Welcome
There’s Help. There’s Hope! The Emily Program is a warm and welcoming place where individuals and their families can find comprehensive treatment for eating disorders and related issues. This blog is a place for us to share the latest happenings at The Emily Program, as well as helpful tidbits from the broader eating disorder community. Subscribe via RSS to receive automatic updates. We want to hear your story. Email us (blog@emilyprogram.com) and ask how you can become a contributor!
Conferences and Networking Events
Conferences and Networking Events
We’re thrilled to connect with others who share our passion for quality, compassionate care. Meet our team and learn about the eating disorder services we offer at an upcoming conference or networking event.
Conferences
National
- Tristate Eating Disorder Conference 2023 – Evansville, IN: Friday, May 5th. Learn more and register here
- ICED 2023 – Washington, D.C.: Thursday, June 1st–Saturday, June 3rd. Learn more and register here
- 2023 Female Athlete Conference – Boston, MA: Wednesday, June 14th–Friday, June 16th. Learn more and register here
Eastern
- 102nd OAND Annual Conference – Columbus, OH: Friday, April 14th. Learn more and register here
- OPPA Annual Psychiatric Update – Columbus, OH: Saturday, April 22nd–Sunday, April 23rd. Learn more and register here
Midwest
- MACMH’s 27th Annual Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference – Duluth, MN: Sunday, April 23rd–Tuesday, April 25th. Learn more and register here
- MAND 2023 Annual Conference – Eagan, MN: Friday, April 28th. Learn more and register here
Pacific Northwest
- Inland NW Academy of Family Physicians 40th Annual Primary Care Update – Spokane, WA: Friday, May 5th–Saturday, May 6th. Learn more and register here
Networking Events
Eastern
- Yoga with The Emily Program – Dublin, OH: Friday, March 24th, 2:30–4pm ET. Learn more and reserve a spot here
Please note that CE credits will not be offered by Accanto Health for the events listed on this page. We will be attendees or exhibitors at these conferences/networking events.
Consult Groups
Consult Groups
Meet with other providers to discuss clinical challenges and share best practices in a supportive, confidential environment.
Midwest
- Virtual Midwest Consult and Connect. Every 3rd Thursday of the month, 8–9am CT. Upcoming dates: April 20th, May 18th, June 15th, July 20th, August 17th, September 21st, October 19th, November 16th, December 21st. To learn more, email emily.lamb@emilyprogram.com
Pacific
- Virtual Consult and Connect – Lacey, WA. Every 1st Friday of the month, 1–2pm PT. Upcoming dates: April 7th, May 5th, June 2nd, July 7th, August 4th, September 1st, October 6th, November 3rd, December 1st. To learn more, email outreach@emilyprogram.com
- Virtual Consult and Connect – Spokane, WA. Every 2nd Wednesday of the month, 1–2pm PT. Upcoming dates: April 12th, May 10th, June 14th, July 12th, August 9th, September 13th, October 11th, November 8th, December 13th. To learn more, email caley.willrich@emilyprogram.com
- Virtual Consult and Connect – Seattle, WA. Every last Wednesday of the month, 1–2pm PT. Upcoming dates: March 29th, April 26th, May 31st, June 28th, July 26th, August 30th, September 27th, October 25th, November 29th, December 27th. To learn more, email lexus.hartley@emilyprogram.com
Eastern
- Virtual Consult and Connect – Wexford, PA. Every 2nd Wednesday of the month, 9–10:30am ET. Upcoming dates: April 12th, May 10th, June 14th, July 12th, August 9th, September 13th, October 11th, November 8th, December 13th. To learn more, email katie.armstrong@emilyprogram.com
Informational Materials
Informational materials from The Emily Program
To request print materials, please complete the form below.
