About Me
I’m Maya, a registered dietitian who believes healing happens when we stop working against our bodies and start listening to them.
My Journey to Compassionate Care
For over a decade, I’ve walked alongside individuals and families through some of their most vulnerable moments with food and body image. What I’ve learned in my work across Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Canada is that healing doesn’t happen through rigid meal plans or willpower. It happens through compassion, understanding, and creating a safe space where shame has no place.
My approach is grounded in evidence-informed practice, but it’s guided by something deeper: the understanding that behind every eating disorder is a person who deserves to be heard, understood, and supported without judgment.
I believe you are not broken, and your relationship with food can be healed.
My Specialized Experience
Working with Eating Disorders
My career has been dedicated to eating disorder treatment, and I’ve had the privilege of supporting adults and adolescents experiencing:
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge Eating Disorder
- ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
- Disordered eating patterns and food anxiety
- Body image struggles and diet culture recovery
I have experience providing care across various settings, from hospital inpatient units to outpatient clinics, always as part of collaborative, multidisciplinary teams. I work closely with physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other healthcare professionals because I believe comprehensive care is best achieved through teamwork.
Over a Decade of Specialized Experience
For the past 10+ years, I’ve dedicated my career to eating disorder and disordered eating treatment across multiple healthcare settings and countries. My experience spans both inpatient and outpatient care, working in hospital settings, specialized eating disorder clinics, and private practice environments.
In my most recent work in Canada, I provided specialized treatment for both hospitalized patients requiring intensive medical nutrition therapy and outpatient clients working toward sustainable recovery. My focus has always been on comprehensive nutrition rehabilitation while addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of healing.
During my years in Jordan, I worked within multidisciplinary teams supporting clients with complex eating disorders. I developed thorough assessments, provided psychoeducation on nutrition and body image, and helped clients understand the intricate relationship between mind, body, and food.
My experience in Saudi Arabia included the unique opportunity to establish and lead nutrition departments, developing evidence-based protocols and mentoring other healthcare professionals while maintaining direct patient care.
How I Practice
What Makes My Approach Different
I understand that eating disorders affect the whole person: physically, emotionally, and psychologically. I recognize the complexity of each individual’s lived experience and am continually deepening my knowledge in trauma-informed care. This helps me approach our work with sensitivity, safety, and respect, creating space for healing that honors your story, your pace, and your autonomy.
I believe in the power of collaboration. Whether I’m working with your therapist, physician, or family members, I make sure everyone supporting you is aligned and informed.
I believe in meeting each patient where they are in their recovery journey. For those in the more acute stages of an eating disorder, I provide structured, prescriptive meal plans to ensure safety and adequate nourishment. As patients progress and stabilize their eating patterns, I help them build body wisdom by fostering internal body awareness and intuitive eating skills, encouraging long-term autonomy and adaptive eating behaviors.
I know that progress isn’t linear. Setbacks aren’t failures, they’re information. We’ll navigate them together with patience and without judgment.
Beyond Individual Sessions
My Broader Mission
My work extends beyond our one-on-one sessions. I’ve been a speaker at nutrition conferences, contributed health content to publications, and I’m committed to advancing the field of eating disorder treatment through education and advocacy.
I’m also passionate about prevention, which is why I work with parents to foster healthy relationships with food from the very beginning. Having witnessed the impact of diet culture on individuals and families, I’m committed to helping create environments where food can be enjoyed without fear or shame.
What Guides My Work
My practice is built on values that guide everything I do:
- Compassion over criticism
- Collaboration over control
- Evidence-informed care that honors emotional nuance
- Cultural sensitivity and inclusive practice
My Background
I earned my Bachelor in Nutrition and Dietetics as a Coordinated Program with Distinction from the American University of Beirut.
I hold professional licenses as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in the US and Jordan, and previously as a Clinical Dietitian in Saudi Arabia. I’m fluent in English and Arabic, allowing me to serve diverse communities.
A Personal Note
When I’m not working with clients, you might find me horseriding, on the tennis court, or spending time with my family. These moments of joy and connection remind me daily that life, and nourishment, should be experienced, not endured.I believe deeply that food is meant to be one of life’s pleasures, not one of its battles. If you’re reading this and struggling with your relationship with food or your body, please know: there’s nothing wrong with you. Your worth isn’t defined by what you eat or how your body looks. And with the right support, healing is not only possible, it’s your birthright.
Ready to Begin?
Whether you’re seeking support for eating disorder recovery or guidance in raising children who are adventurous eaters, I’m here to walk alongside you. Our work together will be collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to your unique needs and timeline.
Your journey toward food peace can start today. I’m here when you’re ready.
Maya Daaboul 