Introducing Registered Dietitian Nicky Chapman!

Body ImageHealth At Every SizeEating Disorders

Jun 3

**We are so excited to announce the newest Registered Dietitian to our team, Nicky Chapman, MPH, RDN, LDN (she/her)!**

We are beyond thrilled that Nicky has joined our team in May. Nicky specializes in Eating Disorders, having worked in all types and levels of programming from PHP to IOP, and most recently private practice. And just as important, she has an adorable dog named Buddy!

We asked Nicky some questions so you could get to know her a bit better:

Tell us a little about your journey to becoming an RD.

Growing up in sports, I operated by the narrative: thinner = stronger and faster and eating "cleaner" = better athletic results. When I began my nutrition journey at UMass Amherst, in my first nutrition class, I learned about disordered eating and how incorrect and flawed this narrative was. This sparked my desire to help people like younger me, across all age groups, combat diet culture and recognize that our food and bodies are not the problem - rather, the ever persuasive and pervasive "truths" that a diet obsessed society sells us are.

Where did you work before coming to HVN?

I started my career in 2022 working at the Lowell WIC office before transitioning to Walden Behavioral Care in 2023. I spent about 2.5 years at Walden, working primarily at the partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) levels of care, while also helping out on the inpatient (IP) unit. At Walden, I developed a strong passion for working with individuals with eating disorders/disordered eating (meeting them where they're at, combatting diet culture together, and guiding them towards a more peaceful relationship with both food and body). After Walden, I transitioned to private practice, working at Van Dusen Nutrition for a year. Here, I continued working with those with eating disorders/disordered eating, as well as learning more about counseling athletes from various sports.

Why is being an anti-diet/weight inclusive/ED provider important to you?

I think we have all grown up with the idea that health is solely defined by appearance, causing us to shrink every part of ourselves to fit a mold we shouldn't have to squeeze into. We have been convinced that how we look should be the most important part of us - and it's not. I'm passionate about this field because I believe that there is more we can get out of this life than worrying about how we look in a pair of jeans or why we aren't the same size that we were in our 20s.

Who is your ideal client? What are your specialities?

I specialize in eating disorders/disordered eating, with an interest in working with those with a variety of medical/mental health diagnoses, as well as athletes.

What do you like to do for fun?

I love to run! I ran competitively in college at UMass Amherst and Lowell - post-grad, I started getting into half-marathons and have my first marathon this fall! I also love to do paint by numbers (if you meet with me, you'll see the three I have behind me in sessions!), make sourdough, and play games on my iPad (lol). I also love to hang out with my dogs (and various aquatic animals).