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Your Journey to Recovery
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Eating Disorders: Know The Facts (Infographic)
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What Every Provider Should Know About Eating Disorders (Infographic)
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Understanding Eating Disorder Treatment Outcomes (Infographic)
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What To Do When You Think Someone May Have An Eating Disorder (Infographic)
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Eating Disorder Assessment Tool
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Programs At A Glance: National
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Programs At A Glance: Minnesota
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Programs At A Glance: Ohio
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Programs At A Glance: Washington
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Adolescent & Young Adult Services
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Referring to our Residential Programs
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Intensive Treatment for Adults (PHP/IDP & IOP)
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Intensive Treatment for Adolescents (PHP/IDP & IOP)
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Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment
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Virtual CARE IOP for Binge Eating
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Lodging for Intensive Programming
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Determining Levels of Care for Individuals with Eating Disorders
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In Your Waiting Room: Minnesota
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In Your Waiting Room: Ohio
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In Your Waiting Room: Washington
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In Your Waiting Room: Pennsylvania
Continuing Education
Continuing Education
Eating disorders are mental illnesses with serious consequences. We are committed to providing the most current information about the signs, symptoms, and treatments. Learn more by attending an upcoming continuing education event.
Earn continuing education credits as you learn the latest about eating disorders and related topics. Accanto Health, the parent company of The Emily Program and Veritas Collaborative, is the planner and provider of all courses, content, and continuing education credits.
Webinars
- Not Just a Phase: Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Thursday, April 13th, 9–11am PT, 11am–1pm CT, 12–2pm ET. Learn more and register here
- The Family Dynamic: When an Eating Disorder is in the Family System: Thursday, May 11th, 9–11am PT, 11am–1pm CT, 12–2pm ET. Learn more and register here
- Beyond Picky Eating: Transdisciplinary Treatment Strategies for Treating Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: Thursday, June 8th, 9–11am PT, 11am–1pm CT, 12–2pm ET. Learn more and register here
- Moving into Attunement: Joyful Movement is Possible: Thursday, July 13th, 9–11am PT, 11am–1pm CT, 12–2pm ET. Learn more and register here
- Hiding in Plain Sight: Eating Disorders in Cis Males: Thursday, October 12th, 9–11am PT, 11am–1pm CT, 12–2pm ET. Learn more and register here
- Inviting the Body Back: When and How to Re-introduce Intuitive Eating in Eating Disorder Treatment: Thursday, November 8th, 9–10:30am PT, 11am–12:30pm CT, 12–1:30pm ET. Learn more and register here
- Comorbid Psychiatric Conditions: An Evidence-Based Guide to Treatment: Wednesday, December 13th, 9–10:30am PT, 11am–12:30pm CT, 12–1:30pm ET. Learn more and register here
In-Person Events
Washington
- Eating Disorders and the Brain: An Experiential Psychoeducation Seminar – Spokane, WA: Wednesday, May 3rd, 8:30–11:30am PT. Learn more and register here
About the Speakers
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Alyssa Kalata
PhD
closeAlyssa Kalata
Alyssa Kalata is a Licensed Psychologist in the State of North Carolina. After receiving both her Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Clinical Psychology from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI, and her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, she completed her predoctoral internship at Duke University Medical Center with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Alyssa has served in various roles during her professional career, including Clinical Supervisor, Research and Program Development Associate, Associate Clinical Director, Clinical Director, and Clinical Trainer working with patients diagnosed with primary eating disorders and primary substance use disorders in settings that provide services at a variety of levels of care. Alyssa currently serves as the Clinical Training Coordinator for Accanto Health, with brands The Emily Program and Veritas Collaborative.
Alyssa has a passion for the dissemination and implementation of empirically-supported treatments, particularly third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies, with an emphasis on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Her areas of expertise include the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, Eating Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, Mood Disorders, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and other trauma-related concerns and symptoms. Alyssa firmly believes that all individuals and their families and supports have the right to competent, compassionate care and her approach to treatment is one that balances understanding and validation with a focus on cultivating change.
