experience with understanding eating disorders and I continue to work towards helping others combat them each and every day.
Jane Wynne is a registered dietitian working in New York and Connecticut.
About the Author
Stephanie Polizzi is a licensed psychotherapist (LMHC) in Scarsdale, NY at Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling. Stephanie is an expert in treating teens and adults struggling with anxiety, eating disorders, behavioral challenges, life transitions and trauma. Stephanie uses a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) & EMDR in her work with clients. Stephanie is available on weekdays, evenings & Saturdays in our Scarsdale office or via Telehealth for video counseling sessions.