How are OT and Intuitive Eating related?

I know what you are thinking, "Isn't intuitive eating something that would be taught by a dietitian?"

Yes, you are correct, registered dietitians can become certified intuitive eating counselors and have traditionally been the professionals who teach these principles. However, any allied health professional can apply to become certified as an intuitive eating counselor.

As an Occupational Therapist, I am trained in analyzing and improving task you need or want to do in your life. These tasks are known as "occupations", hence the name. In order to address occupational limitations, we examine physical, emotional, and cognitive capacities and help people use new strategies to improve quality of life.

One skill in which OTs specialize is called interoceptive awareness. This is one's ability to perceive physical sensations in the body. For example, these sensations could be caused by hunger, fullness, a full bladder, stress, heart rate, and much more. These are the body's way of communicating what it needs. Interoceptive awareness has shown to be one of the most important factors in becoming and intuitive eater or learning joyful movement.

By learning to perceive the physical sensations in your body, what they mean, and how to respond appropriately to them, you are able to build a trusting relationship with your body.

That, my friends, is why I fell in love with intuitive eating.

Kayla