KEYNOTE SESSION

Body Confident Schools: Becoming Body Kind From the Start
PRESENTER: Denise Hamburger, JD, Founder & Executive Director of BE REAL
DESCRIPTION: Today’s explosion of visual social media use - like Instagram and TikTok - has created an epidemic of body image problems for young people. Research ties body dissatisfaction to a host of adolescent mental health problems from eating disorders, to depression and isolation, to suicidal ideation. Young people who don't like their bodies suffer from low self- esteem and are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and COVID-19 has only exacerbated these mental health issues for young people who have spent more time alone and on social media. Be Real’s evidenced-based Body Confident Schools & BodyKind Curriculum discusses adolescents’ body image in 2022 and provides steps that schools and practitioners can take to create a body confident environment for students & patients alike.

​

CME/CE SESSIONS

The Psychology of Trauma: Treating Personality Disorders & Cultivating Compassion forComplex, Hard to Treat Conditions

PRESENTER: Susan McClanahan, PhD, CEDS

DETAILS: Eating disorders can often be difficult to diagnose and even more challenging to treat. When an eating disorder is co-morbid with a personality disorder, as is often the case, support a client through recovery is even more challenging. This presentation will review epidemiology, etiology, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of co-morbid eating and personality disorders.  Discussion will include an overview of evidence-based treatments and indicators for the need to refer to a higher level of care.

​

Best Practices for Treating Binge Eating Disorder

PRESENTER:  Denisa Larreau, MS, LIMHP, Program Coordinator, EDCare Omaha

DETAILS: Binge Eating Disorder (BED) has only been recognized by the DSM-5 since 2013. The result has been limited research on BED compared to many other eating disorders. This presentation will include a general overview of BED, specific focus on research related to treatment outcomes and an enhanced clinical understanding based on the findings of EDCare’s Binge Eating Disorder specific treatment curriculum. Denisa will discuss effective interventions in BED treatment, as well as identifying areas for increased focus. 

​

Mom in the Mirror: Eating Disorders in Pregnancy and Parenting

PRESENTER: Dena Cabrera, Psy.D., CEDS, Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders VP of Clinical Services

DETAILS: Being a mother (or father) with an eating disorder can make parenting very difficult to an already challenging role.   Dr. Dena Cabrera, author of Mom in the Mirror:  Body image, beauty, and life after pregnancy, will discuss the necessary components in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders with women during pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, and the parenting years.  It will also look at the issues specific for a father with an eating disorder. Practical tools will be provided.  Drawing on work with her own clients, the material used to write her book, and inpatient / residential treatment experience, this workshop will be engaging and informative. 

​

Supporting Someone to a Recovered Life: Understanding the Levels of Care and the Support to Provide

PRESENTER: Samantha Peterson, MA, LCPC, CADC, Regional Director of Monte Nido and Affiliates

DETAILS: This presentation will consistent of descriptions of each level of care for treating eating disorders. Within each level of care the presentation will discuss what criteria is used to identify if someone needs that level of care along with what support is needed by the treatment team and loved ones.

​

Applying the DBT Consultation Agreements in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

PRESENTER: Gregory Holich, MS LCPC, Assistant Clinical Director of Clementine Naperville

DETAILS: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidenced based approach using a comprehensive approach to help individuals through mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness strategies.  In addition to weekly group skills training, individual therapy, and coaching session, DBT emphasizes the importance of peer consultation for clinicians.  This presentation will review the varying facets of the DBT Consultation Agreements and ways clinicians can utilize these concepts to inform their work with clients as well as colleagues.

​

Eating Disorder Treatment Considerations for Individuals in Midlife & Beyond

PRESENTER: Christina Perez, PhD, Director of Admissions and Case Management at Reasons Eating Disorder Center

DETAILS: Eating disorders occurring in midlife and beyond are both similar and very different from occurrences in adolescent and young adulthood. This talk will examine barriers to treatment that are specific to individuals suffering from eating disorder in this demographic as well as discuss unique interventions to increase recovery rates. This population remain marginalized in eating disorder treatment amid an undercurrent where anything old/aging is dissociated from new and lively. This presentation will propose suggestions for how a depth psychological approach to aging can inform treatment and improve outcomes for this age group.

​

How to Improve Adolescents Body Image within the Family System

PRESENTER: Mackenzie “Mack” Jantsch, MS, LMFT, Laureate Eating Disorders Program

DETAILS: This presentation will emphasize the importance of improving body image on developmental well-being of adolescents. Body image is created through a combination of perceptual, cognitive, affective, and behavioral components towards the human body within a systemic context. What older generations have discussed or endured about bodies, can influence younger generations and vice versa. Improving body image in children can reduce the prevalence of future harmful dieting, eating disorders, mood disorders, or overall life dissatisfaction through the lifespan. While positive body image can increase life satisfaction and healthy attachment behaviors in children.  

