Vanessa Anoia

Registered Dietitian

Location: Pointe Claire or Virtual

Approach Inspired By

Family Based Treatment (FBT)
Intuitive Eating
Health at Every Size®
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Motivational Interviewing

Specialties

Eating Disorder Recovery
Sports Nutrition
Anti Diet Nutrition Interventions
Gentle Nutrition
Nutrition Strategies for ADHD
Meal Management and Planning
Body Image

The Registered Dietitians at Sööma use therapeutic approaches to inform their nutrition interventions within their scope of practice. Learn more about how we incorporate various therapeutic styles in our nutrition counseling for eating disorders and disordered eating.

About Vanessa

Background

Vanessa is a registered dietitian with a Bachelor’s degree from McGill University and a member of the Ordre des diététistes nutritionnistes du Québec (ODNQ). Growing up in an Italian family where food was at the heart of every gathering, Vanessa developed a deep love for cooking, baking, and exploring how food affects health, leading her to pursue a career as a dietitian.

Approach and Training

Through her work at Sööma, Vanessa has received specialized training to support her clients using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Family Based Treatment (FBT) for young people with eating disorders. She creates a compassionate, judgment-free space for clients to explore their relationship with food and exercise while guiding them toward lasting, positive changes.

Who She Works With

Vanessa feels deeply moved to work in the field of Eating Disorders as her awareness from personal experiences allows her to connect with clients on a profound level, enabling her to support them as they navigate through this challenging time in their lives. Shaped from her own journey and professional knowledge, Vanessa also brings a unique perspective with clients struggling with ADHD and eating disorders. She understands firsthand the complexities of managing impulsive eating behaviors, struggling with the feeling of control and the challenges of daily functioning with ADHD and how this impacts eating patterns.

Due to her love of recreational running, Vanessa also has a strong interest in sports nutrition – particularly in addressing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and its impact on athletes’ performance and overall well-being. She has worked with running teams at Dawson College and Concordia University, and has collaborated with various sports teams to provide specialized nutrition education. She also works with college and university athletes to ensure they’re fueling appropriately for their sports.

Bilingual in English and French,Vanessa offers insurance receipts for her services.

A quote that resonates with me

“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.”

Rabindranath Tagore

Other Services Offered

Presentations

Vanessa has presented at the Renfrew Conference, where she spoke on the intersection of ADHD and eating disorders. Her presentation explored the unique challenges individuals with ADHD may face in their relationship with food, including impulsivity, executive functioning difficulties, and emotional regulation, while highlighting compassionate and practical approaches to support recovery and wellbeing.

She has also offered training to dietitians specializing in the treatment of eating disorders on the intersection of ADHD and Eating Disorders through EDRD Pro.

Group Therapy and Meal Support Groups

Vanessa has a strong passion for group therapy, as she recognizes how beneficial having support from people struggling with similar challenges and sharing their own experiences can have on one’s recovery journey.

Groups that Vanessa is currently offering or has offered in the past include ADHD and Binge Eating-themed support groups and eating disorder meal support groups.

Collaboration with Schools & Healthcare Professionals

Vanessa partners with schools, clinics, organizations, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver nutrition education that is both practical and evidence-informed. Through presentations, workshops, and professional training sessions, she helps groups better understand nutrition within a supportive and compassionate framework. Each collaboration is adapted to the specific needs and realities of the audience to ensure meaningful and applicable learning.

Sports Nutrition Consultant for Teams & Athletes

Vanessa collaborates with sports teams, coaches, and athletic staff to help athletes meet the nutritional demands of training, competition, and recovery. She develops practical, sport-specific resources, including meal ideas, fueling strategies, and interactive workshops to support both performance and overall health. In addition to team support, Vanessa provides individualized nutrition counselling for athletes, helping them navigate their unique goals while fostering a balanced and sustainable relationship with food.

Supervision

Because of her specialization in the intersection between eating disorders and ADHD, Vanessa provides supervision and training for professionals in order to better develop skills to support this population.