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Anna Turner
MD, FAAP, FSAHM, CEDS-S
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Dr. Anna B. Tanner is Vice President for the Department of Child and Adolescent Medicine. She is a board-certified Pediatrician who has specialized in the care of complicated adolescent patients, in particular patients with eating disorders, for over 20 years. Dr. Tanner completed medical school and residency at Vanderbilt University, and then remained there to serve on the Pediatrics faculty in the Division of Young Adult and Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Tanner has been very involved in advocacy and education efforts and serves on national and international committees for eating disorders education. She speaks frequently across the United States on the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders, especially as they affect children and young adolescents. Dr. Tanner currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics for Emory University School of Medicine and as an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science for Morehouse School of Medicine. She is on the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED) Medical Care Standards Committee and the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP) Certification Committee Task Force. Dr. Tanner is a Fellow in the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM), a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and a Certified Eating Disorders Supervisor. She has been named by Atlanta magazine as a “Top Doctor” every year from 2013 to 2020 and named by Castle Connelly as an Exceptional Woman in Medicine and one of America’s Most Honored Doctors.
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Chase Bannister
MDIV, MSW, LCSW, CEDS
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Chase Bannister, Founder of Veritas Collaborative, is Senior Vice President of Community Engagement for Accanto Health, the parent company of newly merged Veritas Collaborative and The Emily Program. Chase attained his concurrent graduate degrees in Clinical Social Work & Divinity from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School and Duke University. Chase is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is credentialed as a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. Chase serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action. He is also an active member of the Academy of Eating Disorders and the Eating Disorders Leadership Summit, as well as the REDC Consortium. Chase’s career is marked by achievements in many areas, including federal legislative initiatives, standards-of-care creation, clinical program innovation, healthcare entrepreneurship, professional education, advocacy, and public awareness campaigns. We are ecstatic to have him join us at Accanto Health and also as today’s speaker.
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Dee Myers
MS, LMHC
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Dee Myers is the Site Director of The Emily Program in Spokane. She is a multi- decade leader in the Eastern Washington eating disorders community, with over 25 years of experience, and is proud to be at the helm of the Spokane Emily Program treatment team. She graduated with her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Washington University. Increasing access to care and creating a collaborative provider network has always been a passion for Dee. With extremely limited eating disorder resources in Spokane, in the early part of her career, Dee ran eating disorder support groups and worked to meet other eating disorder professionals in the area. She specialized in treating clients in private practice for over 15 years and ran an eating disorder professional coalition to unite the community and help provide resources and education to our area. Dee has proudly worked at The Emily Program for 9 years and was a part of a small group of providers who encouraged the company to open a location in Spokane to help the growing need throughout the pacific northwest. She has had a lifelong passion for this work and has treated clients individually, in groups, and at all outpatient levels of care. Outside of work, Dee enjoys many outdoor activities around the beautiful city of Spokane and loves spending time with her husband and two young adult daughters.
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Hilmar Wagner
MPH, RDN, LN, CD
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Hilmar Wagner is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN), Licensed Nutritionist in the State of Minnesota and Certified Dietitian (CD) in the state of Washington. Hilmar joined the Emily Program in 2006, and currently serves as the Training Coordinator for Nutrition Services, Dietetic Internship Coordinator and Clinical Education Specialist. In this role he assists in internal nutrition-related education and training, coordinates dietetic intern experiences across all locations and provides external continuing education on eating disorders and nutrition for community providers professional organizations. He regularly presents on eating disorder and nutrition topics at local, regional and national conferences. Hilmar received his Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition/Dietetics and Master’s in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Minnesota. He has worked in the field of eating disorders for the past 15 years. Hilmar has extensive experience working with clients of all eating disorder diagnoses in both individual and group settings. He has a particular interest in mindfulness and body-centered approaches to eating disorder recovery.
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Jillian Lampert
PhD, MPH, RD, LD, FAED
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Dr. Lampert is the Chief Strategy Officer of Accanto Health, the parent company of The Emily Program and Veritas Collaborative.
