Treating Eating Disorders in Complex Clients

Monika Ostroff, LICSW, CEDS-S

6 Clinical Category A CEs approved by NASW NH

Clients with eating disorders can confound even the most seasoned clinicians. Between navigating medical complications and co-occurring disorders, treating the whole person can feel both confusing and overwhelming. This day long workshop untangles that confusion and provides a path through treating complex clients with eating disorders. From understanding the impact of diet culture on care delivery to managing client safety and liability, this workshop will help to solidify your foundational skillset. Moving beyond ‘the basics,’ most clients with eating disorders struggle with at least one other diagnosis, which makes understanding how eating disorders affect other diagnoses and how to manage both simultaneously an imperative skill. Knowing how to scaffold care and weave good clinical intuition together with proven modalities and interventions that get results leads to the most successful treatment outcomes. Interactive case discussions and break out groups give participants the opportunity to work with complex client material to ensure mastery of material and skillsets.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will identify at least 3 symptom red flags that signal the need for an immediate medical evaluation

2. Participants will be able to identify their own biases and avoid using language that will exacerbate eating disorder symptoms

3. Participants will be able to name 2 common characteristics of clients with eating disorders and 3 ways eating disorders serve as coping mechanisms and how they can work together to impede therapeutic progress.

4. Participants will be able to identify how eating disorders impact at least 3 co-occurring disorders.

5. Participants will be able to identify 3 best practices in caring for clients with eating disorders.

6. Participants will be able to scaffold care and maintain momentum for eating disorder recovery while weaving in at least 2 strategies to simultaneously treat co-occurring disorders in complex clients.

About the Presenter

Monika Ostroff, LICSW, CEDS-S is the Executive Director of the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association, Inc (MEDA). Prior to leading MEDA, she directed several residential, partial hospital and intensive outpatient eating disorder programs in addition to having owned a thriving private practice. Monika is the co-author of Anorexia Nervosa: A Guide to Recovery and a contributing author to Self-Harm Behavior and Eating Disorders. With more than 25 years of experience in the field of eating disorders, Monika has presented at many national conferences, taught at the university level, and appeared on many media broadcasts, publications & podcasts. Practicing from a trauma informed, social justice and staunchly HAES® aligned lens, Monika is a dedicated ally and strong advocate working to ensure access to equitable, compassionate, and affirming care for all. Her passion for treating eating disorders and mentoring other professionals was borne out of her own struggle with a severe and enduring eating disorder and life experiences.