We, Estella Leek and Kate Syers, are dietitians with a special interest in managing and transforming the nutrition of those with eating disorders. We know outcomes improve when the eating behaviours and psychological factors that contribute to the disorder are treated in tandem. For this reason, we work closely with the psychologists throughout the treatment process. We favour a non-diet approach to eating that works towards normalising thoughts and feelings about food. This, together with the Intuitive Eating Programme, aids recovery and helps the client develop a happier, healthier relationship with food.
Estella Leek
Specialist Dietitian
Dip HSc
NZRD
Registered Dietitian (NZ Dietitians Board Dietitian Prescriber)
Member Dietitians New Zealand
Member Australian and New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders
ANZAED Nutrition special interest group
ANZAED private practitioners special interest group
My work as a dietitian is very rewarding. I bring 30 years of experience to my practice having worked in a variety of health settings including hospitals, community health, schools, corporate nutrition and the media. Initially, I specialised in child and infant nutrition, childhood weight management, and food allergy and intolerance.
It’s been a privilege to work with people of all ages to overcome their eating issues and watch them regain their health and confidence.
Over the past two decades I’ve developed a special interest in the nutritional management of eating disorders and weight issues. For much of this time I worked within the Auckland Regional Eating Disorders community services, and more recently, with the residential and day programme services.
In my private practice, I have enjoyed working closely with the psychologists in the team here at Shelly Beach Practice. I have always appreciated the strong relationship between psychology and dietetics - it makes little sense to work on changing eating habits without addressing the psychological factors that get in the way of change.
While working in this area, continuing competency training has allowed me many opportunities to broaden my clinical skills through the integration of therapeutic models into my approach. At Shelly Beach Practice I have enjoyed developing a non-diet treatment approach to weight concerns and eating issues alongside Dr Jan Geary and Kate Syers to support clients to manage their weight through advanced intuitive eating. I am very excited about the power and potential of this approach.
Clinic days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday online 3 weeks of the month and in person in our Ponsonby rooms one week per month on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Kate Syers
Specialist Dietitian
BCAPS
PGDipDiet
NZRD
Registered Dietitian (NZ Dietitians Board Dietitian Prescriber)
Member Dietitians New Zealand
Member Australian and New Zealand Academy of Eating Disorders
Member Auckland Dietitians Eating Disorders Special Interest Group
From a young age, I wanted to become a dietitian. I have always been interested in what we eat and the impact it has on our bodies, health, and wellbeing. Since graduating in 2000 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics (Distinction), I have worked in diabetes, health promotion, childhood nutrition and within the food industry.
For eight years in London, I worked as a community dietitian and consultant dietitian supporting people with weight concerns. I also taught accredited nutrition courses and foodservice dietetics.
Returning to New Zealand in 2011, I worked at Thrive for three years (now Tupu Ora, Regional Eating Disorders Service) where I developed a special interest in the nutritional management of eating disorders. I was privileged to work alongside Estella Leek, also a dietitian at Shelly Beach Practice. In this role I evidenced how complementary psychological and dietetic support can facilitate positive change in a client’s behaviour with regards food and eating.
As well as working in this practice, Estella and I have Mint Nutrition, our general dietetics practice. I deliver lectures at Auckland University to students studying towards the Master of Health Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics. I also provide ‘Starting Solids’ talks to new parents at various Parents Centres in Auckland.
When I am not working, I love to spend time with my husband and four children.
Clinic days are Monday, Tuesday (face to face) and Wednesday (online only)
While we focus on eating disorders at Shelly Beach Practice, we offer a broader range of services within our own private practice, Mint Nutrition. We work with individuals and families from toddlers to adults to manage their nutrition needs, health conditions, weight concerns, food allergies and tolerances and more.
We’ve adopted strategies that we helped develop and have proved so effective at Shelly Beach. We’ve observed that if clients understand the psychology around their eating, they find it easier to replace unhelpful eating habits with new beneficial ones. We find that whatever eating issues clients are facing, they enjoy and respond positively to both our Intuitive Eating Programme and the non-diet approach to eating.
For a list of services and to find out how we use fresh thinking to put joy and balance back into eating, please visit our Mint Nutrition website.