Helen Dean
Dietitian & Counsellor
Specialist Eating Disorder & ARFID Clinician in Ivanhoe
Get to know Helen
Helen Dean is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, Registered Counsellor and Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician, bringing over 25 years' experience to families and individuals across Ivanhoe, Ivanhoe East and Melbourne's north-east who are navigating eating disorders and ARFID.
As both a dietitian and registered counsellor, Helen looks beyond what a child is eating to understand what may be making eating difficult, including sensory differences, anxiety, neurodivergence, appetite, family dynamics and past experiences with food.
Based in Ivanhoe East, Helen brings nutrition therapy and counselling together in the one relationship — because the physical and psychological sides of an eating disorder rarely improve in isolation. Every plan is structured, steady and genuinely collaborative, supporting real change through eating, behaviour, emotional wellbeing and family involvement, at a pace that feels manageable rather than overwhelming.
Helen also works closely with local GPs, psychologists and paediatricians throughout treatment, so families across Ivanhoe and the surrounding suburbs have coordinated, joined-up care — not another appointment to manage alone.
Qualifications, Training & Professional Memberships
* Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)
* Registered Counsellor (ACA)
* Master of Counselling
* Eating disorder and ARFID specialist training, including CBT-AR
* Training in family-based treatment, responsive feeding and other therapeutic approaches
* Master of Clinical Family Therapy -currently completing
About
Specialist training in ARFID and feeding difficulties
I have completed additional professional training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (CBT-AR) and Responsive Feeding Therapy.
These approaches inform my work with children, adolescents and adults experiencing ARFID, selective eating, sensory-based food difficulties, anxiety around eating and limited food variety.
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My approach integrates evidence-based strategies with responsive, compassionate and neurodiversity-affirming care. I recognise that every person's relationship with food is different, and therapy is tailored to their individual needs, readiness and goals.
Where appropriate, I also work closely with parents and carers to build confidence, reduce mealtime stress and support sustainable changes over time.
How I can help you
I work alongside
Children, adolescents, young adults and families across Ivanhoe and Melbourne's north-east who are living with the day-to-day reality of an eating disorder or ARFID. No two presentations look the same, and no two families arrive at the same point — but there are some familiar signs that it's time to reach out.
Families and individuals often seek my support when:
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Eating feels frightening, overwhelming, or tightly controlled
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Rigid rules, rituals, or food avoidance have crept into daily life
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Weight, growth, or medical stability has become a genuine concern
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Progress feels stuck, circular, or fragile, no matter what's been tried
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You're unsure how to support your child's eating without accidentally making things worse
Supporting Neurodivergent Eating — Autism & ADHD
Helen has a particular interest and depth of experience supporting neurodivergent individuals, including those with Autism and ADHD, whose relationship with food is often misread through a neurotypical lens.
Eating differences in neurodivergent people are frequently misunderstood — labelled as fussiness or defiance when something far more complex is going on. Sensory processing, a strong need for predictability, anxiety, interoception differences and individual cognitive style can all shape how a person relates to food, long before behaviour ever becomes the focus. Helen's approach starts by understanding why, not just addressing what.
My Approach
Recovery-focused
Prioritising health, safety and forward movement above all else
Calm and structured
Reducing overwhelm for both the young person and the family around them
Collaborative
Working alongside GPs, psychologists and paediatricians to keep care genuinely integrated, not siloed
Individualised
Meeting each person exactly where they are, while never losing sight of therapeutic direction