Kate Merkle, MPH, RDN, LDN, LCSW, CDWF, PAT she/her

Founder and Executive Director

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, & Certified Psychodramatist

Kate Merkle is a dual-licensed clinician with over 20 years of experience helping clients heal their relationship with food, body, and self. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN), a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and a Certified Psychodramatist (PAT).

Kate holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Benedictine University, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Northeastern Illinois University, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Food Science from Colorado State University.

Her extensive clinical experience spans hospital settings, higher levels of care, and outpatient therapy, and she brings a trauma-informed, social justice-oriented lens to every client relationship.

My Approach

She takes a holistic approach when working with clients to address disordered eating patterns and negative body image concerns. Her mission is to help her clients lead flourishing lives, characterized by vitality, physical well-being, meaning, and connection. Employing a strength-based approach, she draws from a range of therapeutic modalities, including Appetite Awareness Training, Health At Every Size, Intuitive Eating, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, and psychodrama.

Kate works with adolescents and adults, and her clinical approach affirms body diversity, neurodivergence, and marginalized identities. She is committed to Health at Every Size® (HAES®), anti-oppressive therapy, and inclusive care for people in larger bodies.

Kate's work integrates both clinical nutrition therapy and depth-oriented psychotherapy, allowing her to address both the emotional and physiological aspects of healing. Her holistic framework is rooted in compassionate curiosity, radical acceptance, and embodied presence.

She understands that recovery from disordered eating, trauma, and chronic self-doubt takes time, trust, and skilled support. She collaborates with each client to define goals, build self-awareness, and cultivate sustainable practices that support long-term healing and growth.

Areas of expertise

Eating disorders and disordered eating recovery
Consultation & supervision for therapists, nutritionists, dietitians, and nutrition/therapy students
12-Step Informed
Attuned and mindfulness based eating & self-care
Non-diet, weight neutral, body inclusive approach to well-being
LGBTQ+ welcoming & affirming care
Nutritional counseling of all ages across the lifespan
Experienced facilitator of nutrition support groups
Health At Every Size (HAES®) Expert:
- As a HAES® dietitian expert, she is committed to practicing and advocating for size inclusivity, health enhancement, respectful care, eating for well-being, and life-enhancing movement. Interested individuals can explore the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH) statement of the HAES® Principles here.

Specialized Training

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Practice & Consultation Fellowship at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
EMDR trained (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) through the EMDR Institute
Certified Psychodramatist (PAT)
- Advanced training at The Mid-South Center for Psychodrama & Sociometry, Psychodrama Training Institute of Chicago, and The Chicago Center for Psychodrama
Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, San Antonio, TX
The Body Project Facilitator, Chicago, IL
Molly Kellogg’s Counseling Intensive™ for Nutrition Professionals, Chicago, IL
Currently pursuing Intuitive eating certification and the CDCES Diabetes certification

Education

Masters of Social Work, Northeastern Illinois University
Masters of Public Health, Benedictine University
Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Food Science, Colorado State University