Eating Recovery Center

2026 IAEDP Symposium is right around the corner! If you’re attending, swing by booth #4 to say hi to our team or check out one of the many sessions featuring our clinical experts... 🗓️ Friday, February 20, 2026 (EST) 10:15 – 11:15 AM Medical Complications of Eating Disorders: Over 35 Years Philip Mehler, MD, FACP, FAED, CEDS 11:25 – 12:25 PM A Clinician's Guide to Group CBT-AR Kim Anderson, PhD, CEDS; Kate Clemmer, LCSW; Caitlin Royster, RD, LDN 3:20 – 4:20 PM Evidence Meets Authentic Treatment Melissa Spann, PhD, MBA, CEDS-C 🗓️ Saturday, February 21, 2026 (EST) 8:00 – 9:00 AM Neurodivergence & Eating Disorders Steven Crawford, MD; Lori Schwartz, MD 8:00 – 9:00 AM Caught in the Crossfire: Diet Culture, Disordered Eating, and the Medicalization of Weight Kaila Peak-Rishel, LMFT, LCSW, CEDS-C; Elizabeth Wassenaar, MS MD, DFAPA, CEDS-S 9:10 – 10:10 AM Ethical Group Telemental Health for Eating Disorders Using Apps Deborah Michel, PhD, CEDS-C, FAED; Kristie Simmons, MS, RD, CEDS-C

“Language matters in mental health. The words we use shape how we see the world — and ourselves. The words we choose and the meanings we attach to them influence our decisions, beliefs, and well-being. We have a choice in the words we use to describe ourselves, others, and the world around us.” — Hogg Foundation for Mental Health

OUR ALUMS ARE AWE-INSPIRING!!!!!! 🤩 One of our alums recently went on Denver 7 News *and* Denver 9 News to share her recovery story alongside her trusted support person, her father. Swipe for some behind the scenes pics!!! We know we've said this a million times (and we'll say it a million more!): we're endlessly grateful for our alums who choose to pay it forward in this way. Sharing authentic lived experience stories can change lives and we wouldn't be able to do it without incredible humans like this. 💙 Watch the Denver7 clip here: https://bit.ly/3YP1D7x Watch the Denver9 clip here: https://bit.ly/3Nq8Ybn

Every year (like clockwork!), social media feeds are flooded with diet ads and posts encouraging a "new year, new you." And with the growing popularity of weight loss medications, it's feels harder than ever to escape all the noise. 🫨 But how is it affecting teens? This article by HuffPost dissects the sneaky ways diet culture shows up for teens and features expert insight from Elizabeth Wassenaar, MS, MD, DFAPA, CEDS-S. Read the full piece here: https://bit.ly/3YHGwnH

Recovery is possible at any age, but treatment can (and should!) look different for women over 40. That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch StrongHer, one of the only specialized eating disorder treatment programs in the nation created exclusively for women ages 40+ that provides age-affirming and empowering care. This program is uniquely designed to address the distinct physical, emotional, social, medical, and nutritional challenges faced by women in midlife. Learn more about the program here: https://bit.ly/4pNF3ra

NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list of disordered eating or eating disorder behaviors. If you or someone you know have symptoms that aren't on this list, that doesn't make the experience any less valid. The terms "disordered eating" and "eating disorder" are sometimes used interchangeably. It's important to understand that while these fall on the same spectrum, there is a difference between the two. While it's possible that disordered eating behaviors can develop into an eating disorder, that's not *always* the case. Both disordered eating and eating disorders can share similar signs and symptoms. These common behaviors are signs of disordered eating that can snowball into an eating disorder (which is why early identification and help is key): ➡️ Skipping meals ➡️ Avoiding certain food groups (e.g., carbohydrates, fats) ➡️ Limiting eating to only certain times of day ➡️ Using exercise as a means of “burning” or “earning” food ➡️ Assigning moral value to food choices (“good” or “bad”) ➡️ Frequently dieting ➡️ Imposing food rules ➡️ Avoiding events involving food ➡️ Feeling anxiety surrounding food choices ➡️ Restricting certain food choices to specific days/times ➡️ Eating large amounts of food at one time ➡️ Being rigid about exercise routines ➡️ Preferring to eat alone If you or someone you know is struggling, know that we're here to help. 💙

The new dietary guidelines announced this week are once again putting food in the spotlight. And we’re going to hear a lot of conversations in the upcoming weeks that villainize certain foods and particular food groups. 😵💫 For those who struggle with food and eating, this messaging can be damaging and undo years of hard work overcoming their food-related battles. Swipe for some important reminders and information. 💙

We love a passive aggressive coffee mug. 😜

For most of her life, science teacher and meteorologist Crystal Weidman was labeled a “picky eater.” While friends and family fixated on her unique food rules, they completely missed the clues that something more serious was to blame. In the latest episode of our podcast (Mental Note!), Crystal shares her story of navigating ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) along with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). This conversation sheds light on what ARFID *really* is (and isn’t), why recovery is rarely linear, and how community and self-compassion can transform a life. Whether you’re familiar with ARFID or hearing about it for the first time, Crystal’s story offers connection, clarity, and hope: https://bit.ly/3YOnqMB