Kelli Jo has worked in eating disorder treatment at inpatient (IP), Residential (RTC), Partial hospitalization (PHP) and outpatient (OP) levels of care since 2017. She helped create a BED track at an inpatient/residential eating disorder treatment center. Kelli Jo has worked with extensive medical complications, including gastroparesis, bariatric surgeries, allergies, enteral feedings, autoimmune disorders, diabetes (pre-diabetes, type II, and type I), Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMA) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Kelli Jo has also worked with individuals who struggle with co-occurring borderline personality disorder (BPD), dissociative identity disorder (DID), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), substance abuse, and other addictions. She works with individuals with significant trauma and understands how this impacts one's relationship with food and body. She uses Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT) to help teach individuals flexibility both in life and with food. Kelli Jo uses aspects of somatic experiencing to help individuals struggling with body image and body dysmorphia. Kelli Jo was a college athlete herself and understands the impact this can have on one's perception of self/identity and how this affects food consumption when trying to perform or play a sport at a competitive level.

Kelli Jo has a deep desire to help individuals who struggle with eating disorders as she has seen the pain one goes through when trying to free oneself from this disorder. She knows it is a constant battle and wants to help support and guide individuals toward finding freedom and reconnecting with oneself.

Kylie’s initial interest in nutrition began largely in part due to growing up in a family with numerous gastro-intestinal disorders including IBS, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. She saw the impact nutrition had on the quality of life for her family and wanted to share that with others. In Kylie’s personal health journey, she has found liberation in an anti-diet approach, self-acceptance, mindfulness, and gentle nutrition.

Kylie has been working as a Registered Dietitian since 2015. Her work experience includes 9 years of working in the critical care setting on ICU and medical surgical floors. Her experience includes the nutrition management of severe gastrointestinal concerns including inflammatory bowel disease, ostomies, bowel obstructions, bowel surgeries, pancreatitis, and liver disease. She also has experience with nutritional management of kidney disease as well as heart complications like heart failure and cardiac rehab patients. She also worked with individuals on nutrition support including tube feeds and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Kylie is also a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and has extensive experience working with diabetes patients from new onset to managing and preventing complications.

Kylie’s work experience has been unique as her in-patient critical care experience has always been coupled with the outpatient setting. Kylie’s heart lies with outpatient work, as it allows for a deeper connection and impact with individuals. In the outpatient setting, she has worked one on one with a myriad of conditions including heart health, diabetes, kidney health, liver health, gut health, eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder), emotional eating/disordered eating, tube feeds, and general health and wellbeing. Her work incorporates motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, and acceptance commitment therapy around applying and making lifestyle behavior changes. Kylie’s focus is one of hope and liberation, no matter what your condition is, to find an eating style that is as varied and diversified within the guidelines of your condition to optimize health and outcomes.

Publications:

Weight Bias: A Narrative Review of the Evidence, Assumptions, Assessment, and Recommendations for Weight Bias in Health Care