Dietitian Seasonings And Therapist Reasonings

Meredith and Jill discuss their thoughts and opinions about Episode 25 with Dr. Ralph Carson: What's weight got to do with it? We hope you found his presentation thought provoking, powerful and informative. As Dr. Carson says, he's the messenger and all of what he presented was research as we currently know.  Meredith and Jill emphasized the importance of "openess" and importance of being able to hear what the current health care providers are supporting as way of promoting dialogue to "bridge the gap" between the the eating disorders field and the healthcare industry. As well with new clinicians in the field or to inform current clinicians about eating disorders, it is vital to have positive and open discussion between us all. Enjoy! If you are interested in supervision please visit us at www.acollaborativeapproach.com/supervision. 

In this episode Meredith and I have the opportunity of speaking with Dr. Ralph Carson, RDN, CEDRD for a full hour and a half. Dr. Carson provides more of a presentation with question and answers towards the end. The focus of this podcast is bridging the gap between healthcare recommendations and focus of weight loss vs the recommendations by eating disorders professionals which is often "let go of weight loss" to repair your relationship with food and body. Dr. Carson feels that both are discussing "two sides of the same coin" and feels ED treatment and obesity medicine do not have opposing agendas. Dr. Carson also reviews perspectives of the Corona Virus and "weight" connection.  We encourage you to listen to the podcast more than once as this is pack full of information. Dr. Carson first starts with the perspective and "view point" of the medical community and then dives into the recommendations and focus of the eating disorders community. Finally Dr. Carson discusses how we might "bridge the gap." Meredith

In preparation for our upcoming episode to be released on July 6, 2020, with Dr. Ralph Carson, RD, CEDRD, LD we wanted to share a role play that we published (video version) in our June newsletter. You can sign up here to receive our newsletter and for the special bonuses we will be providing from Dr. Carson's discussion (powerpoint video version of the podcast for those visual learners!).  Jill and Meredith role play from a therapist and dietitian perspective how to work with a client with a strong desire to lose weight either through chronic dieting or in the throws of an eating disorder (such as binge eating). Enjoy!  

Hi all! In preparation for our July 6, 2020 podcast, Meredith and I wanted to re-post a previous podcast topic: The Role of the Dietitian in Eating Disorder Treatment. Listen on and be refreshed. Dietitians play an essential role in the treatment of eating disorders. They also have a deep understanding of health and wellness and can blend this knowledge and understanding as they work as a vital component on the treatment team. We are very excited about Episode 25 which will be released on July 6 along with additional special add ons. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive some special bonuses and additional resources to improve your skills as a well seasoned clinicians or a "newbie" in the field of eating disorders.  Stay tuned!

In this episode Meredith and Jill discuss their personal perspectives about Douglas Bunnell, PhD, FAED, CEDS-S's interview on Episode 23. Meredith reflects on the anxiety of clinicians that are new in the field and seasoned in the field and how this develops through personality types and also training in graduate school.  Jill discusses the difficulty dietitians carry having to develop "thick skin" and bring up difficult (avoid, avoiding) topics and behavioral challenges.  The function of education and supervision in the field of eating disorders is emphasized.   

In this episode, Meredith and Jill have the opportunity to interview Dr. Bunnell. Through his 30 years of experience in the ED field, he shares his clinical wisdom and generally describes the 14 qualities or characteristics of effective therapists/clinicians. There are more and more clinicians entering the ED field. However, there lacks adequate training and supervision. How do we nourish and grow new talent in the field of EDs and accelerate the process of learning and professional development? How do you teach "clinical wisdom?" 1-Interpersonal skills (you don't need to be "technically good") 2-capacity to create trust 3-build alliance with your client 4-provide a clear explanation for what you are doing 5-provide a plan that is consistent with your explanation (aka, "treatment planning") 6-influential, persuasive and convincing 7-monitor progress authentically 8-flexible and willing to adapt 9-AVOID avoidance 10-conveying hope and optimism 11- EMBRACE complexity (resisting the urge to be reductionistic of

