Identifying and Understanding Eating Disorders (Series Begins Nov. 1, 2023) (Registration Closed) – The Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc.

This course closed on July 16, 2024.

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

Speakers

Sarah Kopencey, Psy.D.
Roberto Olivardia, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Harvard Medical School

Description

In this webinar series, we will address the latest research on eating disorders including how to identify symptoms, understand the underlying mechanisms, and actively address these issues with students. The topics of this five-part series include Mindful Self-Compassion for eating disorders, the inclusion of parents in the treatment process, the role of social media, diagnostic and treatment differences for men and boys, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must attend all 5 sessions and successfully pass a quiz following Session 5. Following 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 discusses how to identify, understand, and treat eating disorders in adolescent girls through the lens of Mindful Self-Compassion as developed by Kristin Neff, Ph.D. and Christopher Germer, Ph.D. We will review the research supporting the use of mindful self-compassion in addressing both the behavioral symptoms as well as the underlying mechanisms of eating disorders.

There is overwhelming evidence supporting the inclusion of parents in adolescent eating disorder treatment leads to better outcomes. But what do we do as outpatient providers when parents and adolescents both want individual therapy? This session reviews best practices for meeting family and adolescent students where they are, while still providing evidenced based treatment that invites parents into the treatment process and aims to establish family level support for adolescents struggling with an eating disorder.

The influence of social media on adolescent mental health is a burgeoning and widely discussed topic, not only in our field, but also more broadly as educators and parents identify common concerns for the health and wellbeing of today’s generation of youth. This session reviews some of the latest research on the influence of social media on body image and the development of body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls. We will comment on the latest trends in disordered eating content on social media and discuss how to leverage this knowledge in treatment.

Contrary to popular belief, eating disorders and body image problems affect millions of boys and men. This presentation will focus on the various manifestations of body image and eating disorders we see today in boys and men, including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder, anabolic steroid use, and muscle dysmorphia. Attention will be paid to how these issues present themselves differently in males than females, as well as comorbid disorders and treatment issues. Understanding the role that traditional notions of masculinity play in male body image and how popular culture and media imagery capitalizes and contributes to the issue will be discussed.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by the preoccupation that a body part (or parts) is deeply flawed and ugly. It is marked by obsessive thoughts, behavioral compulsions and avoidant behaviors. BDD is a serious condition marked by depression, anxiety and suicidality. This presentation will discuss assessment of BDD symptoms, comorbid conditions, and treatment interventions, as well as unique clinical issues that arise in treating BDD patients. Case examples will be discussed.

About the Speaker

Sarah Kopencey, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Glastonbury, CT. 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 in Glastonbury, CT. 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.

Roberto Olivardia, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Associate at McLean Hospital and Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he specializes in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He also specializes in the treatment of eating disorders in boys and men. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Olivardia is an active researcher. He is co-author of The Adonis Complex, a book which details the various manifestations of body image problems in males. He is on the Scientific Advisory Board for ADDitude Magazine, a publication serving the needs of individuals with ADHD and Learning Disabilities, as well as sits on the Professional Advisory Boards for Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD), the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), and is a Featured Expert for Understood. He presents at many conferences, podcasts and webinars around the country.

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.

Enrollment in this course closed on November 1, 2023.

If you are seeking to receive CEUs and/or PDPs, please click Register Now. Once you complete the webinar series, you will be able to take quizzes for CEUs and/or PDPs. Upon completion of each quiz, you will receive a certificate.

All sessions are 9:30 am – 11:30 am.