Relationship Between Eating Disorders and Anxiety and Potential for Treatment Advances Presented at 2019 iaedptm Symposium

PEKIN, Ill., Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- It is not uncommon for individuals with eating disorders to have strong, aversive reactions to situations that occur in everyday life. According to the novel research of two eating disorders treatment professionals, if eating disorders are understood as emotional disorders, then interventions that have demonstrated efficacy with other disorders having similar underlying mechanisms, such as anxiety and panic disorders, should be considered during treatment.

During the 2019 iaedptm Symposium, co-presenters, Melanie Smith, MS, LMHC and Tracey Kurland, MS, RD, show how these interventions that approach emotion, rather than avoid emotion, increase emotional tolerance and decrease the drive to use eating disorders behaviors. Their workshop, "You Want Me to Do What with My Anxiety?" Application of evidence-based, novel exposure interventions for eating disorders, will explore the rationale and application of novel, and often controversial, evidence-based interventions.
The Smith-Kurland research presentation is among the more than 60 scheduled during the 2019 iaedptm Symposium, scheduled for February 7 ? 10 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, California. Symposium registration and host hotel information can be found by visiting iaedp.com.

During this workshop, participants will explore the rationale and application of open weighing, interoceptive exposure, body image/mirror exposure, and social exposure. While these interventions have evidentiary support for their use in the treatment of eating disorders, they remain controversial in the field at large due to their evocative nature and clinician concerns regarding the consequences of stimulating negative affect.

Primary presenter Smith is the Director of Training for The Renfrew Center. In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing clinical training and programming that is consistent with emerging research and evidence-based practice. Smith provides ongoing supervision and consultation to Renfrew staff to assess and improve fidelity and competence of treatment delivery of The Renfrew Unified Treatment Model for Eating Disorderstm. She has extensive training and experience in the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) and is a UP Certified Therapist and Trainer.

Co-presenter Kurland is a Registered Dietitian at The Renfrew Center of Los Angeles. Kurland has treated eating disorders patients in inpatient, day treatment, intensive outpatient, and private practice settings. She is passionate about facilitating her client's ability to create both a positive relationship with food and live a fulfilled life. Kurland earned her Master of Science degree in Nutrition Education from Columbia University and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication and Business from the University of Southern California.

About the iaedptm Foundation: Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions. MemberSHARE.iaedp.com is an iaedptm business journal and online member resource to learn about noteworthy member achievements, continuing education webinars and U.S. and international chapter activity and events; for more information, visit MemberSHARE.

The iaedptm Foundation's Presidents Council, which provides organization support, includes: Center for Change; Center for Hope of the Sierras; Center For Discovery; Eating Recovery Center; Laureate Eating Disorders Program; McCallum Place Eating Disorder Centers; The Meadows Ranch; Rogers Behavioral Health; Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders; Selah House; The Renfrew Center; Timberline Knolls; Turning Tides Eating Disorder Treatment Center; and Veritas Collaborative.                                                                

The iaedptm Foundation proudly announces the supporting sponsors for the 2019 iaedptm Symposium:
Bronze Sponsor: Montecatini Eating Disorder Treatment Centers
More information about all aspects of iaedp and the 2019 Symposium can be found at iaedp.com.

SOURCE The iaedp Foundation