Your body isn’t a problem to solve, control, or correct — and when healthcare workers don’t agree, care becomes about compliance instead of collaboration, conversations feel more like judgement than support, and you’re left more confused and disconnected from your body than when you walked in.
We’re here to change that.
Your body isn’t a problem to solve, control, or correct — and when healthcare workers don’t agree, care becomes about compliance instead of collaboration, conversations feel more like judgement than support, and you’re left more confused and disconnected from your body than when you walked in.
We’re here to change that.
We’re tired of healthcare getting it wrong — and we bet you are, too.
Hey! We’re Emma + Alex,
the duo behind MEND.
Hey! We’re Emma + Alex,
the duo behind MEND.
Between nutrition and physical therapy, we’ve both spent years inside healthcare systems that say they’re helping people, while often missing what actually matters.
We’ve seen how quickly care can turn into oversimplified advice instead of real understanding, leaving people feeling like they’re doing something wrong rather than being supported in what’s actually going on.
That’s why we built MEND – a space where you’re an active part of your care, and your perspective is part of the expertise in the room.
Care feels more sustainable and collaborative when you’re actually part of it.
Between nutrition and physical therapy, we’ve both spent years inside healthcare systems that say they’re helping people, while often missing what actually matters.
We’ve seen how quickly care can turn into oversimplified advice instead of real understanding, leaving people feeling like they’re doing something wrong rather than being supported in what’s actually going on.
That’s why we built MEND – a space where you’re an active part of your care, and your perspective is part of the expertise in the room.
Care feels more sustainable and collaborative when you’re actually part of it.
This is care that's built with you, not prescribed to you.
In addition to never making assumptions about your experiences or goals, we’re also committed to…
- Making sure your work is one-on-one with the same provider each session, so you have the time and consistency to build a meaningful therapeutic relationship.
- Accepting insurance, which allows care to be consistent and ongoing – because real change doesn’t happen in one visit.
- Taking the time to understand your whole story, so recommendations fit your life instead of expecting your life to fit a plan.
We make sure every person who walks through our doors can show up as themselves – not who they think they need to be.
That means you don’t have to perform or prove anything to be taken seriously.
For clients, this looks like being able to talk about what’s actually going on, feel heard, and not judged or reduced to a number.
For providers, it means practicing in a way that actually aligns with their values – not being pushed into care that doesn’t fit the person in front of them.
When people can show up honestly, care becomes more effective and feels like real support.
Meet The MEND Team
she/her | MS, RDN
Angela Smith
Angela is MEND's Administrative Assistant and a registered dietitian who helps create a client experience that feels organized, welcoming, and supportive from the very beginning.
Whether you're scheduling your first appointment, completing paperwork, or reaching out with a question, you'll likely hear from Angela. She works behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly so both clients and providers can focus on what matters most.
With a background in office support and nutrition, Angela enjoys creating thoughtful systems, improving day-to-day processes, and making care feel a little easier to access.
Emma D’Arpino
she/her | PhD, MS-HPEd, RD, LDN
Emma is a queer, fat-positive registered dietitian specializing in non-diet medical nutrition therapy, eating disorder care, and intuitive eating.
Her work is grounded in both clinical experience and research focused on weight stigma in healthcare. She understands how often care gets shaped by assumptions about bodies, and how easily that can miss what someone is actually going through.
With Emma, the focus is not on food or numbers – it’s helping you make sense of your relationship with food, how you’ve learned to care for yourself, and what’s been driving those patterns over time.
Emma is not accepting new clients at this time.
she/her | MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, CSCS
Robin Lyford
Robin is a registered dietitian specializing in weight-inclusive nutrition counseling, eating disorders, sports nutrition, and helping people build a healthier relationship with food.
Many people come to Robin feeling overwhelmed by conflicting nutrition advice, stuck in cycles of restriction, or unsure how to eat in a way that supports both their health and their everyday life.
Her approach is collaborative, practical, and grounded in the belief that nutrition doesn't have to be restrictive to be supportive. Together, you'll work toward realistic eating habits that fit your goals, your lifestyle, and your relationship with food—without relying on rigid rules or diet culture.
Robin also works with athletes to make fueling feel less confusing, helping them build confidence in nourishing their bodies to support both performance and long-term well-being.
she/her | PT, DPT, GCS
Alex Kay
Alex is a physical therapist who practices from a weight-inclusive approach to movement and rehabilitation.
Many people come in feeling like their body is the problem, or like they need to push through the pain to get better.
Instead, Alex’s work is centered on helping you feel more supported in your body. Movement is not something you have to earn or prove. It should help you feel more capable in your body.
Sessions are one-on-one and built around you, so you’re not being handed a generic plan or starting over each time. Care has the space to adjust, and is built to reflect what your body needs.
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SCHEDULE NOW
If healthcare hasn’t felt helpful lately (or ever), there’s a reason – and it’s not you.
A lot of care is built around assumptions, quick solutions, or approaches that don’t take the full picture into account. Often, the right questions aren’t asked, and you’re not fully included in your own care.
We do things differently. Care here is built at your pace, with you, for you.
A lot of care is built around assumptions, quick solutions, or approaches that don’t take the full picture into account. Often, the right questions aren’t asked, and you’re not fully included in your own care.
We do things differently. Care here is built at your pace, with you, for you.
Care should be caring. Period.
A lot of care is built around assumptions, quick solutions, or approaches that don’t take the full picture into account. Often, the right questions aren’t asked, and you’re not fully included in your own care.
We do things differently. Care here is built at your pace, with you, for you.
A lot of care is built around assumptions, quick solutions, or approaches that don’t take the full picture into account. Often, the right questions aren’t asked, and you’re not fully included in your own care.
We do things differently. Care here is built at your pace, with you, for you.