login | register When you're trying to choose a career or find your way to your first (or fiftieth) job, your dreams can seem far away or even unreachable. But every superstar has to start somewhere, and even trailblazers learn from the successes of their predecessors. For inspiration, read the stories of each of these leaders in the eating disorders field and their advice for following in their footsteps. or blazing your own path! Author Anita Johnston Carolyn Costin Evelyn Tribole Jenni Schaefer Kimberly Davidson Lindsey Hall Cohn Martha Peaslee Levine Michelle Lelwica Molly Kellogg Nancy Clark Shannon Cutts Suzanne Girard Eberle College Professor Karen Wetherall Michelle Lelwica Dietitian Alice Baland Amy Culp Charlotte Caperton-Kilburn Evelyn Tribole Juliet Zuercher Leslie Schilling Karen Wetherall Molly Kellogg Nancy Clark Reba Sloan Rebecca Bitzer Shelly Marie Redmond Suzanne Girard Eberle Ursula Ridens Marketing Keisha Howard Nancy Berry Program Director Anita Johnston Carolyn Costin Martha Peaslee Levine Shannon Cutts Psychiatrist/Psychologist Martha Peaslee Levine Publisher Lindsey Hall Cohn Speaker Dena Cabrera Jenni Schaefer Juliet Zuercher Kimberly Davidson Therapist Alice Baland Anita Johnston Caroline Balz Carolyn Costin Cynthia Hutchins Dena Cabrera Gina Scarano-Osika Matthew Tiemeyer Molly Kellogg Shannon Cutts Founder and Director or MentorCONNECT Author of Beating Ana: How to Outsmart Your Eating Disorder and Take Your Life Back How did you get started in your career? I survived a fifteen-year battle with anorexia and bulimia. I did not have access to traditional healthcare when I was ill....the only resources I had available to me were my own survivor's instinct and the help of one caring woman who reached out to me and became my first mentor. I owe her my life. When I recovered I was invited to share my experiences at a treatment center. When I got home several emails were waiting for me - all from women I had spoken to who had come home from treatment only to relapse again. This is how I began serving as a mentor to others who were seeking recovery. In time, the need became overwhelming and I decided to write a book that could offer the experience of mentoring to a larger number of people. Writing the book led to the creation of MentorCONNECT, the first global online mentoring community for individuals in recovery from eating disorders. At MentorConnect, we match caring mentors who have experienced strong recovery with individuals who need recovery support. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Follow your passion, and bloom where you are planted. I didn't go looking for the work I do today. It found me. If you had told me even five years ago that today I would be a published author and founder of a mentoring community I probably would have felt overwhelmed and would not have believed you. I just woke up each day and took the next step...and it led me here, which is a perfect fit for my life experiences, interests and abilities. Whatever you are going to contribute to the field, it is something only you can offer, and something you are uniquely qualified to do - and not just by your credentials but by your life experience. So whatever you choose to do, always remember to BE YOU Karen Wetherall Director, Dietetic Internship, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Medical Nutrition Therapist in private practice, Tranquil Eating Associates How did you get started in your career? In high school I was interested in human biology and cooking. I was also interested in teaching. I went off to college to study nutrition, then I completed a coordinated Masters-Dietetic Internship program in Boston to become an RD. I was most interested in outpatient counseling and I obtained a WIC job at Mass General Hospital's (MGH) Chelsea Clinic. This expanded into counseling adults for diabetes and cardiovascular issues. I noticed that most of my clients needed to lose weight and they had behavioral issues surrounding their eating. A few years later I obtained a job at Children's Hospital of Boston at the Judge Baker Center which was an inpatient unit for eating disorders. This was where I began to be educated about working with eating disorders. Although I enjoyed this experience, it was a part-time job, so when the opportunity arose for a full-time job, I went to the main campus of MGH to work in the cardiac rehab clinic. My focus with these clients was on weight management through a heart-healthy diet. However, I also joined the eating disorder team at MGH. Every Friday under the direction of Dr. David Herzog, the ED team would do a full day intake with a client, and the following Friday the team of MDs, therapists and RDs would discuss treatment recommendations. I also saw clients for outpatient counseling including clients with eating disorders. The inpatient setting at Judge Baker and the comprehensive team approach at MGH were incredibly valuable experiences which expanded my confidence and training in working effectively with clients with eating disorders. Fourteen years into my career my husband moved his business to east Tennessee, and I scoped the area for my next position. Having had the experience of teaching nutrition at the Preventive Medicine course at Harvard Medical School, my husband encouraged me to check out teaching possibilities at UT, Knoxville. I felt fortunate to land a job as the Dietetic Internship Director. This job allowed me to join my two loves of nutrition and teaching. It has been such a pleasure to work with bright and energetic students. This was a part-time position, so I began a private consulting practice, Tranquil Eating Associates. There was a need in Knoxville for RDs experienced with eating disorders, so my business has been steady with minimal marketing. My exposure has been primarily through relationships with therapists, MDs and other RDs. I have been active with the local eating disorder task force, currently EDCT-Knox Area (Eating Disorder Coalition of Tennessee at www.edct.net). As the Regional Coordinator for EDCT-Knox Area, our group plans at least one professional or community workshop each year to education individuals in the Knox Area. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Read books, attend seminars and workshops, join SCAN (Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionists) and BHN (Behavioral Health Nutrition), participate on their listservs, and get at least one mentor. Amy Culp, RD, CSSD, LD Partner, sCULPture Nutrition & Fitness, LLC Consultant Sports Dietitian at The University of Texas How did you get started in your career? I always knew I wanted to have a private practice, but never intended on specializing in eating disorders. To build my practice, I put an ad in a local fitness magazine. The first call I received was from a girl struggling with an eating disorder. I gave it a shot, knowing that I could refer to another RD in town if it didn't go well. I got supervision from another RD to help me with the case, and after our first few sessions I was hooked. I realized it was a challenging, yet fulfilling work. I then went to Eating Disorders Boot Camp to hone my skills and continued to build my practice specializing in eating disorders, sports nutrition and weight management. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Go for it...while getting training and support. I highly recommend Eating Disorders Boot Camp & Molly Kellogg's Counseling Intensive, as well as Molly Kellogg's phone supervision. Shelly Marie Redmond, MS, RD, LDN Author of Eat Well and Be Fabulous: A Guide for the Modern Day Woman Executive Director of College Lifestyles - A Nutrition, Etiquette, and Lifestyle firm for savvy co-eds How did you get started in your career? Well, to make a long story short - I was your classic overachiever in college - I was in a sorority, on student programming board, and an RA. As much as I LOVED reading Shape, Fitness, and every other fashion/nutrition magazine, I realized that NO sources were available for students (like myself) on nutrition, fashion, and lifestyle. I also realized how many of my own sorority sisters had questions and worse, issues with eating healthy. Because of the above reasons, I decided that that focus on my career would be young adults and college students. I developed College Lifestyles with that same concept. I wrote Eat Well and Be Fabulous,and I travel to give presentations teaching students the same concept! What advice would you give to someone new to the field? It is very important to have your goals written and laid out for yourself! Yes, I did this, and yes, I still do this! Once your goal is written, determine your steps to achieve those career goals. This will separate the dreamers from the achievers! Finally (and I know this sounds cheesy) - BE YOURSELF. For those who know me personally, they know that I am quite funny and well, sassy (in the classiest way). Sometimes, I would worry 'Oh, they didn't like me.' I find that I have better conversations with clients and speaking business when I am myself. Suzanne Girard Eberle, MS, RD, CSSD Author of Endurance Sports Nutrition--Second Edition Nutrition Therapist in Private Practice, specializing in the Female Athlete Triad How did you get started in your career? My first career was as an elite runner. An undergraduate science backgound served as a perfect springboard for what is now my second career as a dietitian. Sports nutrition is a natural marriage of the two, as is working in the field of preventing and treating disordered eating/eating disorders. Being in private practice and increasingly working as a nutrition therapist developed naturally over time -- out of necessity (relocating due to my husband's career and starting over in new cities) and because it became clearer and clearer that this is the work I want to do. Now I'm a board-certified sports dietitian. In my private practice, I work with teens and adults who struggle with a wide range of food, exercise and weight-related issues. I specialize in the Female Athlete triad, exercise dependence and working with athletes. I'm also a certified Intuitive Eating counselor and I coach clients using this non-diet approach to achieving life-long health and happiness. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Understand that working in this field requires a diverse skill set on top of what it takes to be an effective dietitian. Challenge yourself to continually acquire the skills, experience and confidence you need--by attending symposiums, trainings and interacting with other dietitians who work in the field. Locally, interact with other healthcare providers--especially therapists--who work in the field, as you will need to partner closely with them, and form/join a supervision group for dietitians who do this work. Nancy Clark, MS, RD, CSSD Author of Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook, Food Guide for Marathoners: Tips for Everyday Champions, and co-author of Cyclist's Food Guide: Fueling for the Distance Sports Dietitian in Private Practice How did you get started in your career? I have always loved the outdoors--biking, hiking, skiing--and wanted to learn more about how to connect nutrition with exercise. I combined my nutrition degree with courses in exercise physiology, and then started working at SportsMedicine Brookline, one of the largest sports medicine clinics in the Boston area and more recently have moved my office to Healthworks Fitness Center in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Initially, I thought my practice would consist of athletes wanting to bulk up, but the people who came to see me tended to be struggling with food, weight and exercise. Through the years, my practice has evolved to have a strong following of active people (both athletes and compulsive exercisers) who want help finding peace with food and thier bodies. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Read lots of books about eating disorders and attend lots of conferences on the topic! Alice Baland, MA, LPC, RD, LD Private Practice Dietitian, Counselor, Certified Life Coach and Medical & Analytical Hypnotherapist President of the American Psychological Medical Hypnosis Association (APMHA) Master Trainer, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) How did you get started in your career? First, I got my Bachelor of Science in Foods & Nutrition with a minor in Business from Texas Tech University. After graduation I worked as a Catering Manager for a restaurant in Denver and later as a Nutritionist for WIC , plus cardiovascular and weight control in community nutrition. After I returned to Texas and completed my B.S. in Clinical Dietetics at UT Southwestern in Dallas, I became a Registered Dietitian. I worked as a clinical dietitian in hospitals for a while, then started the first private practice in Dallas to focus more on wellness and prevention. That was very exciting! I felt I could go anywhere, do anything, and help people in numerous areas of life! That included being a consultant for national and international food companies, public speaking, diabetes, sports nutrition, obesity, children's nutrition, and big corporations, such as TI, EDS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas to name a few. Several years ago I returned to graduate school andearned my Master of Arts in Counseling from Amber University in Dallas. I did an extensive and excellent internship with a private practice psychologist where I became a specialist in treating trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, sexual abuse, major depressive disorder, anxiety, anger management, family dysfunction, dissociative identity disorder, and other co-morbid conditions with eating disorders. I learned so much personally and professionally and just loved it! Part of my internship included training as a Play Therapist with the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center in Plano. I worked with an interdisciplinary team for the benefit of children in harm's way and their parents and grandparents, including leading groups. I love groups! As a Certified Life Coach I also help people nationwide with a variety of concerns from nutrition to weight management to emotional eating and menu planning. I specialize in treating bulimia/emotional/binge/stress eating disorders, plus mother/daughter and father/daughter prevention of weight problems and eating disorders. This combination of psychotherapist, dietitian, life coach, speaker and workshop leader is exciting for me! I enjoy leading TeleSeminars and workshops. Now I'm working on finishing Cooking with Wild Abandon! and a few other books. Life is great and there are always vital ways to help others now and inthe future. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Get a great education and a variety of experience. Practice your skills. Be a self-reliant individual and do what you really like, not just what everyone else is doing. Get a lot of training and experience in business and marketing, not just your practice area. I enjoyed serving on the district, state, and national levels of professional organizations, and would recommend this to you too. You'll meet some great people, learn new skills, and gain more confidence. Be persevering and never give up. Believe in yourself! Molly Kellogg, RD, LCSW Private Practice specializing in Eating Disorders Author of Counseling Tips for Nutrition Therapists Series How did you get started in your career? I entered the field of nutrition for several reasons. First, I loved science. Learning about biological processes was fascinating to me, and it seemed my interest would be unending. Nutrition science combined the hard sciences of biochemistry and physiology with the everyday practice of feeding ourselves. I wanted to make a difference in people's lives and knew that in nutrition I could do that. After almost a decade working with pregnant women and families with young children, I started a private practice. I imagined helping clients to eat healthfully and to manage chronic conditions through diet. Very early in my practice, I became frustrated. I could tell my clients what to do, but most either did not change at all or adopted new behaviors only briefly before returning to old habits. Some clients described feeling helpless and compelled to eat even though they knew it was "wrong." When I worked with my first few clients with eating disorders, I finally could not deny that I, too, was helpless and needed more skills. All my friends in counseling professions advised me to go to the Bryn Mawr School of Social Work. I became a licensed social worker in 1994 and worked as an outpatient psychotherapist for eight years while maintaining my part-time private practice in nutrition. Three years of gestalt therapy training deepened my professionalism and confidence. My nutrition practice grew and became more rewarding as I integrated what I learned in the mental health field. I began to wonder whether any of my nutrition colleagues were as frustrated as I had been and whether I could pass on some of my knowledge to them. In early 2003, I felt inspired to write a brief article on self-disclosure for nutrition colleagues. It was a topic that, as a psychotherapist, I had always found compelling. I e-mailed it to a dozen or so local dietitians. They liked it, and I found myself interested in another topic and another and another. Soon the list of ideas for Counseling Tips for Nutrition Therapists was growing faster than I could write them. More and more nutrition professionals asked to be added to the mailing list, and in the spring of 2005, I transferred the list to an automated E-zine system. I still write one every month, and the list of ideas keeps growing. As of this writing, thousands of health professionals receive the Tips series. Once I reached 50 Tips, I compiled them into the Counseling Tips for Nutrition Therapists Practice Workbook, and I just published the second book in the series with 50 more Tips. In the last few years, I have added training workshops and professional supervision for nutrition professionals to my work. My Counseling Intensive Workshop travels the country, often with Jessica Setnick's Eating Disorders Boot Camp, and I lead group supervision by phone. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Connect, connect and connect some more! Don't be shy about introducing yourself to everyone in your area who works with eating disorders. Ask if there is a local networking group or even a supervision group you could join. Attend local and national conferences and network. My favorite national conference is the Annual Renfrew Center Foundation Conference, held in Philadelphia every November. Sign up for their professional network so that patients coming home to your area will know about you. Ask for help. Work with eating disorders is challenging and expecting to do it alone is unwise. Even when you are more experienced you will do your best work when in a close-knit team with other professionals. When you are new to the field, it is best to have a mentor or supervisor in your discipline. (i.e. if you are a dietitian, look for an experienced RD to supervise you with your first cases.) Stay connected. Experiment with which professional organizations support you best. If you are an RD, join at least SCAN and BHN Practice Groups of ADA. Sign up for some e-mail listservs. They can be a place to turn with obscure questions and for referrals for your clients who move to other states. Charlotte Caperton-Kilburn, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN Dietitian in Private Practice, NFL Performance - Nutrition For Life How did you get started in your career? During my specialty rotation, I interned with a sports dietitian, who had a private practice in Eating Disorders. She required me to learn about eating disorders aspart of the rotation. I was hooked on working with clients with eating disorders and they became the majority of my practice. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Attend any workshop that you can find related to eating disorders in order to understand the complexity of the work you will do. Understand that eating disorders treatment isn't just about a meal plan. Ask those who you know and respect in the field questions. Make sure you have someone who can provide supervision to you. Carolyn Costin Owner and Executive Director of Monte Nido and Affiliates How did you get started in your career? Well I guess the first thing to point out is my own recovery from anorexia nervosa. I recovered from this illness and became a high school teacher and counselor. I enjoyed the counseling so much I decided to get my license as a therapist intending to treat adolescents. As a few eating disorder cases trickled into our community, people began referring these clients to me because they knew I had once suffered. I realized immediately that this was my calling and I would do this as my life's work. I was supposed to then and now help people realize they could overcome an eating disorder and become fully recovered. Now I am the Owner and Executive Director of Monte Nido and Affiliates which includes Monte Nido and Monte Nido Vista residential centers in California and Rain Rock residential treatment center in Oregon. All our residential facilities have a transition house and step down programs available. Also included in our affiliates is a free standing day treatment program called The Eating Disorder Center of California. I serve as clinical director of the two residential facilities that are located in California. As far as the other programs I am executive director but I travel to them and do i chat conferences with staff and clients as well. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Treating eating disorders is a rewarding but difficult job. Much of what you learn in school will not apply. You will have to learn to be strong, set limits, be firm, speak lots, self disclose, be authentic and deliver the right balance of nurturing and authority. Expect people to lie and not want your help, expect them to slip up and even relapse but also expect them to be courageous, gifted, giving and overall incredible humans. Treat every client who walks in your door as if they had a healthy/soul self and an eating disorder self. Your job will be to integrate them into one whole being. It will help if you pay attention to the difference between ego and soul. The eating disorder is ego out of control. People suffering from eating disorders need to re connect to soul and leading a more soulful life. The best way to do this is to bring your own soul self forward. Treating eating disorders will make you think about your own values, your own body and your own life. You might even get triggered. Get consultations and help for yourself in this regard. This will be an incredible journey. Michelle Lelwica Associate Professor of Religion at Concordia College Author of Starving for Salvation: The Spiritual Dimensions of Eating Problems among American Girls and Women How did you get started in your career? I started studying the religious and spiritual dimensions of eating disorders and related problems as a graduate student of religion at Harvard Divinity School. I was horrified to learn about the negative attitudes towards women and towards the body that were so prevalent in traditional theology, and I began to recognize the parallels between the patriarchal aspects of traditional religion and the images, myths, rituals, beliefs, and morality surrounding contemporary women's pursuit of thinness. This lead to the writing of my dissertation on the religious dimensions of eating problems, which I eventually published as my first book with Oxford University Press. I teach classes in the area of religion, gender, culture, and embodiment, and most of my publications focus on the intersection of religion, culture, and eating disorders among women. My most recent book, The Religion of Thinness: Satisfying the Spiritual Hungers behind Women's Obsession with Food and Weight, will be out in mid-November 2009. