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Faces of CMHA WW: Michelle Johnson, Registered Dietitian with Eating Disorders Team

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I believe in the values that CMHA holds.  My biggest hope for my clients is to help them lead more meaningful and joyful lives.  CMHA promotes a recovery model that is client-centred and driven by individual hopes and recovery aspirations. I am proud of my clients.  It takes great strength, persistence and courage to recover from an eating disorder.  I am honoured to have played even a small role in helping eating disorder warriors on their recovery journey.

1. What is involved in your role?

I am a Registered Dietitian with the adult & child/adolescent eating disorder teams. As a dietitian working in eating disorders it is my job to help clients to set goals to move towards being well nourished and to challenge their fear of food.

2. Why did you become involved in the mental health field?

I’ve always had an interest in promoting physical health.  While studying nutrition I learned how important it is to take a holistic approach to health.  A person’s mental health has a tremendous impact on their nutrition.  Somewhere along my journey I decided I wanted to help where nutritional health and mental health intersect.

3. What brought you to CMHA? 

I believe in the values that CMHA holds.  My biggest hope for my clients is to help them lead more meaningful and joyful lives.  CMHA promotes a recovery model that is client-centred and driven by individual hopes and recovery aspirations.

4. Have you always worked in mental health?

I believe mental health plays a role in every person’s nutrition intake.  I have always tried to help my clients work towards being nourished from a more holistic approach.

5. How do you support people at CMHA in your role?

We are born with the ability to be intuitive eaters.  Unfortunately we grow up in a culture that promotes dieting, restrictive eating behaviours and labelling foods as good or bad.  This causes us to lose trust in our internal hunger and fullness cues.  I help clients to re-learn hunger and fullness, to discover a healthy relationship with food and to move away from diet culture.

6. What are you proud of during your time at CMHA?

I am proud of my clients.  It takes great strength, persistence and courage to recover from an eating disorder.  I am honoured to have played even a small role in helping eating disorder warriors on their recovery journey.

If you are in crisis or wish to discuss whether CMHA has the right service for you, call Here 24/7: 1-844-437-3247 (HERE 247).

Follow the ‘Faces of CMHA’ series for a glimpse into the lives of the people who spend each day at the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington working to inspire and support people to achieve the quality of life they desire. Join our team, click here to view current employment opportunities at CMHA WW.

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