How do I refer a patient?

Use the brief online referral request, or have your patient reach out directly. No fax or formal paperwork is needed. Please do not send detailed health information through ordinary email.

Is the care weight-inclusive?

Yes. The work is non-diet and weight-inclusive throughout, a good fit for patients harmed by diet culture or working through disordered eating.

Where does Lauren practise?

Virtually, across Ontario, by video. She is a Registered Dietitian with the College of Dietitians of Ontario.

Can Lauren collaborate with a therapist or physician?

Yes, with the client's consent. Lauren can coordinate around shared goals, nutrition concerns, and the role of food support within the broader care plan.

Is this appropriate for urgent or medically unstable care?

No. Lauren provides scheduled outpatient virtual nutrition care. It does not replace urgent medical assessment, crisis support, medical monitoring, or a higher level eating disorder program. Urgent or medically unstable concerns should be directed to the appropriate local emergency or specialist service.

For clinicians, refer a patient to a dietitian

A clear outpatient fit

Lauren commonly supports clients in their late teens through adulthood. Her strongest fit is eating disorder recovery, disordered eating, restrictive or orthorexic patterns, binge or bulimic patterns, ARFID, chronic dieting, food anxiety, body image concerns, and step-down nutrition support after a more intensive program.

How referrals work

No formal referral is required. A clinician can submit the brief referral request, share the one-page information sheet, or invite the client to book a free introductory call. The request collects only the information needed to make first contact. Please do not send detailed health information through ordinary email.

What happens next

Lauren reviews the request, contacts the client or referring clinician, and confirms fit and current availability before an appointment is promised. If more clinical information is needed, Lauren arranges an appropriate way to exchange it. Submitting a referral does not establish a care relationship.

Clear, collaborative communication

With the client's consent, Lauren can coordinate with therapists, physicians, and other members of the care team around shared goals, nutrition concerns, meal support, and changes that affect the broader care plan. The frequency and method of communication are agreed with the client and care team.

Fees and coverage

The introductory call is free. Current session fees are explained before care begins. Lauren provides detailed Registered Dietitian receipts for clients to submit to extended health benefits. Coverage and reimbursement depend on the client's plan.

When to refer

Food is taking up too much space

The client feels anxious, guilty, rigid, secretive, or out of control around eating.

Therapy needs nutrition alongside it

You are doing the emotional work, but the client needs help with regular eating, fear foods, or practical food support.

Diet culture has harmed trust

The client has a long dieting history or needs weight-inclusive care that will not reinforce shame.

A team approach would help

You want an RD who can coordinate gently with therapy, medical care, or family support when consent is in place.

What happens after you refer

Five steps, start to finish. Deliberately, no response-time or wait-time promise is made here, because Lauren is a solo practitioner and availability genuinely varies. What is promised is that fit and availability are confirmed before an appointment is offered, so a referral never quietly disappears.

The request arrives

You submit the brief referral request, or the patient reaches out directly. The request asks only for what is needed to make first contact, so there is no detailed history to prepare.

Lauren makes contact

Lauren contacts the patient, or you, to open the conversation. Nothing is promised at this stage.

Fit and availability are confirmed

Lauren confirms whether outpatient virtual nutrition care is appropriate and whether there is current availability, before any appointment is offered. If it is not a fit, she will say so and point toward something that is.

A free introductory call

The patient has a free, no-pressure introductory call. Many people find this is the step that makes starting possible.

Care begins, and the loop closes

If the patient goes ahead, fees are explained before care starts. With the patient's consent, Lauren can coordinate with you around shared goals and anything that affects the wider care plan. You are not left wondering what happened.

Refer a patient to a dietitian who gets it