AndrewZarateIMG

Andrew Zarate, MSW, RDN, CD, LICSW

I’m a queer, Filipino-American, and child of immigrants. I use he/him/his pronouns. I grew up in the Seattle area, and spent most of my adult life in New York City. 

Since 2012, I have practiced as a registered dietitian and nutritionist working primarily with eating disorders, HIV/AIDS, and with LGBTQ+ communities. In 2016, I started my private practice in New York City specializing in the treatment of eating disorders.

While in private practice, I returned to school to complete advance training as a mental health clinician, graduating in 2018 from the New York University Silver School of Social Work with a masters degree focusing on social justice and mental health counseling.

As a part of my graduate training, I worked as a therapist at GMHC (formerly Gay Men’s Health Crisis), the first organization in the world founded to address the AIDS epidemic. I also trained at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies, a psychoanalytic training institute in New York City recognized for their contemporary relational approaches to psychotherapy.

I have also served as the Nutrition Team Leader at Balance Eating Disorder Treatment Center, an intensive outpatient eating disorder treatment center where I helped to develop and oversee the nutrition programs including the Intensive Outpatient Program, Intensive Day Time Program, Saturday Program, Adolescent Outpatient Program, Men's Group, and Meal Support Groups. Additionally, I was a staff dietitian for Backcountry Wellness, an intensive residential and outpatient eating disorder treatment center, and an HIV/AIDS community dietitian with BronxWorks and the Center for Urban Community Services in New York City.

When I’m not working, I’m usually engaging with art, reading graphic novels, chatting with loved ones, volunteering, or happily doing nothing “productive”. 

Licensing & Education

Licensing

  • Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) by the Washington State Department of Health

  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD or RDN) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration

  • Certified Dietitian (CD) by the Washington State Department of Health

Education

  • Masters of Social Work (MSW) from New York University

  • Dietetic Internship in Public Health Nutrition at Hunter College School of Public Health

  • Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Bastyr University

Advanced Training

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR Therapy) from The Institute for Creative Mindfulness

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Intensive Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from The William Alanson White Institute

Publications

Zarate, A. (2022). Bipolar Disorder Amongst Filipinx Americans. In Nadal K, Tintiangco-Cubales A, and David EJR (Eds). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Filipina/x/o American Studies. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, in press.

Kosciewicz, J., Pandjiris, A., Zarate, A. (2019). Living in this Disembodied Body: Navigating the Treatment of Eating Disorders with Trans and Gender Non-conforming Individuals. In G. Jacobson, J. Niemira, & K. Violeta (Ed.) Sex, Sexuality, and Trans Identities: Clinical Guidance for Psychotherapists and Counselors. New York: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Escondo, K., Zarate, A., & Nadal, K. L. (2017). Reproductive cancer and mental health in women. In K. L. Nadal (Ed.) Sage Encyclopedia on Psychology and Gender. New York: Sage.

Selected Presentations

Panelist: Gregory Desierto, Psy.D., Justus Pascual, MA, LMHC., & Andrew Zarate, MSW, LICSW (2023). “Filipinx American Psychotherapy Clinical Case Presentation: Disclosing Trauma, Performing Masculinity, and Paying for Psychotherapy.” Hosted by the Asian American Psychological Association's Division on Filipinx Americans.

Panelist: Andrew Zarate, & Other Panelists (2021). “LGBTQ+ Intersections - Career & Identity.” Hosted and moderated by the NYU Alumni Club of LA.

Ash Choi, & Andrew Zarate (2019). “Queering Body Positivity.” Presented at Amazon Headquarters. Seattle, WA.

Panelists: Nidhi Berry, MSW., Sally Chung, Psy.D., & Andrew Zarate, MSW, RD. Moderator: ASUW Asian Student Commission. (2019). “Asian Pacific Americans & Mental Health.” Presented at the University of Washington. Seattle, WA.

Panelists: Krystel Salandanan, Psy.D., Andrew Zarate, MSW, RD., Ariane Ling, Ph.D., Xiaojue Hu, M.D., & Kevin Rustam, M.S. Ed. Moderator: Marcia Liu, Ph.D. (2018). "Let's Talk About Mental Health: First Steps, a Panel on Mental Health in the Asian American Pacific Islander Community." Presented at Hunter College. New York, NY.

Andrew Zarate, RD., & Asher Pandjiris, LMSW. (2016). "Exploring the complexities of treating trans and gender nonconforming patients and their use of disordered eating to manage body dissatisfaction." Presented at The Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy 2016 Transgender Mental Health Symposium. New York, NY.

Panelists: Andrew Zarate, RD., & Sharmin Hossain. (2017) “HCAP Presents: LGBTQ Asian and Pacific Islander experience and mental health.” Presented at Hunter College. New York, NY. 

Andrew Zarate, RD. (2015). “Intuitive and Mindful Eating.” Presented at Spring Clearance 2015 Retreat. Lake Wononscopomuc, CT. 

Andrew Zarate (2012) “Intuitive Eating: Learning to Listen to Our Own Bodies.” Presented at APICHA Community Health Center (formerly Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS). New York, NY. 

Andrew Zarate (2011) “Super Foods, and Healthy Eating in Substance Abuse Recovery.” Gay City Health Project. Seattle, WA.

Andrew Zarate (2010) “Intuitive Eating, Mindful Eating, and Health At Every Size.” Presented at Sojourner Place. Seattle, WA.