All of these twos! This was not planned. In this session Jill and Meredith discuss the education component in dietitian sessions. Dietitians have a huge role in eating disorder support by providing education to clients. Often most client "know" a lot however they "know" a lot of misinformation. A dietitian helps dispel these food and nutrition myths, helps a client unlearn and then learn evidence based information.  Meredith and Jill also discuss the concept of education or psychoeducation being a "clinician block." If you do not know about clinician blocks, check out Dr. Adele LaFrance's work around Emotion Coaching Family Therapy or EFFT. Meredith discusses the concept, "Knowbody cares about what you know unless they know that you care!" Meredith and Jill provide reduced rate informal consultation or formal supervision from a dietitian and therapist perspective. If interested, check out our website and to learn more. Sign up for our newsletter for monthly "freebies!"      

Do you provide education in your sessions? Most clients that struggle with eating disorders need to "unlearn" misinformation that they have heard from youtubers, the internet or Netflix "shockumentaries." Often those newer in the field provide much more nutrition and psychoeducation in sessions than those that are more seasoned. But for those that are seasoned, are you providing "enough" education now that your clinical skills are more fine tuned? In part 1, Meredith discusses her experience providing the delicate balance of therapy and psychoeducation as a therapist. Watch for part 2 next week!  

In this episode Meredith and Jill discuss the "Stay At Home" (due to the Covid 19 Pandemic) challenges that have demanded many clinicians in the eating disorders field to see clients via video or phone. During this pandemic, have clients been able to transition smoothly from in person to "virtual?" Do you you prefer or do you struggle with the virtual platform? For some clinicians this may be the first time that you are seeing clients "not in person." For others, this may be the only platform one uses. Meredith and Jill discuss the pros and cons they have experienced providing telehealth as their only platform. Listen on for validation, empathy and encouragement!

In part 2 of our interview with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD-S, Robyn discusses some content in her book regarding supporting and helping caregivers in supporting their loved one during eating disorder recovery. She discusses the importance of emphasizing not "envying" their loved one's eating disorder. Robyn encourages the awareness of their loved one's body language and their body language in addition to what is asked or stated.  How does a clinician redirect a physician's recommendation who is not specialized in eating disorders while supporting the caregivers worries and concerns? As a dietitian, Robyn discusses the edge she has as a seasoned dietitian with experience in general clinical nutrition as well as eating disorders. Meredith emphasizes the importance of new therapists receive experience in a higher level of care first or learning more depth of common occurring mental health issues associated with eating disorders.  Robyn also explores how she has been an advocate for those with eating disorders, h

Robyn Goldberg joins Dietitian Seasonings & Therapists Reasonings with the release of her new book The Eating Disorders Trap for a two part series.  Part begins with Robyn discussing a case with a clinician who referred a very sick client to her. The clinician has minimal knowledge about eating disorders. Robyn's role became one of educating the clinician about eating disorders with the attempt of having the clinicians help and not harm the client.   Robyn, Jill and Meredith explore the process, experience and education clinicians need in order to be effective in the field of eating disorders. Robyn discusses through her 23 years of practice that most of what she has learned about the field has been through experience, mistakes and learning from them and strong mentoring relationships. How do you develop your confidence in speaking to others that may have more experience than you but you have more experience in the eating disorders field? 

Meredith and Jill talk about when and how to incorporate nutrition topics and concerns when a client has heart disease, diabetes, or abnormal lab values, etc. when they are in the throws of eating disorder recovery.  They review when a client is in the the "early stages of recovery" as well as when they have had a year or two of recovery "under their belt." How do you respond to your client's concerns yet keep their recovery a priority?

