CEs Available: 5  (no APT credit available)   |     Two Day Training      |     Virtual

According to the American Psychiatric Association [APA] (2021), eating disorders (ED) are defined as significant alterations in eating and food intake patterns that impair psychological, social, and physical health. Eating disorders are a deadly public health issue within the developed world (Cummins & Lehman, 2007, p. 217). However, Eurocentric historical documentation dating back to the Hellenistic Era between 323 B.C.-31 BC and into medieval times from the 5th – 15th century AD, little to no ED references nor research has consistently addressed intersectional aspects such as race, gender identity, sexual orientation, adoption status, and people of color (Marks, 2019).

ED research has focused overwhelmingly on disordered eating patterns in white, upper class, heterosexual, cisgender women, which has negatively impacted queer, transgender, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, or QTBIPOC, communities receiving timely ED assessment and treatment (Cummins & Lehman, 2007, Le, Kuo, &; Smart et al., 2011). Though evidence-based eating disorder research and practice is a relatively new field in medicine, psychology, psychiatry, social work, nursing, and allied helping professions, ED research and DSM-V diagnostics have been framed through Eurocentric norms that does not comprehensively capture the unique needs of QTBIPOC and adopted people’s communities (Acle, et al., 2021). The erasure of QTBIPOC and adopted individuals hampers inclusive assessment, treatment, and robust outcomes (Smart et al., 2011). This two-part series will focus on comprehensive, diverse, and inclusive assessment, treatment, and intervention considerations when working with QTBIPOC who also identify as adopted people.

Additional Information

Schedule

This two-day special program will take place on October 4, 2022 and October 11, 2022 at 9:00am-12:00pm Central time each day.

Part 1:
9:00am-10:30am | Scope of the Issue Examining DSM-V Eating Disorder (ED) Criteria Co-morbidity: Mood disorders/SUDS/Attachment
10:30am-10:45am | Break
10:45am-12:00am | Identifying Marginalized/Adopted People Communities and ED (Race, Gender Identity/Expression, Transgender/Non-binary, LGBQIA, Disability

Part 2:
9:00am-10:30 | ED Assessments: Inclusive Intake and Treatment Planning
10:30am-10:45am | Break
10:45am-12:00pm | Building a Multidisciplinary Team, Working with the Individual, Working with the Family System, Recovery Focused Considerations

Trainer

Melanie (JaeHee) Chung-Sherman, LCSW-S, LCPAA, PLLC, (she/hers) has worked in the field of child welfare since 1999 and is the founder and owner of a private practice. She is a Texas Board-certified clinical social worker and supervisor and a licensed child-placing administrator through the State of Texas. She has specialized in the field of child welfare and social justice initiatives ranging from foster care, adoption, mental health, eating disorders, body image, identity-based stress and trauma-inclusive care, and administration. Her clinical training includes the Circle of Security® Parenting Professional Trainer™ as well as a Certified Trauma Specialist through The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children®. She is a Certified Theraplay® Practitioner through the Theraplay® Institute in Chicago, Illinois, and an EMDR therapist through the EMDRIA Institute. She speaks locally, state-wide, nationally, and internationally on issues impacting children, women/femme of color, communities of color, QTBIPOC+ identity-based stress and trauma, body diversity, transracial adoptees, and social justice.

Summary

• Learning about differential eating disorder diagnoses
• Diet culture awareness
• Dyadic discussion related to eating disorder behaviors and symptomology
• Assessment and treatment considerations
• Clinical implications when engaging with marginalized communities

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will learn how to differentiate DSM-V eating disorders and disordered eating patterns.
2. Participants will identify how eating disorder patterns may impact marginalized and/or adopted persons developmentally.
3. Participants will broaden knowledge of how marginalized populations are impacted by oppression, discrimination, and institutional bias in health care settings—particularly mental health.
4. Participants will gain clinical eating disorder assessment considerations when working with marginalized and/or adoption populations.
5. Participant will learn adaptations to consider when using evidence-base eating disorder interventions when working with marginalized populations.

Who Should Attend?

People who work with children and families in many different capacities will benefit from training programs offered by The Theraplay Institute. Visit our Who Should Attend page for more information. This course’s Content Level is Intermediate.

Bibliography

Acle, A., Cook, B. J., Siegfried, N., & Beasley, T. (2021). Cultural Considerations in the Treatment of Eating Disorders among Racial/Ethnic Minorities: A Systematic Review. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 52(5), 468–488.

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Eating disorders. American Psychological Association. Retrieved November 27, 2021, from https://www.apa.org/topics/eating-disorders.

Banks, K. H., & Stephens, J. (2018). Reframing internalized racial oppression and charting a way forward. Social Issues and Policy Review, 12(1), 91–111. https://doi-org.libdata.lib.ua.edu/10.1111/sipr.12041

Bruening, A. B., & Perez, M. (2019). Compensatory behaviors among racial and ethnic minority undergraduate women. Eating Disorders, 27(2), 123–136. https://doi-org.libdata.lib.ua.edu/10.1080/10640266.2019.1585685

Cummins, L. H., & Lehman, J. (2007). Eating disorders and body image concerns in Asian American women: Assessment and treatment from a multicultural and feminist perspective. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention, 15(3), 217–230. https://doi-org.libdata.lib.ua.edu/10.1080/10640260701323474

Le, T. P., Kuo, L., & Yamasaki, V. (2020). Gendered Racial Microaggressions, Feminism, and Asian American Women’s Eating Pathology: An Intersectional Investigation. Sex Roles, 83(3/4), 127–142. https://doi-org.libdata.lib.ua.edu/10.1007/s11199-019-01100-5

Marks, A. (2019). The evolution of our understanding and treatment of eating disorders over the past 50 years. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 75(8), 1380–1391. https://doi-org.libdata.lib.ua.edu/10.1002/jclp.22782

Tan, S., & Weisbart, C. (2021). Asian-Canadian trans youth: Identity development in a hetero-cis-normative white world. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. https://doi-org.libdata.lib.ua.edu/10.1037/sgd0000512

Smart, R., Tsong, Y., Mejía, O. L., Hayashino, D., & Braaten, M. E. T. (2011). Therapists’ experiences treating Asian American women with eating disorders. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(4), 308–315. https://doi-org.libdata.lib.ua.edu/10.1037/a0024179

Voith, L. A., Hamler, T., Francis, M. W., Lee, H., & Korsch-Williams, A. (2020). Using a Trauma-Informed, Socially Just Research Framework with Marginalized Populations: Practices and Barriers to Implementation. Social Work Research, 44(3), 169–181. https://doi-org.libdata.lib.ua.edu/10.1093/swr/svaa013

Notes

For information about our CE process, cancellation policy, and how to contact us with questions and concerns visit our FAQ page.

There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.

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