​

Moving Towards Balance: Fitness and Eating Disorder Recovery

PRESENTER: Hannah Frazee, BS, ACSM-EP-C, Exercise Physiologist, McCallum Place Eating Disorder Treatment

DETAILS: An unbalanced relationship with movement is a common characteristic among clients struggling with an eating disorder; research cites that compulsive movement is often one of the first symptoms of an eating disorder. This presentation will offer insight into identifying characteristics of an unbalanced relationship with movement and interventions clinicians can use to help clients move toward a more balanced relationship with movement. Case studies from the presenter’s in-vivo work as an eating disorder informed exercise physiologist will be included to put the information shared into context.
 

They Won't Just Eat "When They Get Hungry": A Practitioner's Approach to Disordered Eating in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

PRESENTER: Julia Freeman, M.S., RBT, Eating Disorder Coalition of Iowa

DETAILS: This presentation focuses on the signs, symptoms, risk factors, strategies, and possible interventions to enhance developmental well-being of those below the age of 18 with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to diagnose, treat, and prevent eating disorders. Concerns such as rigidity, lack of variety/nutrients, attention span, behavioral and learning barriers, and co-occurring medical conditions will be discussed. A general overview of ASD in children, variations for clinic and home/community based approaches, and how this work and presentation contributes to a diverse population without eating disorders will also be included. 

​

The Endless Sensation of Hunger: Commonalities, Differences and Simultaneous Treatment of Eating Disorders and Substance Use

PRESENTER: Rebekah A. Freese, LCSW, PHD, Senior Regional Executive Director, Alsana

DETAILS: A growing body of literature indicate a third of women diagnosed with a substance use disorder have also struggled with an eating disorder during their lifetime. Individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder are five times more likely than the general population to abuse substances. There is compelling evidence demonstrating eating disorders and substance use frequently co-occur. It is important to recognize those commonalities, differences and learn to treat those simultaneously.

​

Moving Beyond Meal Plans: How to Transition Clients to Intuitive Eating

PRESENTER: Michelle Russell, RD, LD, CEDS

DETAILS: Meal plans provide a framework for normalized eating patterns in early recovery from an eating disorder. Transitioning from a meal plan to more internally-directed eating assists clients in long-term self-management of eating in recovery. Timing of transitioning each client to less structure is important to prevent behaviors returning, and this presentation will help clinicians determine when a client is ready and what steps to take to integrate Intuitive Eating.

​

GENERAL PUBLIC SESSIONS

"You're An Adult Now": Challenges and Strengths of Autistic Adult Eating Disorders

PRESENTER: Julia Freeman, M.S., RBT, Eating Disorder Coalition of Iowa

DETAILS: Traditional models of eating disorder treatment facilities and approaches tend not to accommodate the specific needs of autistic (ASD) people. Unique considerations for treatment and considerations will be discussed in this presentation. Prevention and warning signs to be aware of eating disorders specific to autistic people over the age of 18 will be included. Attendees can expect a general overview of ASD in adults, variations for clinic and home/community based approaches, and how this research and presentation contributes to a diverse population without eating disorders will also be presented. 

​

Embodiment: Discovering the Safe Space Within

PRESENTER: Diane Hudson, MSEd, LMHC, CYT200

DETAILS: This presentation will introduce participants to the practice of Embodiment; the integration of the mental, emotional, and physical body. Diane Hudson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Yoga Teacher who has dedicated over a decade to supporting others on their journey of connection. Participants will be invited to practice along while she shares intuitive movement, breathing techniques, and guided mindfulness practices from her upcoming Embodiment program based on the 4 Anchors of Healing that can help guide us to Discovering the Safe Space Within. 

​

We Can Struggle Too: Experiencing Eating Disorder Stigma in Marginalized Communities

PRESENTER: Kimmie Bolinger, EDCI Executive Board, Survivor and Advocate

DETAILS: This presentation gives you an idea of how the stigma around eating disorders affects people in the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community. This presentation will also help you view things from a different lens to help break the stigma.  

​

How to Create a Successful Eating Disorder Support Group

PRESENTERS: Quad Cities Eating Disorder Support Group Facilitators

DETAILS: Local facilitators will discuss what has helped keep the Quad Cities eating disorders support group successful for over ten years in our community. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions to learn more about the benefits of attending and how to start a successful support group of their own. 

​