Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of clients do you work with?

We welcome clients of all sizes, genders and identities! Emily works with adult clients (ages 18 and older), Desa sees clients as young as 13 years old, and Kelsey sees clients ages 10 years and up.

What's your specialty?

As a practice, we specialize in the treatment of eating disorders and weight-inclusive care, and we care deeply about helping clients normalize their relationship with food and movement.  All of our provider have higher-level-of-care eating disorder treatment experience.

Individually, we each have secondary specialities. Emily also specializes in gastrointestinal disorders. Her experience spans irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating and digestive discomfort, allergies and food intolerances, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, gastroparesis, and other digestive issues.

Desa has a strong focus on Intuitive Eating in her work. She helps clients to address diabetes and blood sugar concerns. She also works with clients across the age spectrum, from adolescents to older adults.

In addition to eating disorders, Kelsey has experience in sports and performance nutrition. She also enjoys working with dietary concerns related to plant-based nutrition. She sees adolescents and adults.

Do you take insurance?

Our practitioners are out-of-network providers and do not accept insurance at this time.  However, after the session, we can provide a superbill for clients who wish to seek reimbursement from their insurance provider.

Some clients may be able to request coverage for nutrition benefits that aren't explicitly stated in their plan.  For clients who are unsure of where to start, click here to download a guiding form.  This form is complimentary and does not guarantee any specific insurance outcomes.

When do you offer appointments?

Mondays: 8:00am-5:00pm

Tuesdays: 8:00am-8:30pm

Wednesdays: 8:00am-8:30pm

Thursdays: 9:00am-5:00pm

Fridays: 8:00am-10:00am

Saturdays: 9:00am-1:00pm

Appointment times depend on each practitioner’s availability.

How do virtual appointments work?

Virtual appointments are available through Healthie, a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform.  If you've arranged for insurance reimbursement, keep in mind that some carriers may reimburse differently for virtual sessions versus in-person sessions.  Please note, this option is only available for clients residing in states where our practitioners are licensed (DC, MD, NC) or states that don't have specific licensure laws (i.e. VA).

Can you help me lose weight?

RD Emily & Team do not offer weight loss services. We are proud to be health providers listed on the Health At Every Size® registry and do not advocate for medically unnecessary dietary restrictions (i.e. diets).  Instead, we work with clients to improve their relationship with food, eat according to hunger and fullness cues, and move away from using food to cope with various forms of stress.  Addressing these issues surrounding food may or may not result in weight changes.

Can you describe your office’s accessibility?

Our office is located in a building serviced by an automatic front door and several elevators. The waiting area has both armed chairs and a cushioned bench/loveseat. We use an armless chair in the office for client seating. Gendered restrooms are available on the same floor.

What are all those letters after your name?

The MS indicates that the practitioner earned a Master of Science degree (in Emily’s case, studying Nutrition and Public Health).  The RD marks someone as a Registered Dietitian.  The LD or LDN is for Licensed Dietitian (Nutritionist), which means the practitioner is legally licensed to practice in their state.

What's the difference between a nutritionist, an RD, and an RDN?

Great question!  A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a nutrition expert who, at a minimum: holds at a Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in nutrition science, completed a dietetic internship of 1200 supervised practice hours, and passed a national certification exam.  RDs also must complete at least 75 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits every five years to maintain their credentials.

A "nutritionist," on the other hand, is less clearly defined.  It could be someone who worked for years to earn a Ph.D. in nutrition science.  It could also be someone who earned a certificate at a weekend workshop.  No matter who you choose to work with, it's important that they have rigorous training to best meet your needs.

Adding to the confusion is the new credential RDN, or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.  The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recently approved the use of the RDN credential in order to capitalize on the recognizability of the word "nutritionist."  Simply put, RD and RDN are interchangeable.