Shawna Melbourn, registered dietitian educator specializing in eating disorder training and compassionate care for dietitians

Transform Your Approach with Human-inclusive Eating Disorder EDucation

Changing How Dietitians Are Supported in Eating Disorder Care.

  • Shawna beautifully demonstrates compassionate conversations. This is so valuable to me.

    —ED for RDs participant

  • Shawna was helpful in creating an evironment where approaching the difficult conversations on body image is normal and doable. I feel like I have more tools to use in these sometimes challenging client interactions.

    —@blueridgefamilynutrition

  • Excellent course for dietitians to confidently and ethically engage in body image conversations that is within our scope and skill set.

    —Kristyn Hall, RD

  • Very thorough walkthrough of working with various types of eating disorders. The coaching calls and Facebook groups were great. Shawna really came through in answering questions quickly, even in Facebook groups. The detail provided in answers to questions was spectacular and included the work up leading to questions which a person new to eating disorders might not think to ask

    - ED for RDs participant

Hi! I’m Shawna Melbourn, a non-diet Registered Dietitian, an Approved Supervisor through the International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals (CEDS-C), and I am a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor.

I have walked alongside many individuals and families while they take the courageous steps towards recovery from an eating disorder. My approach is deeply rooted in a non-diet, compassionate approach, while honouring the emotional experience of recovery and without judgement.

With my almost 20 years of dedicating my career to this vulnerable and rewarding population, I developed an online training course for Registered Dietitians to learn these valuable and caring tools. In ED for RDs: Eating Disorder EDucation for Registered Dietitians online programs, I take my role as a dietitian educator and supervisor as I share my years of training, clinical experience from both hospital and private practice and offer a safe place to gather non-diet, evidence-based practical knowledge.

Currently, I have the privilege of working alongside individuals and families in my private practice, specializing in supporting and nurturing recovery from eating disorders, disordered eating and chronic dieting.

Contact Shawna

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Founder of ED for RDs supporting dietitians with evidence-based eating disorder education and supervision

Why eating disorder training matters for dietitians

Eating disorder care is one of the most complex and emotionally layered areas of dietetic practice. Yet most dietitians enter the field with very little formal training in how to support clients living with eating disorders or chronic disordered eating. As a dietitian supervisor and dietitian educator, I see firsthand how often dietitians feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or underprepared when sessions move beyond meal plans and into deeper emotional territory. Specialized training provides the clinical skills, communication tools, and therapeutic confidence needed to support clients safely and effectively.

High-quality education in eating disorders goes far beyond textbook nutrition—it teaches dietitians how to assess medical risk, navigate emotional intensity, validate clients’ lived experiences, collaborate within multidisciplinary teams, and offer human-inclusive, compassionate care. This type of training dramatically improves client outcomes, reduces practitioner burnout, and strengthens the therapeutic relationship at the heart of recovery. For dietitians wanting to expand their skills, provide safer care, and feel grounded in evidence-based practice, eating disorder training is not optional—it’s essential.

Dietitian supervisor and educator with experience in eating disorder treatment, training, and mentorship

About ED for RDs: Eating Disorder EDucation for Registered Dietitians

Black background with fireworks, featuring the CanadianSME National Business Awards 2021 logo, indicating the winner for Professional Services is ED for RDs: Eating Disorder Education for Registered Dietitians, and displaying logos of sponsors including RBC, UPS, Nerds Onsite, Mitacs, Alexio, Xero, HP, ZOHO, KPMG Enterprise, and GoDaddy.

It all began with an idea…

Shawna realized over the years of mentoring many Dietitians, interns and other healthcare practitioners that there was a gap. A gap in knowledge, comfort, and level of understanding about eating disorders that needed to be filled. Shawna felt a very strong drive to help other Dietitians learn how to support their clients through nutrition and emotional well-being.  

Shawna believes that Dietitians are the most important healthcare professional when it comes to detecting eating challenges. We can play an integral role in providing a safe, compassionate and informed place to help our clients take the very first steps towards a peaceful relationship with food and body.

Shawna will share her years of training, clinical experience from both hospital and private practice, and expert, practical knowledge in this very unique online course dedicated to Registered Dietitians.