Eating Disorders Workshop - Philadelphia, PA
Posted by: "michelleldeanatrbclpc" michelleldean.mac@mac.com michelleldeanatrbclpc
Date: Tue Dec 2, 2008 11:53 am ((PST))

Treating Patients with Eating Disordered Behaviors: An Art and Image Based Approach
Friday, December 12, 2008

Presented by
Michelle L. Dean, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, CGP
Continuing Education Credits:
6 CEU contact hours available for Social Workers, Psychologists, and Licensed Professional
Counselors

Conference Location: Fairmount Behavioral Health System
561 Fairthorne Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128

To Register: Contact Amy Keller (610) 644-6464, ext. 455
Or Fax registration (610) 644-4066
Questions: Call Dr. Lou Bevilacqua (610) 644-6464, ext. 356
Program Description:
This daylong workshop is designed to educate novice to experienced mental heath
clinicians about treating individuals who manifest eating disordered behaviors. This
population, rarely discussed in depth in graduate training programs, is continuing to grow
at epidemic proportions. It is estimated; over eight million men & women in the United
States suffer from eating disorders, while many more people experience sub-clinical
disturbed eating patterns, including compulsive over-eating. It is essential to understand
that in this population, the food use, or lack thereof, is a symptom of underlying
psychological suffering. This suffering often has its roots in early childhood experiences,
such as attachment ruptures and trauma. In addition to educating participants about the
signs and symptoms of eating disordered behaviors, explanations of theories of etiology
will be provided. Illumination of such concepts will be provided in case examples and
numerous interventions that may be utilized to provide a compassionate approach to
working with individuals and their families. Special attention is given to art- and image-
based approaches, which mitigate over-utilized intellectual and dictomous thinking
patterns, which are prevalent in patients with eating disorders, while simultaneously
engaging affective states in an honoring way. This presentation employs didactic,
interactive, and experiential modalities for an inspiring educational opportunity.

Presenter: Michelle L. Dean, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, CGP is a Board Certified Art
Psychotherapist, Licensed Professional Counselor (PA) & Certified Group Psychotherapist.
Ms. Dean is in private practice and is an Adjunct Professor at Arcadia University in
Glenside, Pennsylvania. She is an approved NBCC provider for continuing education credits
for both live-programs and traditional home-study courses and she is a supervisor for,
ATR & LPC candidates, as well as other clinicians. Ms. Dean is the author of the children's
book, Taking Weight Problems to School (JayJo Press, 2005) and the chapter, "Preserving
the self: Treating eating disordered individuals who self-injure with art therapy" in
Creative arts therapies with patients who have eating disorders, (Brooke [Ed.], 2008,
Charles C. Thomas). Her work has recently been awarded the Delaware Valley Art Therapy
Association's "Innovations in Art Therapy Award" (2007).

Conference Learning Objectives:
• Attendees will be able to identify the spectrum of eating disordered behaviors,
including compulsive eating behaviors and understand that the manifestation of such
behaviors is a symptom of an underlying psychological issue, not the problem itself.

• Attendees will be able to name at least three symptoms of common co-morbid issues
often present with patients who manifest eating disordered behaviors, such as symptoms
of anxiety, character disorders, depression, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress
disorder.

• Participants will be able to identify at least five advantages of utilizing art- and
image-based interventions with patients with eating disorders.

Registration Form:
LCS, Seeds of Hope, Light Program, Fairmount Behavioral Health System
December 12, 2008
Eating Disordered Behavior
Fee:
____ $110 – If received by December5th
____ $125 – Late registration and at the door