FAQ —
Frequently Asked Questions
Starting nutrition therapy can come with a lot of questions. Here are answers to some of the things
you may be wondering before getting started with Blackbird Nutrition Therapy.
Starting nutrition therapy can come
with a lot of questions.
Here are answers to some of the
things you may be wondering
before getting started with
Blackbird Nutrition Therapy.
Have a question you don't see here?
Reach out—I'm happy to help.
Have a question you don't see here?
Reach out—I'm happy to help.
-
No. Eating disorders are just one specialty area that Teresa works with. Support is also
available for disordered eating, breaking away from chronic dieting, food fears and aversions,
mental health concerns that affect nourishment, and general nutrition and wellness. If you
have another area you are looking for support with, reach out. Teresa may be able to still
support you and if not, she will work to help you find someone who can.
-
Yes! One of my values as a dietitian is working closely with the other providers in your care
team. Nutrition can impact and be impacted by many different factors that you may be working
on with other providers. Collaborating with other providers who hold the expertise
in those areas can help in clearing up challenges that may arise when working on reaching
your nutrition goals. You also have the autonomy to determine who you would like
Teresa to be able to collaborate with.
-
Yes, I work with adolescents ages 15 and older, as well as adults.
For clients under 18, I strongly encourage collaboration with parents and caregivers as part
of the nutrition care process. Parents and caregivers may be invited to participate in sessions,
and separate parent/caregiver sessions can also be scheduled when additional support or
discussion around the client’s care plan would be helpful.
-
It can be difficult to recognize disordered eating, especially when many diet culture messages
and behaviors have become normalized. Some signs you may be experiencing disordered
eating include:
Constantly thinking about food
Labeling foods as “good” or “bad”
Feeling guilt, shame, or disgust after eating
Feeling like you need to “earn” or “deserve” food
Skipping meals before or after eating certain foods
Following rigid rules around food or eating
Trying to ignore or suppress hunger cues, such as by drinking fluids or chewing gum
While I don’t recommend labeling foods as “good” or “bad,” you also don’t need to label yourself
as having “disordered eating” to deserve support. If food or body image is causing stress or
taking up more mental space than you’d like, you may still find value in working with
a dietitian.
If you’re unsure, reach out and we can talk about what you’re experiencing
and what kind of support may be helpful.
-
There doesn’t have to be a major problem with food for nutrition
therapy to be helpful. Maybe food feels stressful or overwhelming,
or maybe you simply want help adding more vegetables, expanding
your food choices, or better understanding your nutritional needs.
Nutrition therapy can meet you wherever you’re starting from.
Nutrition therapy can also provide support for eating disorders,
disordered eating, chronic dieting, food fears or aversions, and
other concerns that may be affecting your relationship with food
and your ability to nourish yourself.
You don’t have to know exactly what you need before reaching out. We’ll
start with what you’re experiencing, what matters to you, and what you’re
hoping to get from working with a dietitian. From there, we’ll shape your
care around your individual needs.
-
Not at all. You don’t need a formal eating disorder or medical
diagnosis to seek nutrition support.
Blackbird Nutrition Therapy works with individuals across a wide
range of needs—from diagnosed conditions to food anxiety,
disordered eating, chronic dieting, body distrust, and everyday
nutrition concerns.
-
The first step is to reach out by email or phone. If you’d like, we
can schedule a free, optional 15-minute discovery call to answer
any questions you may have and see if we’re a good fit. When you’re
ready to move forward, you’ll receive intake paperwork to
complete before we schedule your initial appointment.
-
It depends on where you live. Some states, including Tennessee,
require a referral from your doctor before beginning nutrition
services. If a referral is required, we’ll provide you with a form to
send to your doctor’s office.
Not sure what your state requires? Reach out and we’ll figure it out together!
Getting Started
-
There doesn’t have to be a major
problem with food for nutrition
therapy to be helpful. Maybe food
feels stressful or overwhelming,
or maybe you simply want help
adding more vegetables, expanding
your food choices, or better
understanding your nutritional
needs. Nutrition therapy can meet
you wherever you’re starting from.
Nutrition therapy can also provide
support for eating disorders,
disordered eating, chronic dieting,
food fears or aversions, and
other concerns that may be
affecting your relationship with food
and your ability to nourish yourself.
You don’t have to know exactly what
you need before reaching out. We’ll
start with what you’re experiencing,
what matters to you, and what
you’re hoping to get from working
with a dietitian. From there, we’ll
shape your care around your
individual needs.
-
Not at all. You don’t need a formal
eating disorder or medical
diagnosis to seek nutrition support.
