About Desa

I am a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified personal trainer living in Northern Virginia and serving clients primarily in VA, DC, MD, and NC. I have been a dietitian for 8 years and completed both my undergraduate degree in nutrition and foods, dietetics and my master's degree in nutrition at Appalachian State University where I had a strong focus in rural health, food insecurity, agriculture, older adult nutrition, and diabetes nutrition.

I now specialize in supporting clients through eating disorder recovery, disorganized eating, disordered eating, obsession with healthy eating, body image, diabetes, PMOS, & irregular or missing periods. Because eating disorders never occur in isolation, I routinely engage in supervision, trainings, and professional communities to build my competence in providing mental health-informed and trauma-informed nutrition care. While I love nutrition education and the science behind the human body & the food we eat, I am passionate about providing relational care that promotes client autonomy and collaboration in session. I have completed additional training in eating disorders, athletics and eating disorders, menopause, and acceptance and commitment therapy for dietitians.

I help clients understand how food nourishes and benefits their bodies so they can build healthy eating habits that are enjoyable and sustainable for years to come. I love supporting clients every step of the way and teaching them to feel empowered by understanding their body’s needs rather than seeking out endless cookie-cutter programs and social media health hacks that are just going to leave them frustrated.

I provide evidence-based, weight-neutral & diet-free nutrition education and counseling. I value collaborating with my clients, creating a grounded space, client autonomy, and honoring humanness in session.