Understanding and Addressing Eating Disorders in Schools (Series Begins May 7, 2026)

For this webinar series, participants will automatically be enrolled in all 5 sessions.

Speaker

Sarah M. Kopencey, Psy.D. 

Description

This five-part webinar series helps school professionals recognize, understand, and respond to eating and body image concerns among students. Each session highlights practical strategies for prevention, early identification, and referral while promoting a school culture that values inclusion, body diversity, and student well-being. Participants will gain confidence in recognizing early warning signs, supporting students with compassion, and connecting families to appropriate resources.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must attend all 5 sessions either live or via the recording and successfully pass a quiz following Session 5. Within 24 hours of the live webinar, registrants will be emailed a link to view the recorded webinar. The recording will be made available for 7 days after each session. If you are not eligible for PDPs and/or CEUs, you may apply for a Certificate of Attendance.

This session provides a clear overview of the most common eating disorders seen in youth and what early warning signs may look like at school. Participants will learn how to talk with students and families, and where to find support and resources. Emphasis will be on early action and creating a safe, stigma-free environment for students.

This session explores how cultural attitudes about weight, health, and appearance can unintentionally impact students. Participants will learn how weight stigma shows up in school settings and how to build classrooms and wellness initiatives that promote inclusion for all body types. Practical strategies will be shared for language use, curriculum choices, and supporting body-positive school culture.

Social media plays a major role in shaping how young people see their bodies and their health. This session looks at current research on how online content can contribute to body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and comparison culture. Educators and school staff will learn ways to discuss media literacy, encourage balanced use, and promote positive online engagement among students.

Some students experience overlapping patterns of anxiety, perfectionism, and rigid routines that can include both eating disorder and OCD symptoms. This session helps school staff recognize when these patterns may signal something more serious. Participants will learn what to look for, how to approach conversations with care, and how to coordinate with families and professionals to support student well-being.

This session focuses on how eating and exercise concerns can appear in student-athletes. Coaches, athletic staff, and educators will learn how to recognize the difference between healthy training and unhealthy obsession. Discussion will include warning signs of orthorexia, pressure in competitive environments, and how to foster a culture that prioritizes health and balance over appearance or performance alone.

About the Speaker

Sarah Kopencey (Co-pen-ce), Psy.D., (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Glastonbury, CT and Portland, OR. During her internship at University of Massachusetts (UMass) at Amherst, she developed a concentration in eating disorder treatment in the college setting. She received specialized training on the treatment of eating disorders as a part of the UMass integrative treatment team and with the Massachusetts five college consortium. Sarah completed her post-doctoral residency at Trinity College in Hartford, CT and stayed on as a full-time staff psychologist in the student Counseling and Wellness Center for four years. She now owns and operates her private practice, Brave Awakening, LLC virtually in Connecticut and Oregon. She has continued to focus her clinical practice on the treatment of adolescent and young adult eating disorders. She is also a parent educator with Peace at Home Parenting Solutions and Adjunct Faculty for the University of Hartford Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology. 

Membership Information

Most MPY webinars are available ONLY to current staff from member districts and organizations. Public school memberships include police and fire personnel. Former and retired employees and members of committees, including but not limited to, PTO/PTA, PAC, School Improvement Councils, Health Councils, Drug/Alcohol Councils, and school volunteers, are not considered MPY members.

PDPs and CEUs

MPY is an approved Professional Development Provider through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (Provider No. F20180079). Professional Development Points (PDPs) are offered for most MPY professional development webinars. PDPs are issued in 10 hour increments, per DESE requirements.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for clinical staff through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc. (MaMHCA). The NASW and the MaMHCA approve each event individually. CEUs may be given in hourly increments.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must pass the quiz.

Event Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend a MPY webinar you must cancel, through Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org, one business day before the webinar.

For MPY hybrid conferences, the date in-person registration closes will be posted on MPY’s website. Virtual conference registration will close one business day before the hybrid conference. You cannot cancel or switch your registration from in-person to virtual after in-person registration closes. Please email Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org with any questions regarding registration.

 

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All sessions are 12:00 – 2:00 pm

  • Session 1: May 7, 2026, Recognizing the Signs — What Every School Staff Member Should Know About Eating Disorders
  • Session 2: May 14, 2026, Weight Stigma and Inclusion — Creating Body-Positive School Environments
  • Session 3: May 21, 2026, Social Media, Body Image, and Students — What Educators Need to Know
  • Session 4: June 4, 2026, Perfectionism and Control — Understanding the Overlap Between OCD and Eating Disorders
  • Session 5: June 11, 2026, Athletes and Eating Disorders — When Healthy Habits Go Too Far