Blackbird Nutrition Therapy works
with individuals across a wide
range of needs—from diagnosed
conditions to food anxiety,
disordered eating, chronic dieting,
body distrust, and everyday
nutrition concerns.
-
The first step is to reach out by
email or phone. If you’d like, we
can schedule a free, optional 15-
minute discovery call to answer
any questions you may have and
see if we’re a good fit. When you’re
ready to move forward, you’ll
receive intake paperwork to
complete before we schedule your
initial appointment.
-
It depends on where you live. Some
states, including Tennessee,
require a referral from your doctor
before beginning nutrition
services. If a referral is required,
we’ll provide you with a form to
send to your doctor’s office.
Not sure what your state requires?
Reach out and we’ll figure it out together!
Eating Disorder Support
-
No. Eating disorders are just one
specialty area that Teresa works
with. Support is also available for
disordered eating, breaking away
from chronic dieting, food fears
and aversions, mental health
concerns that affect nourishment,
and general nutrition and wellness.
If you have another area you are
looking for support with, reach out.
Teresa may be able to still support
you and if not, she will work to help
you find someone who can.
-
Yes!
One of my values as a dietitian
is working closely with the other
providers in your care team.
Nutrition can impact and be
impacted by many different factors
that you may be working on with
other providers. Collaborating with
other providers who hold the
expertise in those areas can help in
clearing up challenges that may
arise when working on reaching
your nutrition goals. You also have
the autonomy to determine who you
would like Teresa to be able to
collaborate with.
-
Yes, I work with adolescents
ages 15 and older, as well as adults.
For clients under 18, I strongly
encourage collaboration with
parents and caregivers as part
of the nutrition care process.
Parents and caregivers may be
invited to participate in sessions,
and separate parent/caregiver
sessions can also be scheduled
when additional support or
discussion around the client’s care
plan would be helpful.
-
It can be difficult to recognize
disordered eating, especially when
many diet culture messages and
behaviors have become
normalized. Some signs you
may be experiencing
disordered eating include:
Constantly thinking about food
Labeling foods as “good” or “bad”
Feeling guilt, shame,
or disgust after eating
Feeling like you need to “earn”
or “deserve” food
Skipping meals before or
after eating certain foods
Following rigid rules around food
or eating
Trying to ignore or suppress hunger
cues, such as by drinking fluids or
chewing gum
While I don’t recommend labeling
foods as “good” or “bad,” you also
don’t need to label yourself
as having “disordered eating” to
deserve support. If food or body
image is causing stress or
taking up more mental space than
you’d like, you may still find value in
working with a dietitian.
If you’re unsure, reach out and we
can talk about what you’re
experiencing and what kind of
support may be helpful.
-
Your first appointment is an opportunity for me to get to know you—not just what you eat.
We’ll review your completed intake forms and talk more about your nutrition and health
history, experiences with food and movement, and personal values. From there,
we’ll identify goals you’d like to work toward and begin creating a plan together,
including how we can navigate obstacles that may come up along the way.
If you’re interested in a meal plan, this can be explored during follow-up sessions after we’ve
established a better understanding of your individual needs and gathered
the information needed to create a plan that works for you.
-
Follow-up appointments are typically scheduled weekly or every other week,
depending on your individual needs, where you are in your journey,
and my recommendations for your care. We’ll work together to determine a schedule
that provides the right level of support for you.
-
There isn’t one timeline that works for everyone. The length of nutrition therapy
depends on your individual needs, goals, progress, and the type of support you’re seeking.
As we work together, we’ll continue to check in on what’s helpful for you and
adjust your care along the way.
-
Yes! Virtual telehealth appointments are available to clients located in Tennessee, Illinois,
and Missouri, where I am currently licensed to practice.
If you live outside of these states, that doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t work together.
Please reach out so we can discuss options based on where
you live. If I’m unable to work with you, I’ll do my best to help
connect you with someone who can.
-
Yes! In-person appointments are available at Life Connections Counseling’s
Knoxville office, located at 408 N Cedar Bluff Rd, Suite 305,
Knoxville, TN 37923.
In-person availability may vary, so please reach out to
inquire about current appointment times.
Appointments
-
Blackbird Nutrition Therapy is currently working toward becoming
credentialed with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS).
-
Yes, depending on your insurance plan. I can provide you with a superbill to submit
to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Coverage
and reimbursement are determined by your individual insurance plan, so I
recommend contacting your insurance provider directly to ask about
your out-of-network nutrition benefits.
Not sure what to ask?
Reach out and I can provide you with a list of questions to help you better understand
your benefits and what may be covered.
