RD Emily & Team

Emily Arkin helped put me on the path toward finding more accurate diagnosis and treatment plans after a disappointing experience with my GI. She helped me navigate my day to day GI issues with a mix of food choices and supplements, and always took my priorities and preferences into account. I don't know where I would be without the guidance she's given me and her help in finding the right direction for treatment. If you have complex chronic illness Emily is the best dietitian you could hope for.

I loved working with Emily. She listens really well and put a lot of time and thought into her recommendations. And it is really easy to communicate with her between or after appointments!

In a desert full of diet culture, body negativity, and other judgy and triggering things, Emily has been an oasis. I’m someone in a larger body with elevated blood sugar levels, and I immediately felt safe, seen, affirmed, and celebrated just as I am. Emily has helped with my relationship with food, body positivity (in the real, non-commercial sense), and making practical adjustments to carbohydrate consumption. She is very knowledgeable, communicates concepts clearly, and is very patient with my many questions. Thank you, Emily!!

I worked with Desa Crews at this practice for four months in 2025. It was the worst health care experience of my life. My health got drastically worse as a result of working with her. It is truly hard to imagine a more irresponsible health professional. During my time with Desa Crews, she: —Repeatedly told me to ignore my body —Missed symptoms of a serious blood sugar condition I was experiencing, that another dietitian picked up within a few weeks —Demonstrated a lack of understanding of basic blood sugar nutrition For 4 months I followed what Desa told me to do for my blood sugar, and rather than improving my health got worse. When I tried to talk to her about what I was experiencing, I was gaslit, shamed, or ignored.I started to despair that my health would just keep getting worse and that no one would ever be able to help me. The shaming made me feel like I was losing my mind on top of everything else. Thankfully I was wrong about no one being able to help me. When I finally decided to see another dietitian, she literally helped me more in our first 45 minutes than Desa did in 4 months. I learned that most of what Desa told me was either wrong, or she just never told me the fundamental things I needed to know for blood sugar management. Not once in 4 months did Desa tell me I was getting way too little protein and fiber, one of the most basic aspects of blood sugar management. Not once in 4 months did Desa suggest I get my insulin checked, despite claiming to be an “expert” and despite all the symptoms I was experiencing. My new dietitian immediately got me on a better track and also helped me seek help from an endocrinologist, including giving me a list of specific tests to ask for. It was only when I saw the endocrinologist that I started to fully understand the harm Desa had done. They said Desa’s treatment of me was medically negligent (their exact words). That rapid weight gain should never be ignored especially in someone with blood sugar irregularities, as it could be a sign of something serious (in my case it was). And that someone experiencing symptoms of low blood sugar multiple times a day every day should be told to see a doctor so they can figure out what is going on, not told to eat pure sugar all day long as Desa did with me. I’ll say one more thing. I have a 2 year old child. As someone who lost a parent at a young age, one of the most important things to me is to be there for my child and be as healthy for her as I possibly can. Desa Crews has made it much harder for me to achieve that goal. If you are struggling with blood sugar, please take care of yourself and avoid Desa Crews. There ARE dietitians who are knowledgeable, who will listen to and support you. Unfortunately Desa is not one of them.

Emily and team are the best. I could not have asked for a more supporting team. Highly recommend, they go above and beyond.

I trust Emily and her team to care about my clients and to offer them accurate information. They endorse an anti-diet, HAES stance, are easy to work with and competent, and I couldn't recommend them enough.

As a psychotherapist who works with young adults in DC, Emily and her team are an amazing resource for myself and my clients. My clients that have also worked with the RD Emily team report improved relationships with food, exercise, and their bodies. I would highly recommend and will continue to refer any client to RD Emily that is looking for additional support addressing body image and finding freedom from diet culture!

As a therapist working with eating disorders, I know that Emily and her team are clinicians that I can always trust. Emily and her team are passionate clinicians that are highly collaborative. All of my clients have enjoyed working with their team and feel they are recieving amazing care!

When I first visited Emily, I was unsure whether anyone would be able to help me with a digestive issue I was experiencing, and I was worried that any doctor I spoke with would tell me to adopt a restrictive diet, which I wasn't willing to do for various reasons. But Emily was great - she not only helped me feel better physically, but also helped me deal with other psychological and emotional hurdles related to food and digestion. She was so kind and empathetic and made me feel heard. I don't need Emily's services anymore, but I wouldn't hesitate to go back to see her if something arose in the future or recommend her to a friend.

Nearly 2 years ago, my then 16 year old daughter was struggling with obsessive thoughts about food. It wasn't obvious to me that there was a problem at first as she just seemed to be trying to eat "clean." This quickly moved to more and more restrictive behaviors and she was miserable. Thankfully, Emily was recommended to us and my daughter met with her on a weekly basis. I was terrified of what was happening and felt completely out-of-control. SO scary as a parent! Emily was incredibly sensitive to this fact and was fully willing to share the information she was giving my daughter with me. We met several times and she was so kind and compassionate! Emily was able to communicate with my daughter in a way that was easily received and even repeated back to me. So many things I never knew - intuitive eating is an amazing concept! Emily, along with other support, enabled my daughter to step right into recovery and now she is a healthy, happy teenager who has a clear idea of how to nourish her body.