Additionally, Dr. Lampert is Co-Founder and President of the REDC, the national consortium representing eating disorders care focused on treatment standards, best practices, access to care, and collaborative research. She is also Treasurer of the Eating Disorders Coalition, a DC- based national organization for eating disorders policy and advocacy, and a Board Member of WithAll, a Minnesota-based organization that empowers eating disorder prevention and strengthens support for recovery. She holds an adjunct graduate faculty position in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Lampert completed her doctorate degree in Nutrition and Epidemiology and Master of Public Health degree in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. She earned a Master of Science degree in Nutrition at the University of Vermont and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. She has an expansive range of policy, clinical, research, education, teaching, and program development experience in the area of eating disorders.
Dr. Lampert has served on the Board of Directors of the Academy for Eating Disorders as the Electronic Media Portfolio Director and co-chair of the Academy for Eating Disorders Nutrition Special Interest Group. She is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (FAED) and a member of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association), and BHN (Behavioral Health Nutrition) dietetic practice group. Dr. Lampert is the author of numerous book chapters and articles addressing the nutritional treatment of eating disorders, body image, sports participation, adolescent health, and disordered eating and she regularly speaks regionally and nationally on numerous eating disorder-related topics.
One of her primary goals in life is to have the kids in her house (and everywhere!) have confident, loving relationships with their bodies and themselves.
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Kelly Pertzsch
LPCC
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Kelly Pertzsch is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of Minnesota. She began working at The Emily Program in 2015, and has worked in a variety of clinical positions since then, she is currently a Clinical Education Specialist. Kelly received her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Richmond, the American International University in London and her Master’s in Counseling Psychology with a certificate in Eating Disorder Studies from the Lewis and Clark College. She has treated eating disorders her entire career and has worked in community mental health, private practice, and a college counseling center. Kelly has a particular interest in the intersection of eating disorder treatment and social justice, as well as Health at Every Size.
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Krista Crotty
LMFT, PsyD
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Krista is the National Director of Brain Based Therapies and Director of Clinical Outreach Education. Clinically she draws from a variety of methods including TBT-S, EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, FBT, and acceptance and commitment therapy and often incorporates the use of the creative process in conjunction with the more traditional therapeutic process. She earned her Master’s of Science from Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Psychology and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in family and pediatrics from Azusa Pacific University. She trained at Harbor UCLA medical center and Loma Linda Children’s Hospital in neuropsych. Away from work, Krista loves being a mom to her three boys, playing outside, going on adventures with her family, skiing, hiking, biking, and camping
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Leah Graves
RDN, LDN, CERD-S, FAED
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Leah Graves is the Vice President of Nutrition and Culinary Services of Accanto Health, the parent company of The Emily Program and Veritas Collaborative.
Leah has been treating patients with eating disorders for over 30 years. Prior to joining Veritas, Leah was the Manager of Eating Disorders Nutrition Therapy for the Laureate Eating Disorders Program in Tulsa, OK. She graduated with the highest distinction from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 1985 and then began her work with individuals with eating disorders.
Leah is a founding member of the Academy for Eating Disorders where she has served on the Academy’s Executive Team, Board of Directors and Chaired the North American Teaching Days for the International Conference on Eating Disorders in addition to serving the Academy on the Nominating, Fellowship Selection, and Membership Recruitment and Retention Committees. She has also been honored with the distinction of Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders.
Leah has been involved in eating disorders advocacy with the National Eating Disorders Association as a member of the Conference Planning Committee and with the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association where she served as President and Governance Committee Chair. She currently serves on the Clinical Advisory Board for Rock Recovery.
Leah has been invited faculty at many eating disorders conferences including the International Conference on Eating Disorders, Hispano-Latin American Congress on Eating Disorders, International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Symposium, Renfrew Foundation Conference, Multi-service Eating Disorders Association Conference, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference, as well as numerous regional and local conferences. Leah has written several publications pertaining to nutrition and eating disorders and is highly respected within the eating disorders field for her expertise in medical nutrition therapy, nutrition counseling, clinical supervision, and research.