If you’re using out-of-network benefits, payment for services is made directly to
Blackbird Nutrition Therapy at the time of service. You can receive
a monthly superbill for services provided, which you can then submit
to your insurance company for consideration of reimbursement. Any
reimbursement approved by your insurance company is paid directly to you and
will depend on your individual plan and benefits.
Please note that providing a superbill does not guarantee reimbursement for services.
-
Current appointment pricing can be found on the Pricing page.
-
Your first appointment is an
opportunity for me to get to know
you—not just what you eat.
We’ll review your completed intake
forms and talk more about your
nutrition and health history,
experiences with food and
movement, and personal values.
From there, we’ll identify goals
you’d like to work toward and begin
creating a plan together, including
how we can navigate obstacles that
may come up along the way.
If you’re interested in a meal plan,
this can be explored during follow-
up sessions after we’ve established
a better understanding of your
individual needs and gathered the
information needed to create a
plan that works for you.
-
Follow-up appointments are
typically scheduled weekly or every
other week, depending on your
individual needs, where you are in
your journey, and my
recommendations for your
care. We’ll work together to
determine a schedule that provides
the right level of support for you.
-
There isn’t one timeline that works
for everyone. The length of nutrition
therapy depends on your individual
needs, goals, progress, and the
type of support you’re seeking.
As we work together, we’ll continue
to check in on what’s helpful for you
and adjust your care along the way.
-
Yes! Virtual telehealth appointments
are available to clients located in
Tennessee, Illinois,
and Missouri, where I am currently
licensed to practice.
If you live outside of these states,
that doesn’t necessarily mean we
can’t work together. Please reach
out so we can discuss options
based on where you live. If I’m
unable to work with you, I’ll do my
best to help connect you with
someone who can.
-
Yes!
In-person appointments
are available at Life Connections
Counseling’s Knoxville office,
located at 408 N Cedar Bluff Rd,
Suite 305, Knoxville, TN 37923.
In-person availability may vary, so
please reach out to inquire about
current appointment times.
Payment & Insurance
-
Blackbird Nutrition Therapy is
currently working toward becoming
credentialed with Blue Cross Blue
Shield (BCBS).
-
Yes, depending on your insurance
plan. I can provide you with a
superbill to submit to your
insurance company for possible
reimbursement. Coverage and
reimbursement are determined by
your individual insurance plan, so I
recommend contacting your
insurance provider directly to ask
about your out-of-network
nutrition benefits.
Not sure what to ask?
Reach out and I can provide you
with a list of questions to help you
better understand
your benefits and what may be
covered.
If you’re using out-of-network
benefits, payment for services is
made directly to Blackbird Nutrition
Therapy at the time of service. You
can receive a monthly superbill for
services provided, which you can
then submit to your insurance
company for consideration of
reimbursement. Any
reimbursement approved
by your insurance company is paid
directly to you and will depend on
your individual plan and benefits.
Please note that providing a
superbill does not guarantee
reimbursement for services.
-
Policies
-
We value and respect your time and ask that you provide at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to
cancel or reschedule an appointment.
Appointments canceled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours’
notice will be charged 75% of the scheduled appointment fee.
We understand that unexpected situations happen,
so please reach out as soon as possible if you need to make a change.
-
Life happens! If you need to reschedule your appointment, please
reach out as soon as possible so we can find another time that works for you.
Appointments rescheduled with at least 24 hours’ notice can be moved to another available
time without a fee. Changes made with less than 24 hours’ notice will be subject
to the cancellation policy above.
-
We value and respect your time and
ask that you provide at least 24
hours’ notice if you need to cancel
or reschedule an appointment.
Appointments canceled or
rescheduled with less than 24
hours’ notice will be charged 75%
of the scheduled appointment fee.
We understand that unexpected
situations happen, so please reach
out as soon as possible if you need
to make a change.
-
Life happens! If you need to
reschedule your appointment,
please reach out as soon as
possible so we can find another
time that works for you.
Appointments rescheduled with at
least 24 hours’ notice can be moved
to another available
time without a fee. Changes made
with less than 24 hours’ notice will
be subject to the cancellation policy
above.
Still Have Questions?
Every person’s situation is different,
and it’s completely okay to have questions
before deciding whether nutrition therapy
is right for you.
If there’s something you don’t see
answered here, reach out. I’m happy to
talk through your questions and help
you figure out your next step.
Every person’s situation is different, and it’s completely okay to have questions before deciding whether nutrition therapy is right for you.
If there’s something you don’t see answered here, reach out. I’m happy to talk through your questions and help you figure out your next step.