- Calls to this hotline are currently being directed to Within Health, Fay or Eating Disorder Solutions
- Representatives are standing by 24/7 to help answer your questions
- All calls are confidential and HIPAA compliant
- There is no obligation or cost to call
- Eating Disorder Hope does not receive any commissions or fees dependent upon which provider you select
- Additional treatment providers are located on our directory or samhsa.gov
Conferences That Might Be Helpful to the Professional Learning More About Eating Disorders
Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Director of Content and Social Media at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
Whether you are a specialist in the eating disorder field or not, continuing education is always an important part of professional development.
With ongoing research continually reshaping the field of treatment, staying current with the latest developments can be an essential component to keeping abreast with your own protocols and approaches, whether in private practice, in a treatment setting, research work and more.
The Value of Eating Disorder Continuing Education
The knowledge and understanding of eating disorders is rapidly evolving and changing markedly by new research that is improving the effectiveness of treatment. Staying updated with these new changes can take place via continuing education opportunities.
Continuing education is required for maintaining a professional license and/or credential, such as a medical doctor, a therapist and/or counselor, registered dietitian nutritionist, social worker, registered nurse, and so for. In order to keep a license active and in good standing, a professional must fulfill a certain amount of continuing education credits per a duration of time.
For professionals who are maintaining a credential held through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp), such as the CEDS (Certified Eating Disorder Specialist), current developments in the field of eating disorders must be reviewed through continuing education. Even for a professional who may not be specialized in eating disorders but who is interested in learning more about this subject or how to interact with patients/clients dealing with this mental illness, continuing education can be a helpful means for doing so.
Educational Conferences on Eating Disorders
Attending a conference that is focused on eating disorder education for the professional can be a means of not only fulfilling needed continuing education credits but for establishing relationships with colleagues who are also contributing to the field.
Conferences for the eating disorder professional and specialist are held throughout the world and often feature a variety of topics, including the latest research findings, developing treatment protocols, ethic issues with patients and more. Conferences are an exciting opportunity to network and learn the latest developments in the eating disorder community.
In your search for an eating disorder related conference, be sure that the conference will provide continuing education credits and that the governing body for your profession approves these credits. Finances and travel costs are also another important aspect to consider.
In some cases, your job may reimburse you for travel and conference fees, so be sure to inquire about this beforehand. In other situations, an organization itself may offer a scholarship opportunity for a professional based on different criteria, so be sure to explore these possible options.
Upcoming Eating Disorder Conferences
Eating Disorder Hope offers a calendar of events that lists upcoming conferences that may be of interest to the professional in the field of eating disorders. Some fo the major conferences for professionals are offered through iaedp as well as the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) and the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA).
If you are interested in learning about a particular facet within the eating disorder community, you may also be able to find specialized conferences that are smaller scale but more particular to your interest.
As a professional in the eating disorder community, you have the opportunity to learn more about the newest developments within your profession. Conferences can be a wonderful opportunity to both network with colleagues as well as a resource for fulfilling continuing education credits while staying current with new developments.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
If you have been through family based treatment for re-feeding, how did this help your recovery from an eating disorder?
About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on July 17, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