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Preeti Matkins
MD, FAAP, FSAHM
closePreeti Matkins
Dr. Preeti Matkins is a board-certified pediatrician with 27 years of experience, more than 10 of which have been spent providing care for children and young adults impacted by eating disorders, and currently serves as the Medical Director of the Veritas Charlotte Center. Dr. Matkins earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed medical school at UNC School of Medicine. She is a member of the Academic Pediatric Association and a fellow of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics. She also served as a professor of pediatrics at Carolinas Medical Center and remains on staff as a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at the UNC School of Medicine.
When Dr. Matkins is not at Veritas, you may find this book-loving Charlotte native rooting for the Carolina Tar Heels or the Davidson Wildcats (her husband’s alma mater) with her two adult (and one canine) children or planning her next travel adventure.
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Shena (Sheena) Washburn
MD, FAAP, FSAHM
closeShena (Sheena) Washburn
Shena Washburn is the Director of Nutrition and Culinary Services at Accanto Health. She has over 10 years’ experience supporting individuals who are in recovery from an eating disorder, in various levels of care and healthcare settings, and is an IAEDP Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian. In addition to her experience in the field of eating disorders, Shena holds a special interest in sports nutrition, mindfulness, gut health, Exposure Response Prevention, and building strong collaborative multi-disciplinary teams!
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Sydney Brodeur-Johnson
PhD, LCP, CEDS
closeSydney Brodeur-Johnson
Dr. Sydney Brodeur-Johnson’s passion is providing best-practice, research-informed and multiculturally competent treatment to patients and their families suffering with eating disorders. She is committed to increasing access to effective treatment, training professionals to deliver gold-standard care, and empowering them to be the best providers and people they can be.
Dr. Brodeur received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2005 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a concentration in the interdisciplinary treatment of adolescents with eating disorders. She assisted with the opening of Carolina House, a residential eating disorder treatment facility in Durham, NC, and was the first Center Director there. From 2008 – 2019 Sydney served as the eating disorder specialist and Associate Director for Training at University Counseling Services at VCU. In that role, she maintained APA accreditation of the psychology internship program and was the administrator for the training program for students in psychology, social work, and counselor education. She also served as a member of the center’s executive team.
In her free time, Sydney enjoys spending time with her children and partner, being outdoors, listening to music, and traveling.
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Taylor Rae Homesley
LPC, CPCS, CEDS-S
closeTaylor Rae Homesley
Taylor Rae is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Richmont Graduate University. Prior to attending Richmont, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in childhood and family development from the University of Georgia. She is a Georgia approved supervisor and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Approved Supervisor. Taylor Rae has been working with patients with eating disorders since 2012 across multiple levels of care including inpatient/residential, partial hospitalization and outpatient treatment settings. She is currently the Clinical Director at Veritas Collaboratives’ Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Taylor Rae has served on the board of the local Atlanta iadep Chapter sine 2017 and is currently the Chapter President. Taylor Rae has a strong passion for providing evidence-based treatment while collaborating within a multidisciplinary team to provide the best care possible to patients and their families.
Let Us Come to You
Interested in having an Emily Program expert speak to your healthcare staff?
Contact outreach@emilyprogram.com to learn more.
U of M – TEP Dietetic Internship
U of M – TEP Dietetic Internship
The Emily Program maintains an affiliation with the University of Minnesota’s Department of Food Science and Nutrition to provide in-depth eating disorder training experiences to those interns who have been accepted into the U of M dietetic internship’s Eating Disorder concentration (ED-TEP).
Why choose The University of Minnesota’s Dietetic Internship – Eating Disorder Concentration?
Eating disorders are complex, difficult, challenging, and sometimes fatal. Because food and eating are at the center of eating disorders, dietitians are essential to effective treatment and recovery.
This internship is unique because ED-TEP interns work directly with experienced eating disorder dietitians to observe, learn, and participate in the specialized practice of treating clients with eating disorders. Through hands-on experience, interns develop and draw upon their skill, ingenuity, and resilience to help clients progress along their recovery from the cunning, baffling, and powerful force of their eating disorder.
The portion of the internship focused on eating disorders takes place at a variety of residential and outpatient Emily Program sites throughout the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. The Emily Program provides outstanding personalized care with passion, integrity, and respect for clients and one another. The Emily Program work environment supports wellness, creativity, research, commitment, and flexibility.
What should I expect during the Eating Disorder portion of the internship?
You should expect to be challenged. You should expect to be frustrated and inspired by our clients. You should expect to have an experience unlike any other dietetic internship in the United States.
Among other things, you will be exposed to and work with:
- The full spectrum of eating disorders: compulsive overeating, anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, Avoidant/Restrictive Feeding Intake Disorder, and other eating disorder not otherwise specified
- Various levels of care, from individual outpatient appointments to intensive daylong outpatient programs to 24/7 residential treatment
- Adults, adolescents, pre-adolescents, and their loved ones
- Multiple ethnicities, classes, sexual orientations, faith traditions, beliefs, and values
- Psychological comorbidities, including:
- chemical dependency
- trauma/PTSD
- bipolar disorder
- schizophrenia
- social dysfunction or awkwardness
- body image dysmorphia
- GI dysfunction
- other psychological, emotional, and physical disorders
- Multidisciplinary treatment teams that include therapists, physicians, psychiatrists, and medical staff
- Therapeutic meals, nutrition and therapy groups, individual counseling, team consultation
- Skills needed to provide basic nutrition counseling and therapy (open-ended questions, mirroring, etc.)
- Skills needed to identify and address eating disorder behaviors
- Client goal setting, nutritional needs, meal planning, tube feeding recommendations, etc.
- Skills needed to assess a client’s readiness to change
For eight weeks, you will be immersed in The Emily Program’s process of providing comprehensive, personalized treatment for eating disorders and related problems.
You will be expected to model normal eating. You will also be expected to be able and willing to eat a variety of foods, while at the same time learning to coach clients through challenging situations that arise during therapeutic meals. Modeling balanced eating is a key component of the client’s recovery, providing a safe place for the client to challenge eating disorder thoughts and beliefs. Any and all food aversions/intolerance must be disclosed to the preceptor before beginning the rotation.
What advantage would this internship provide me as a future dietitian?
The U of M’s ED-TEP internship is one of the only dietetic internships in the United States that specializes in eating disorders and related issues.
This opportunity gives you the real-life experience of what it’s like to be a dietitian working in eating disorders treatment, working with clients of all diagnoses and at every stage of the illness, as well as other mental and physical health issues.
Unfortunately, the incidence of eating disorders is on the rise in the U.S. Fortunately, the options for treatment are growing. A dietitian specializing in eating disorder treatment will be in high demand because they can provide uniquely valuable services for eating disorder programming in treatment centers, hospital settings, schools, workplaces, community education, and many other areas.
One of the most important advantages of this dietetic internship concentration is the least tangible: a greater appreciation for the human condition. You will be called to draw upon—and discover among your peers—new reserves of patience, compassion, understanding, and acceptance.
What challenges might come up for me during this internship rotation?
Food and eating are central to all of our lives. Meanwhile, the prevalence—and normalization—of disordered eating behaviors is on the rise in our culture. Given these realities, it’s no surprise that challenges and concerns arise when an intern actively participates in this rotation. Some of those challenges may include:
Discovering personal eating and/or body image issues
If an intern is struggling with their own food or body image issues, spending time with eating disorder clients can trigger one’s own eating disorder thoughts and behaviors. It is essential that you are aware of and are addressing your own food or body image struggles—and that you have a support plan in place if those problems arise during the rotation.
Unearthing personal preconceptions and bias
Our culture is rife with positive and negative preconceptions, prejudices, and biases based on a person’s size, weight, and appearance. We are all influenced by this cultural environment. To be effective with our population, you will probably need the support of preceptors and colleagues to explore, challenge, and revise some of your existing (if still unconscious) preconceptions and biases.
