How Can Nutritionists and Psychiatrists Collaborate?

According to Ali Beckman, MS, RD, LD, CEDS-C, improving communication between providers—such as psychiatrists and nutrition professionals—can have a meaningful impact on treatment outcomes. Rather than working in isolation, she suggests that small, intentional efforts to connect across disciplines—like a brief phone conversation or asking patients about their interactions with other team members—can foster more integrated care.

Beckman, the director of Clinical Nutrition and Movement Services at Alsana points out that medication efficacy is often closely tied to a patient’s nutritional status. When psychiatrists and dietitians align their efforts, they can better ensure that treatment plans support both mental and physical health, optimizing results for the patient, she said. Beckman leverages her experience as a registered dietitian, certified eating disorder specialist, and intuitive eating counselor.