Service categories: Counselling and therapies, Information, advice and advocacy

Service URL: https://www.fionahamlin.co.uk

Hello. My name is Fiona. I am a qualified HCPC Registered Advanced Dietitian and have worked in clinical settings for over 13 years now. I currently hold a position as an Advanced Dietitian within a North East NHS Mental Health Trust. I have taken a role in setting up eating disorder services in the North East.

I work with with a range of conditions including eating disorders (disordered eating, food phobias, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID, diabulimia), ASD related dietary needs, ADHD, weight management, malnutrition related conditions, digestive issues including irritable bowel syndrome. In relation to autism spectrum disorder, you may have sensory issues, which means you feel more sensitive to the way things (including foods) smell, taste, look and feel. This can make it difficult to eat certain foods and can lead to eating a very limited diet. Some examples include: Having a strong preference for certain textures (such as crunchy or soft foods) Preferring certain food brands Preferring “beige foods” such as crisps, biscuits, white bread, chicken nuggets Preferring food cut in a certain way (e.g. toast cut into squares but not triangles) Not wanting different foods to touch on a plate Foods that are predictable may be preferred. For example, a branded takeaway burger or a specific brand of crisps will always look and taste the same. But one banana may be very ripe and another could be underripe or bruised, so is unpredictable.

You may prefer things that are predictable, as this can help to reduce anxiety. My role is to look at whether your diet is providing all the nutrients needed, give advice on nutritional supplements, provide a dietary sensory assessment, give helpful, practical advice to help reduce mealtime stress or anxiety and if suitable, give advice to help to try new foods using a range of evidence based techniques including sensory play, graded exposure and the sequential oral sensory (SOS) approach.

My passion is to support clients in achieving a more peaceful, free relationship with food. You are the expert in you. I see myself as a dolphin, swimming alongside, supporting and guiding you through your journey to health. As an advocate of evidence-based science, I will serve as an important resource of nutrition knowledge and will be working collaboratively with the yourself (and family/partner if preferred). My philosophy is to provide nutritional advice that is based on sound science, practical and realistic to help clients meet their own health goals. I offer a ten minute discovery call as an opportunity for you to explore what support could be offered and any questions you might have before proceeding.

Do contact me on 07743546990 or at fionahamlin.dietitian@gmail.com.
For more information about my services, please take a look at my website: https://www.fionahamlin.co.uk.

I look forward to hearing from you.
 

Aimed at: Adolescent , Adult , Adult sibling, Anyone with an Association to Autism, Child/adolescent sibling, Parent or carer of under 18, Parent/carer of a child, Parent/carer of a young person, Parent/carer of an adult, Parents or carers, families, adults, Partner, Professional, Young person

Referral Sources: Private Only

Specialisms: Autism, Autism and Neurodivergent , Has autism-specific elements, Has autism-specific elements