BHN Member Spotlight

Julia Cassidy, MS, RDN, CEDRDS

Current Position

Senior Director of Nutrition and Wellness – Center for Discovery BHN Chair

How long have you been a RDN?

15 years

How long have you been in the Behavior Health Nutrition area?

15 years

Why did you join BHN?

I joined to help change and shift the culture in the Academy of Dietetics towards more weight inclusive care for all behavioral health diagnosis, not just eating disorders. I also wanted to surround myself with peers who have similar beliefs around food and nutrition when it comes to mental health, nutrition for SUD and IDD and we as eating disorder recovery.

How has BHN helped you professionally?

BHN has helped me professionally by providing a space to connect with other RD’s in the behavioral health word. I have been able to learn and grow in different areas of Form date 1/3/18 behavioral and mental health such as substance use and IDD. I have been able to broaden my knowledge base with the cross overs of the different behavioral health diagnosis.

What do you think other RDs should know about BHN?

I think other RD’s should know that BHN is growing and evolving to create change in the Academy to be more inclusive, diverse, and Health At Every Size® focused. There is still so much work to be done and I value being a part of the BHN family to help facilitate these changes.

A little about me

I live in Long Beach, California, where I was born and raised. I have two sons, ages 12 and 10, who keep me very busy. I believe in work life balance and value putting my family first. I do have a small private practice called Thriving Nutrition. I am in the process of rebranding and creating a new name to be more inclusive of the work that I do in relation to body acceptance work. Thriving Nutrition (thriving-nutrition.net).

Julia Cassidy, MS, RD, CEDRDS Bio: Senior Director of Nutrition and Wellness – Center for Discovery Julia Cassidy is the Senior Director of Nutrition and Wellness at Center for Discovery. Julia has worked for Center for Discovery since 2003 where she has been involved in the development of the dietary programs for the eating disorders division and mental health division of Discovery Behavioral Health. Julia is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Supervisor and a Licensed Body Positive facilitator. Julia is the Chair for BHN. (Behavioral Health Nutrition, Didactic Practice Group through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). Julia has presented on the topic of eating disorders, food exposures in the treatment of eating disorders and intuitive eating both nationally and internationally. Julia is passionate about helping individuals heal the relationship with food and their body. Part of her work is teaching self-compassion and embracing the idea of total embodiment with nutrition healing. Nutrition healing embraces the idea of eating for your personal wellbeing. Julia feels strongly about meeting your needs through flexible, individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and senses satisfaction. Julia passionately believes in weight inclusivity, which is accepting and respecting the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes.