Hi! I’m Nicole Mareno.

I’m passionate about eating disorder recovery…

I’ve been a registered nurse for more than 22 years and I’m passionate about partnering with you as you heal from disordered eating and body image concerns.

As a nurse I’ve worked with people who want to change the way they take care of themselves and take charge of their mental health. I’ve also done the hard work of healing from an eating disorder. I’ve experienced, firsthand, the power of a supportive team of professionals in helping me regain a greater quality of life.

I opened my business because I want to help you along in your healing process. I strongly believe that anyone who wants support deserves it and deserves a team of professionals with the expertise to help them. Trying to heal from disordered eating alone is just so hard. You don’t need to go through it alone. That’s why I’m here!

My specialty areas include eating disorders, OCD/anxiety disorders, and body image concerns. As a registered nurse my expertise sits at the intersection of behavioral change, medical care, nutrition, and psychology. I offer in-person sessions in Atlanta, Georgia and virtual telehealth sessions for clients within, and outside of, Georgia. I hold a multistate nursing license with the ability to practice in more than 30 U.S. states. Please click this link to learn more about my multistate license.

A few fun facts about me.

• I was born and raised in San Diego, California and moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 2009.

• I love to travel. My goal every year is to go to three places I’ve never been before.

• I have a great sense of humor and laugh easily.

• I adore coffee. My favorite time of day is the quiet of the early morning when I sip my coffee in peace!

• I’m an avid runner, enjoy golfing and skiing (I’m not great/terrible at both!), and have recently started taking adult ballet classes.

• I have an English Setter named Beau who sometimes makes guest appearances during virtual sessions with clients. 

What you can expect in working with me.

• A welcoming, safe space. All of you is welcome here. There is no such thing as “too much information”, “too many emotions”, or feelings that are “too big.” Really and truly. There’s nothing that you throw at me that I won’t welcome or be able to handle. We are partners in this process.

• Deep listening and my full attention.

• Inclusive services that respect and honor every aspect of who you are.

• A whole-person approach to care. A whole person approach means that we consider all aspects of your being and your health (e.g., your biology, physical health, mental health, emotional health, social & cultural background, relationships, sexuality, spiritual needs, financial needs, type of work you do, roles that you perform, your environment, etc.) to be important, related, and relevant to your care.

• Invitations that you can say “no” to anytime. You are the expert of your body, your needs, your goals, your values, etc., and my role is to support you as you navigate this process.

In case you’re interested in more about my philosophy…

Copy of my nutrition/eating philosophy (I practice from an intuitive eating approach.)

Information about my education/expertise.

• I have three degrees in nursing; a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and a doctorate (Doctor of Philosophy). I’ve worked in a wide range of settings that span hospitals, clinics, and community settings.

• My specific field in nursing is psychiatric/mental health, and my scientific specialties have included behavioral health, health behavior change, weight science, psychological aspects of food/weight, and body image.

• I’m a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. As helping professionals, psychiatric nurses fulfill many roles on the healthcare team and are qualified to implement counseling techniques such as motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy.

• I’m trained and certified as an Intuitive Eating Counselor. You can learn more about the qualifications and training of intuitive eating counselors by clicking here.

• I’m a member of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) and a member of the local Atlanta chapter. As a member I’ve taken the full course to prepare providers to care for clients with eating disorders (including things like treatment modalities, nutritional management, how to assess for eating disorders, etc.).

• I’m currently training to be a Chi-for-Two embodiment coach, a trauma healing method. You can learn more about Chi-for-Two by clicking here.

How can I help you? Use this form to get in touch.