Caryn Honig, MEd, RD, LD
What is your current position?
Owner of The Healthy Weigh, a private nutritional counseling practice. I specialize in eating disorders and disordered eating. I only see clients who have eating disorders/disordered eating. I’ve been in private practice for 20 years. I am also a clinical adjunct professor at University of Houston where I teach Introduction to Nutritional Counseling. I’ve taught Current Issues in Eating Disorders in the past. I have three hospital contracts: Texas Children’s Hospital and Kingwood Pines Psychiatric Hospital and The Menninger Clinic.
How did you get started in your career?
I was a tennis player on the junior circuit from a very young age (13 years old) until I went to college on a full scholarship. During that time, I struggled with bulimia then anorexia, then compulsive overexercise and then binge eating disorder. At that time (during the 80’s), eating disorders were not talked about and there were not specialists in the field. There were also no treatment centers nor were there IOP/PHP programs. There was very little help back then. The help I received was from a psychiatrist and a dietitian (who specialized in diabetes). During my recovery, I decided that I wanted to become a dietitian and help others who struggled with eating disorders. So, I went back to school and got a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, completed my internship and RD board exams. I started working at Texas Children’s Hospital and later opened my private practice, The Healthy Weigh.
What advice would you give to someone new to the field?
Attend as many conferences, seminars, webinars…anything about eating disorders that is out there. Learn as much as you can about the illness so you are fully equipped to deal with this very difficult population. Also, take good care of yourself so you can take care of others. Practice self care so that you avoid developing burnout and compassion fatigue. Set good boundaries at work and in your personal life – to protect yourself. Remember: people with eating disorders are in pain. Their coping mechanism is food (or lack of) and weight. Approach every single client with compassion and empathy and leave behind the judgment and shame.