101712: The Body in Therapy

About the Course:

Webinar from the 2009 International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Symposium.
Note: For this course there is a small additional fee to obtain the webinar. Please see the “Get Course Materials” link in the right sidebar for details.

In those who struggle with eating disorders, the body is often rejected, dissociated or strictly managed. None-the –less the body is often left out of therapy. Understanding the physical response to restrictive eating, binge eating or purging may be a window into connecting with the body, making it real. This workshop will describe the how patient will report typical physical concerns . Harm prevention, self monitoring and strategies for symptom management will be discussed. A framework for interpreting symptoms, tools for helping clients become aware of body sensations, and ideas for bringing the body into therapy will be provided.

Content Outline:
In those who struggle with eating disorders, the body is often rejected, dissociated or strictly managed. None-the –less the body is often left out of therapy. Understanding the medical complications and body response to restrictive eating, binge eating or purging may be a window into connecting with the body, making it real. This workshop will describe the patho-physiology of typical medical concerns breaking them down to an experiential level . Case discussions will help the therapist recognize signs and symptoms of more common and more ominous medical complications. Strategies for increasing awareness, curiousity and compassion towards the body will be introduced. Discussion will encourage the therapist to integrate information about the awareness of medical complications, body function and sensations, and pathways to work towards restoring a healthy physical and emotional connection to the body in therapy. Skills and concepts from sensory motor therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivation theory and IFS will be introduced. Finally, harm prevention and self monitoring strategies will be offered to help increase the client’s self awareness and advocacy.

Author

Kimberli McCallum, MD, CEDS (presenter)

About the Author:

Kimberli McCallum, M.D., is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. She is board-certified in Child and Adolescent psychiatry as well as in Adult Psychiatry. She received her medical degree from Yale School of Medicine, her training in General Psychiatry at the UCLA Neuropsychiatry Institute, and her Child Psychiatry Fellowship at Washington University. She is a member of the board of directors of IAEDP and of NEDA. Dr McCallum has been working with patients with eating disorders for over 20 years. She is the founder and director of McCallum Place treatment center in St. Louis, providing Residential care, Day Treatment and Transitional Living for teens and adults with eating disorders.

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially psychologists, therapists, and counselors who seek to update their research knowledge and competency in treating patients with eating disorders, increase and acquire new skills, learn new intervention strategies, and obtain continuing education credits. It is appropriate for professionals at all levels of knowledge.

Course Objectives:

1. After this presentation, participant will be able to describe 2 harm prevention strategies to reduce risks associated with their eating disordered behavior.

2. After this presentation, participants will be able to discuss several therapy strategies for bringing the body into therapy.

3. After this presentation, participants will be able to identify typical presentation of 3 common medical concerns.