Dr Rachelle Opie

(PhD, BNutr Diet, BSc)

She/Her

Accredited Practicing Dietitian

Accredited Nutritionist

Dr Rachelle Opie is a passionate Accredited Practicing Dietitian with over 15 years experience as a clinical and research dietitian. Rachelle has worked in a variety of health-care settings (including community, private and public), with a diverse range of population groups with varied physical and mental health conditions.

While Rachelle has experience working in a wide variety of nutrition concerns, she has a particular expertise and passion for working with people with mental disorders (including depression, postpartum depression, anxiety etc), eating disorders and disordered eating. In 2016, Rachelle completed her PhD where she designed and delivered the highly successful dietary intervention (“ModiMed”) used in the SMILES trial. The SMILES trial was the first study of its kind and has received widespread international interest after showing it can improve the mood and symptoms of adults with depression. Importantly, ModiMed was found to be effective in improving clinical depression using a weight neutral, non-diet approach.

As a research fellow, Rachelle remains at the forefront of nutrition knowledge, using evidence-based practice, whilst ensuring she translates the science into user-friendly, practical strategies for her clients. She assists her clients in overcoming the many barriers and challenges to making better food and lifestyle choices for improved physical well-being and mental health.

Rachelle has advanced training and skills in nutrition counselling and provides client-centred care, using a non-judgmental, caring and empathic approach. Working in collaboration with her clients, Rachelle uses a non-diet, weight-inclusive approach to support her clients in developing a positive relationship with food, eating and their body.

Rachelle’s areas of interest include:

Mental disorders
Disordered eating
Eating disorders
Cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol
Pregnancy and postpartum nutrition
General nutrition, lifestyle, and well-being

Publications:

Rachelle has produced over 30 peer reviewed manuscripts, with a particular focus on nutrition and common mental disorders. Rachelle’s work has been highly impactful, highly cited (1655 citations), and has received international interest.

Qualifications:

Doctor of Philosophy, PhD

Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours)

Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics

Bachelor of Science

Rachelle has completed professional development in the following areas:

Mental Health First Aid

Trauma-Informed Care

Mindfulness and Mindful Meditation

Motivational Interviewing and Health Coaching

Eating Disorders

Availability:

Rachelle is available for consultation:

Thursday 10.00am – 5.00pm

Please note Rachelle only accepts clients 18 years and older.

To make an appointment with Rachelle you can phone reception on : 9087 8379

Fax for referrals; 03 9088 0249

Email for referrals: reception@eatlovelive.com.au

Please complete a Pre assessment Questionnaire

Click here to book online

We require that all clients be linked in with regular medical support to ensure their ongoing medical safety.

We require clients to be engaged with or planning to engage with psychological support to ensure that we are providing safe, ethical and evidence based support.

Age limits for accepting new referrals

Please note some practitioners have boundaries on the age of clients they will accept as new referrals.

We request that for all new clients aged 15 years and younger that a Pre assessment Questionnaire be completed to assist us in triaging the young person and family.

For all clients aged 15 or younger we request that the initial assessment be with the parents/ carer only. Eating disorders do not just affect the person but families as a whole.

This is an important part of the assessment process and will help us to get a clear history of the development of the eating disorder and aid in setting up a treatment team and clear treatment goals moving forward.

Family based treatment is the gold standard for supporting children and adolescents with eating disorders. The Eat Love Live team are not trained in family based treatment or family therapy.

As dietitians we can be an adjunct to this important treatment process, provide a safe space for discussion around meal planning, information about eating disorders, physical and psychological risks associated with the eating disorder, normal puberty changes to the body, guidelines to adequate amounts of nutrition and help clear many of the myths about food and bodies in our community.

We appreciate that accessing pediatric and adolescent services at this time is difficult and there are long wait lists. As with all clients, we insist that all adolescents are linked in with a multidisciplinary team including a GP and a mental health clinician - be it a psychologist or psychiatrist. And we suggest that clients make the referral to CHAMS/ CHYMS and / or private family therapy and be on the waiting list for this support.

Along with the GP or paediatrician we can provide information and support while families are waiting for this important more intensive support.