She/her/hers
I help clients establish trust in their bodies and their relationship with food.
I work with teens to assist in their recovery from eating disorders and help them cultivate positive, long-term eating habits. I also work with athletes of all ages struggling with eating disorders, disordered eating, and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) who want to learn how to nourish their bodies to be able to pursue success and longevity in their sport.
I believe in a weight-inclusive and non-diet approach to nutrition that helps clients sustainably reach their goals.
As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with experience in higher levels of care, my career has focused on working with teens in eating disorder recovery. I previously worked in residential eating disorder treatment and moved to private practice in order to pursue deeper connections with my clients and support them long-term.
I first became interested in nutrition as a high school runner after struggling with disordered eating and pursuing my own recovery. I became aware of how prevalent eating disorders are in the sport and the effects of harmful messaging female athletes receive regarding food and their bodies. As a college athlete I saw the benefits of my recovery on my wellbeing and performance. I became passionate about becoming a dietitian who could provide the same guidance and support that had helped me.
I’m passionate about helping others navigate the pressures of diet culture and learning to nourish themselves intuitively. I continue to run competitively and love helping athletes get the most enjoyment and success out of their sport.
Approach and Philosophy
I don’t believe there’s a one size fits all approach to healthcare. I collaborate with my clients to learn about their unique needs and goals and help them implement changes that fit with their lifestyles. My work is aligned with Health at Every Size® and Intuitive Eating and I take a non-diet approach to nutrition therapy while helping clients work towards body neutrality or body positivity. In my work with teens, I provide support and guidance while helping clients learn to advocate for themselves and find autonomy in taking care of themselves.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I also aim to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ clients with eating disorders, including those wanting to explore the impact of their identity on their relationship with food and their bodies. I believe individuals of all body sizes, gender identities and gender expressions, sexual orientations, abilities, races, and ethnicities deserve supportive care.
Education and Training
I received my Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Vassar College and completed my Master of Science in Nutrition at Columbia University. After having a foundation in nutrition and deciding to become a dietitian, I wanted to learn how to effectively communicate nutrition information in a way that took individuals’ needs and goals into account. I went on to complete my Master of Education in Nutrition Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and chose Oregon Health & Science University for my dietetic internship where I was able to complete half my hours in eating disorder work at the residential level of care. I am currently receiving supervision as I work towards becoming a certified eating disorder registered dietitian (CEDRD) through the International Association of Eating Disorders.
Memberships, Awards, and Certifications
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals
- Oregon Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Columbia River Eating Disorder Network
Samara’s calendar is open to see new teen clients for eating disorder recovery and sports nutrition.