Helping you build a more embodied life

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Nutrition Therapy and Somatic Experiencing® (SE) in the Greater Boston Area + Virtually

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Body Trust and Embodiment Work

Nutrition Therapy

Body Image Healing

Somatic Experiencing® (SE)

Individual Counseling

About Nutrition Therapy, Body Trust, and Embodiment Work

•I am a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and approach food and body concerns with a trauma-informed lens. 
•My practice is inclusive, and I believe that all bodies deserve respect, nourishment, and compassion.
•I aim to help clients move toward healing and embodiment.
•Though trained in nutrition science and psychology, I have a holistic view of nutrition, the body, and my clients.
•I help clients develop their own eating and self-care practices that work for their lifestyles.
•I believe in whole-self wellness and diet culture liberation.
•I use concepts of Intuitive Eating (IE), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Health-at-Every-Size (HAES), mindfulness meditation, and Somatic Experiencing® (SE) when appropriate and with consent.
•I refer to and consult with psychotherapists, family therapists, medical doctors, naturopaths, psychiatrists, bodyworkers, yoga therapists, and personal trainers because I believe that teams of helping professionals can best support the work of many of my clients.
•I enjoy providing shame-free coaching for parents and caregivers around challenges with food and body that may come up in families. 
•I have a hybrid practice. Depending on their needs, clients may be seen in person, virtually over Zoom, or a combination of both. 

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Somatic Experiencing® (SE)

About the approach

•Aims to resolve symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma that accumulate in our bodies and nervous systems, based on a multidisciplinary intersection of physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics, developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine.
•Assists people with trauma histories to self-regulate and feel more at home in their bodies and selves
•Helps people learn how to settle and release physiological activation from the body, supporting the nervous system
•Facilitates awareness and attunement to the body’s sensations and action tendencies
•Incorporates both the brain and body in the healing process, which often helps those who feel “stuck” in traditional talk therapy

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Testimonials

“When I first came to you, I didn't believe I would ever feel good about my body. That was beyond the scope of my hopes for myself because I was so entrenched in a mindset and way of life that was hurting me. Now I am at peace with my body, I feel good in my skin, and I consistently eat in a way that is healthy for me. You have made a huge impact on my life and been a source of support and wisdom during challenging times. Reading your book was also incredibly valuable and kept me focused on my goals. I enjoyed meeting with you. You were always calm, nonjudgemental and compassionate; and you led me to many valuable insights. The work you do is so valuable and it is unfortunately uncommon. Most clinicians in the medical and mental health fields perpetuate diet culture to varying degrees. Your complete rejection of toxic societal values is such a relief. I am so glad you are doing this work, sitting with people who are fighting themselves and listening and shifting and strengthening them. I will reach out if I am struggling in the future, but I'm hoping I will not need to. I am so grateful for how you have helped me.”

-Rose, Client

"Thank you for all the time you spent working with me to get well again. I still sometimes think of those jeans that I gave to you and remember how extremely difficult it was to hand them over! I think of that person and I truly feel like a new individual. I no longer have any jeans that I "check" myself with, and my relationship with food is so much easier and carefree while still healthy. I honestly wasn't sure I would ever get to this place but I have! I couldn't have done it without you."   

— Sarah, Client 

 "I am happy to report that my disordered eating patterns have significantly decreased. Much of my progress is thanks to you. I no longer feel nervous or anxious when in the presence of food. I am no longer tempted to 'secret eat' when I am alone with food. I have become a more natural, intuitive eater -- which has enabled me to identify foods I like/dislike (compared to when I used to want all foods because I felt like I wasn't allowed to have any foods!). Now I can turn down a cupcake or a piece of pizza because I know I do not want it at that time, and feel no sense of deprivation ... I binge eat much less. I would say my last veritable binge was a few months ago, which is the longest stretch in recent memory. There are still times where I might feel a slight urge to overeat out of stress or anxiety, and sometimes I feel overwhelmed by a large spread of food options, but I now know how to react to these feelings."    

— Helen, Client

Frequently Asked Questions:

That’s a hard question to answer without meeting and talking about your needs. It’s important to me that you find providers who are the best fit for you and your concerns, so I don’t take it personally if you and I meet for a session or two and you decide that it’s not a good fit. If you’d like to inquire more about this, please fill out my Contact form before you set up an appointment.

I’m most interested in working with clients who are recovering from disordered eating and body concerns, and/or want to bring Somatic Experiencing work into their therapeutic journey.
I’m a licensed dietitian nutritionist in the states of Massachusetts and Maine in the United States, so I can see clients for medical nutrition therapy who reside in those states only.

For Somatic Experiencing, I’m able to work without any state boundaries, as Somatic Experiencing Practitioners obtain global certification.
My sessions are all 50 minutes, and clients typically schedule weekly, biweekly, or monthly sessions, based on their needs. The length of our work together is completely up to you, but my goal is to bring you to a place where you don’t need my services anymore.
Both. My sessions happen virtually over Zoom or in person, so make sure you note the "location" of the session you are scheduling. You are welcome to schedule both in-person or virtual appointments for a hybrid counseling experience, but you will need to schedule these types of sessions separately, as they have different "calendars". This will be clearer as you move forward in this scheduling process.

I have reserved space at The Arlington Center for Yoga and Healing Arts (369 Mass Ave, Arlington) for in-person nutrition therapy and Somatic Experiencing (SE) work.

For Zoom sessions, I will send you a link to join over email before our appointment time and you can hop right on at our session time. (Connecting to a Zoom link embedded in an email generated by my scheduler ensures HIPPA-compliance and your privacy.)
All of my individual sessions (for nutrition therapy, Somatic Experiencing, and supervision/consultation) are 50 minutes and cost $200. See the next FAQ for information on the health insurance plans that I accept.
Yes. I am contracted with Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Mass General Brigham health plans.

If you have other insurance, you may be able to get reimbursed for your individual sessions. For example, some clients choose me as an out-of- network provider and get reimbursed by submitting claims on their own.

You only need to fill out the insurance information in my online forms if you have Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross, or Mass General Brigham, as my practice will handle the billing directly for these four plans only.

Copayments vary according to your individual insurance plan. Make sure you check with your insurance carrier so that you are aware of your copayment and/or deductible.
Yes, I do. Please inquire if finances are a hardship for you. I’m able to offer a 20% discount when there is financial need. Unfortunately, I can’t offer more at this time.
Yes, please click on the “Contact Heidi” button above, or click here if you’d like to be added to my waiting list. Sometimes I receive cancellations and can offer a session to someone on my waiting list who has made an initial appointment in the future.
NOURISHING WORDS • NOURISHING WORDS •

with Heidi Schauster