The principles of neuroplasticity give a refreshed perspective on healing and recovery within the behavioral health and eating disorder professional communities. The brain’s ability to rewire itself, creating new healing patterns that replace destructive thoughts and behaviors, is a resounding message of hope. New clinical directions like neuroplasticity keep this field exciting and innovative; however, “how we’ve always done it”, translated “how treatment methods show up in real-time with real clients”, can hinder us from challenging ourselves as professionals to think, and treat, differently. Meal planning in eating disorder treatment – and the historical use of exchange systems within higher levels of care– is one example of how treatment teams at different levels of care can get stuck in old ways of doing things.
The questions around meal planning are connected to the level of care at which the client is being treated. RDNs in the field of eating disorders agree on the destination of recovery, but we do not always align on the journey to get there. Questions often outnumber the answers: 1) Can we honor the body’s original intuition around food choices at the residential level care when the brain is currently malnourished, and the gut is miscommunicating hunger and fullness after years of disordered eating? 2) How do we guide an outpatient client towards intuitive nourishment if the early stages of residential treatment have taught food rules based on exchanges? 3) How do we inspire newer clinicians, specifically fresh graduates with new registered dietitian credentials, towards innovation if the education system itself is also stuck in “how it has always been done”?
In a spirit of mutual respect and compassionate curiosity, join me as we collaborate through this dilemma together. This presentation will explore the principles of neuroplasticity to help us understand the benefits of breaking patterns of rigidity regardless of level of care. Let’s embrace neuroplasticity in meal planning, without the use of exchanges or measuring tools at any level of care, and redirect clients with curiosity around eating disorder patterns to discover the function that these habits serve. Using creative, simple analogies to open a new pathway, eating disorder dietitians and clinicians can begin shifting meal planning guidelines towards a more adaptive system that honors imperfection and practices trust in the body’s ability to change. Perhaps the powerful ability of the brain to rewire itself through its neuroplasticity can transform not only our clients but also ourselves, as eating disorder professionals.
AGENDA:
11:00-11:30am Registration
11:30-11:35pm Introduction
11:35-12:45pm Presentation
12:45-1:00pm Q&A
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Lunch included!
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Apply the principles of neuroplasticity to traditional meal planning philosophies and explore its impact on brain healing and sustained recovery.
- Compare the function of eating disorder behaviors and meal planning skills to illustrate brain patterns of rigidity or flexibility.
- Illustrate neuroplasticity in the meal planning process using real-life, creative analogies that support both clinician and client in the recovery process.
About the Speaker:
As the National Strategic Advisor for Integrative Life Network and the first CEDRD/CEDS registered dietitian since 1993, Tammy Beasley, MS, RDN, CEDS-S, continues to devote her experience and passion to the field of behavioral health and eating disorders. Over her 35+ year career, Tammy has collaborated with multi-disciplinary clinical, educational and executive leadership teams to develop innovative nutrition programs to bring continued hope and healing to clients. As co-author of the 2020 Standards of Practice for eating disorder dietitians and former Director of iaedp Certification, she is committed to the training and education of current and future clinicians to support the restoration of both food and body trust without shame and judgment.
*Continuing Education Sponsored by: Integrative Life Network:
“Integration of Neuroplasticity into the Meal Planning Process for Eating Disorder Recovery”
This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886579399-9467) for 1.5 continuing education contact hours. Integrative Life Center has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6483. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Integrative Life Center is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
*It is required that you stay for the entire duration of the workshop to receive your CE certificate of completion. There can be no exceptions to this rule as it is required by the board.
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