In this podcast Meredith and Jill provide a role playing scene that is often common in the dietitian's and therapist's sessions. Often times parents want to try to bargain and negotiate their child's weight goal that usually the dietitian sets through a full assessment and review of weight history.  We also have this on video as well on A Collaborative Approaches YouTube channel. Please sign up for our free monthly newsletter to also see the role play as a video version.

Kari Anderson joins us for another podcast on the subject of desire for weight loss or for clients who call themselves compulsive "overeaters" and "addicted to food." These clients often do not realized they may even be struggling with an eating disorder. How do we allow clients to talk about a strong desire to lose weight. As clinicians in the field of eating disorders, we learn more about our own bias and how to approach treatment in HAES and "weight neutral movement." Are we beginning to become close minded?  Kari discusses that she find supervising clinicians, clinicians begin to feel afraid to discuss the topic of weight loss and often times the clinician may "shut down the client."  Kari emphasizes the importance of learning to "speak your clients language" first and foremost.  Perhaps what we say needs to shift as we "sit" in our clients discomfort. Most are not content and at peace with their bodies when they enter treatment. 

Welcome Kari Anderson to our podcast! You can learn all about her at www.myeatingdoctor.com. She has also written a book and has a new one coming this year. Kari, Jill and Meredith discuss new interventions that continue to emerge that can be used in the treatment of eating disorders as well as established interventions.  What reason do new interventions and modalities perhaps not interest newer practioners in the field of eating disorders? What reason are "older" interventions and modalities not encouraged or used anymore (they are but actually often "repackaged"  as often in the field? How can we incorporate all of them, even as one practioner? CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, RO-DBT, etc. There are so many amazing tools to place in a clinicians tool box. Listen on, on how to take risks to support clients in their recovery. 

Have you heard about Dr. Adele LaFrance and her work with Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)? If not, Meredith and Jill encourage you to seek training in this very helpful intervention for those with eating disorders (and other mental health disorders as well). Meredith and Jill attended to 3 day training in Virginia. In this episode we review very basic concepts of EFFT and how both therapists and dietitians can use this intervention to support those in eating disorder recovery.

Jill has a story to tell. We'll let you listen to hear. Meredith and Jill discuss the HAES (Health At Every Size) Movement and how our clients can advocate for themselves during physician appointments. Often clients have weight "issues" brought up in a medical appointments without their consent. Their weight is brought up out of context to why they are seeking medical support. How can we support our clients through these experiences? How do we allow space on our appointments so they can feel heard, understood and validated? How can you grow and learn from ALL perspectives?

What are some leading causes that may contribute to clinician burnout in the field of eating disorders? Those that treat eating disorders experience the highest burnout of other clinicians. What we do is hard work!  What are helpful interventions to prevent or reduce burnout? Owning burnout and actually attempting to curve burnout can be a difficult decision for a clinician. Burnout can cause lack of energy in the clinician, affect your clinical work with a client or affect the clinician's own mental health.  Listen on as Meredith and Jill review strategies to reduce burnout and discuss contributing factors. 

In our part 2 interview with Amanda Holben (which is a very different subject matter!), Meredith and Jill hear from Amanda what her experience has been like with starting a family after a very fulfilling 20 year career in the field of eating disorders and a huge choice she made to stay at home with her daughter.  This can often be a challenge for practitioner: stay home? Continue to work and balance being a parent and continuing in the field of eating disorders. Amanda discusses her experience and decisions she made. 

Meredith and Jill have the opportunity of interviewing Amanda Holben, RDN in part one of two interviews.  Amanda spent a good part of her career at the once Remuda Ranch in residential programming and then several years in outpatient nutrition counseling in Houston Texas before she decided to devote the majority of her time raising her child.   Amanda discusses aspects of being new in the field, looking back as a newer clinician compared to her skill level and knowledge base now. She reflects on areas of training and understanding of eating disorders she would recommend newer dietitians in the field understand and know to support them in the field of eating disorders. Have you ever had an abnormal psychology class? How about learning from your clients? Listen on and soak up Amanda's words of wisdom.