Emmy Lu Henley

About Emmy

I am a dietitian specializing in eating disorders (EDs) and disordered eating. After 2.5 years in a clinical setting, I recognized the need for a more integrated, mental health–informed approach to nutrition care. I pursued a PhD to strengthen my mental health foundation and enhance the effectiveness of my nutrition therapy. Alongside my doctorate, I completed 2,500 supervised hours under an ED specialist and advanced ED-specific coursework. During this time, I worked at the Center for Adolescent Resiliency and the Collegiate Recovery Community at Texas Tech, focusing on ED prevention, addiction and ED intervention, and recovery support. In 2016, I opened my private practice, which expanded after I stepped away from Texas Tech to focus on family. I also serve as an adjunct instructor at Texas Tech, teaching a graduate-level course on Nutrition in Eating Disorders, and remain involved in ED education and community outreach.

Approach to care

My approach brings mental health and nutrition together in a compassionate, collaborative way. I don’t believe that rigid meal plans or rules about what someone “should” or “shouldn’t” eat lead to lasting change. Instead, I focus on honoring each person’s unique mental, emotional, and physical needs. I offer nutrition therapy that weaves together the emotional and psychological aspects of life with how we nourish our bodies. My work is grounded in a trauma-informed, weight-inclusive approach and guided by intuitive eating principles. I strive to meet each individual exactly where they are, creating a supportive space that centers their experiences and goals while building a sustainable, caring relationship with food.

Your first session with Emmy

In our first session, my hope is simply for two strangers to begin getting to know each other. Your lived experiences with food and your body are central to our work together, and I will invite you to share at a pace and level that feels comfortable for you. We’ll spend time discussing your medical and mental health history, while also making space for you to share what led you to seek support and what you hope to gain from our work together. By the end of the session, my goal is for us to have a shared sense of direction and a general plan for what future sessions may focus on. I want you to leave our first session feeling heard, supported, and affirmed in your decision to reach out for nutrition care.

Location

📍 Texas

Education

I earned my PhD in Nutritional Sciences from Texas Tech University, with an emphasis on addiction and recovery studies. I received my Master of Science degree from Lamar University, where I also completed my Dietetic Internship. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Hobbies

Outside of my work, I love spending time with my three children, coaching/playing basketball, and enjoying the outdoors.

Licenses and Certifications