Our expertise in the services we offer is supported by over 20 years of clinical experience in working with children, adolescents and adults in the community and hospital settings. The River Oak Health team specialise in the treatment of eating disorders, weight and body image concerns, and sports nutrition. We also offer supervision and training for health practitioners and facilitate various nutritional workshops.
Our Areas of Expertise
Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa - Bulimia Nervosa - Binge Eating Disorder - OSFED - ARFID
Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that commonly develop as a result from a combination of risk factors, including genetic predisposition, environmental experiences, psychological factors and socio-cultural influences. Eating disorders are not a lifestyle choice, they are serious mental illnesses which are often misunderstood. Recovery is possible - and finding a specialised treatment team right for you is a great place to begin your recovery journey.
At River Oak we collaborate with other health practitioners to offer a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to treatment. Our team specialise in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Disordered Eating, Avoidance and Restrictive Food Intake Disorders (ARFID) and Other Specific Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED). Our nutritional rehabilitation program draws from world leading treatment models, including; Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT‐E), Maudsley Family Based Treatment (FBT), Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Shane Jeffrey, River Oak’s Founder and Clinical Director, is a leading Dietitian in the area of eating disorders with over 25 years’ experience in this space. Shane has developed internationally recognised frameworks such as the RAVES™ Eating Model. With over 10 years of real-world application, RAVES has been adopted by dietitians, psychologists, general practitioners and psychiatrists to establish regular and adequate eating to reverse consequences of malnutrition, and then supports individuals to improve variety, participate in social eating and establish flexible eating practices that are right for the individual.
Eating, weight, and body image concerns
Emotional Eating - Yo-yo Dieting - Fussy Eating - Orthorexia
We work with you to pursue health over weight-loss, develop your taste preferences and most importantly support a healthy and happy relationship with food. It is common to repeat what we don't repair, hence why treatment may require some 'unlearning' of diet culture and rebuilding of evidence-based nutritional knowledge. Moreover, learning to reconnect and honour your body's hunger cues and nutritional needs can help break free of diet cycles and emotional connections to food. By being more intuitive with your body, you allow yourself to enjoy each day free of any food rules.
At River Oak Health, we adopt a non-diet approach in our all of our work and practice from a Body Acceptance and Health At Every Size® framework. Using this approach allows for our primary focus to be on health and wellbeing rather than weight, numbers and body size. Our team have extensive experience treating individuals with emotional eating, yo-yo dieting, fussy eating and orthorexia.
sport nutrition
Disordered eating in athletes - Sports performance for elite and recreational athletes
Both Shane Jeffrey and Jen Pfeifler are Accredited Sports Dietitian’s, which is considered the ‘gold standard’ accreditation for sports nutrition in Australia. We work with elite and recreational athletes across all sporting types, including; tennis, figure skating, cricket, swimming, rowing and more. As Sports Dietitians we develop performance-based nutrition programs tailored to individual energy requirements, taste preferences and sporting goals. We are here to help take your performance to the next level while ensuring your diet is nutritionally adequate and hydrating practices are optimal.
At River Oak Health, we also work with athletes to overcome disordered eating practices. The pressure athletes face regarding performance and emphasis on body weight can lead to an increased risk of developing eating disorders and negative body image. Notably, female athletes with eating disorders are at a high risk of developing amenorrhea and osteoporosis - both conditions are serious medical concerns. With that being said, eating disorders do not discriminate and can most certainly affect any sex, age or athlete. Early intervention is critical in eating disorder recovery, hence why it is imperative athletes, coaches and other health practitioners reach out to our team when needed.
sUPERVISON
Training and education for health professionals
Shane Jeffrey’s leadership as a Dietitian has seen him chair local, national, and international committees for eating disorders, teach undergraduate and postgraduate students across four universities, and present at conferences both nationally and internationally. Shane has an interest in service evaluation and research, with his activity in this area leading to the development of state-wide service initiatives, numerous conference presentations and university collaborations.
As recognised leaders in our field both nationally and internationally, River Oak Health have presented at conferences in Australia and Overseas, contributed to the development of best practice guidelines, and educated thousands of health practitioners and students.
Please contact us at hello@riveroakhealth.com.au or book in a Professional Supervision (40 mins) appointment here.
NUTRITION CONSULTING & WORKSHOPS
The River Oak Health team also offer tailored educational workshops to schools, universities, health care facilities, corporate organisations and the general public. Whether you are wanting to provide your staff the opportunity to up-skill their nutritional knowledge or educate school aged children about the fundamentals of a healthy relationship with food, River Oak Health has you sorted.
Visit our training and events page to see what is coming up near you.