Discussing uncomfortable topics
Many clients in treatment for an eating disorder have a traumatic personal history or a challenging past that contributes to the eating disorder. You are likely to hear sometimes graphic conversations about domestic violence, sexual abuse, suicide attempts, self-induced vomiting, self-harm, extreme exercise abuse, laxative, and drug abuse, and other serious mental health and physical health problems. You are likely to interact with individuals whose appearance has been altered by starvation or self-harm.
Taking It Personally
Emotions can run high for a client, especially before, during, and after a meal or snack. For example, a client may be experiencing high levels of anxiety, anger, sadness, fear, frustration, mistrust, and excitement when a meal is presented or eaten.
Sometimes, clients direct these emotions toward the dietitian or intern, blaming them for how they feel. You will need to work with your preceptor and colleagues to learn how to best manage the situation and not take it personally. You will need to develop and use skills like humor and helping a client reframe perspective.
It is important to remember that it is often a good thing when a client is able to express their emotions with a provider. It can be a sign that they trust the treatment team and are willing to allow the team to help express their emotions in a more beneficial way.
Of course, other unforeseen challenges may arise. We encourage interns to discuss any and all challenges with the preceptors.
What is expected of our interns?
All eating disorder concentration interns are expected to act in a compassionate and professional manner. This includes dressing comfortably yet professionally, arriving on time, meeting weekly with your preceptor at their clinical sites, and completing projects and assignments by the due date. We expect a complete commitment to the internship, our clients, and our personalized treatment approach.
We expect high motivation and a desire to help this population. We expect an ongoing willingness to learn, accept challenges, and grow in skill and compassion. We expect—indeed, we require—that interns uphold the confidentiality of our clients, and abide by The Emily Program’s confidentiality, compliance, and human resource policy and process.
To learn more about the nine-month U of M dietetic internship and concentrations, visit the University of MN Dietetic Internship site.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Postdoctoral Fellowships at
The Emily Program, Twin Cities, MN
Regrettably, the 2022–23 scholastic year plans for our organization do not yet include doctoral and post-doctoral level training positions. Please check back for ongoing updates in the future.
Position Summary:
The Emily Program, Twin Cities offers Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowships in adult eating disorder specialty services. The Emily Program provides advanced clinical therapy training with a primary concentration in the treatment of eating disorders. This fellowship will include direct contact with clients with eating disorder diagnoses as well as team involvement with therapy, dietetic, psychiatry, yoga, expressive arts, and medical professionals. The position responsibilities include individual and group interventions, with much of the group work being intensive program therapy and therapy meals.
Qualifications:
All applicants must have:
- Completed all requirements for their PhD/PsyD, including dissertation defense or equivalent and internship (preferably APPIC member) prior to beginning their appointment
- Stated desire to work in the field of eating disorders
- Stated desire to work with clients and their families
Training term, stipend, and benefits
This full-time fellowship involves approximately 24 hours per week of client contact, with one hour of individual supervision and multiple group supervision opportunities per week, and 2-3 training-specific didactic experiences per month. Stipend is $47,000 for the year and benefits include health insurance options, education hours, and paid time off accrued throughout the year.
How to apply:
Please submit your application including contact information for three references, a cover letter, and a CV. Specifically, in your cover letter, please be sure to address the following: your interest in eating disorders treatment and in the Emily Program specifically; prior experience and interest in co-morbid disorders; any prior experience and interest in working in intensive programs (full and partial day-treatment programs); experience co-facilitating groups; any prior experience and interest in training and development; your working and evolving philosophy on the self as therapist; and, shorter-range and longer-term career goals. Applications can be submitted by sending your cover letter, references contact information, and curriculum vitae as attachments to Dr. Arikian at the email address below. Reference persons can also forward any additional letters of recommendation to the email provided below. Please also direct any questions to the Postdoctoral Training Coordinator at aimee.arikian@emilyprogram.com or by phone at 651-645-5323 ext. 1294.
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The Emily Program is a University of Minnesota Medical School Affiliate