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Stay open to a complex and integrative perspective on these problems, which includes considering their spiritual dimensions. Such openness will foster an understanding of eating disorders as responses to human suffering that tragically create more suffering, and this understanding is one that harbors the kind of compassion that is necessary for the process of healing. I urge new professionals in the field of eating disorders to investigate the spiritual needs that obsessions with food and weight thinly veil, and I would encourage them to define "spiritual needs" very broadly (i.e., in non-sectarian terms), including the need for a sense of purpose, love, inspiration, courage, community, peace, etc. Kathryn Zerbe, MD Professor of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University Author of The Body Betrayed: Women, Eating Disorders, and Treatment and Integrated Treatment of Eating Disorders: Beyond the Body Betrayed Training and Supervising Psychoanalyst at the Oregon Psychoanalytic Institute How did you get started in your career? I got started in the field of eating disorders in 1982 after completing my residency in psychiatry at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Ks. I found that in treating women so many had questions and concerns about body image and how they looked even when they did not have a full blown eating disorder. In 1987, I became Director of the Eating Disorder Program at Menninger and was in that position for 5 years. I have written about 30 papers and book chapters about eating disorders. I have treated patients with full blown and subclinical eating disorders for 25 years. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? I would advise young professionals who are interested in learning more to read about the disorder from all sorts of perspectives. There are books by people who have recovered, professionals who have treated patients, researchers who have dealt with cultural and biological contributions. Learn as much as you can by soaking in all that is out there from as many different perspectives as possible. Don't take a single view of the problem. Then, find a mentor who has worked with clients with an eating disorder in your field of interest. Ask that mentor lots of questions about their work and/or practice and you will find that they will be willing and able to share a lot of invaluable information! Caroline Balz Psychotherapist in private practice Chairman of the Board of the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association How did you get started in your career? I got started in my career when I was 12 years old. People, and their stories fascinated me and a truly believe my inner psychotherapist has been budding since I was a child. Formally speaking, my career started when I chose psychology as my major in college. I wrote my thesis on "Body Image Dissatisfaction: the parallel subcultures of heterosexual women and homosexual men. My first job after college was as a management consultant, -a job in which I felt I was like a therapist to companies, helping them to define problems and create solutions. Finally, there was a defining moment in my life. I took a good, hard, look at what I kept being drawn back to: people and their stories and when I had that epiphany I knew I had to become a psychotherapist. I chose the field of eating disorders because it is a disorder that to me, makes intuitive sense. Moreover, I find that people who struggle with eating disorders recovery or who are recovered tend to be people that live more deeply, have the capacity for amazing growth and connection and have so much to offer. I went back to school to get a second master's, this time in counseling psychology. Scared, young and yet eager, I began my internship at a hospital, and in-patient treatment program for those suffering from eating disorders. I found the multi-disciplinary approach was daunting and fascinating. I liked that the field of clinician's seemed small and supportive and that conferences on eating disorders would bring familiar, friendly faces together. I felt challenged and stimulated and a profound sense of calm in that I was trying to help people and following what I believe is my vocation. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Learn as much as you can about the medical and psychiatric components of eating disorders because knowing when to recommend a higher level of care is often a tough call to make. Being able to speak with doctors, and nutritionists about potassium levels and urine specific gravities makes more meaningful collateral contact and hence good care. Be grounded in your self, your strengths and your limitations so as to be able to maintain healthy therapeutic boundaries. Modeling good boundaries is something that our patients constantly challenge. Being able to ask "Am I doing ____ in the service of my patient or to service my own need in some way?" is a really important question to be able to ultimately respond : "I am acting in the service of my patient." Anita Johnston, PhD Pono Intensive Out Patient Treatment Programs Senior Expert Clinical Consultant for Focus Healthcare Eating Disorder Residential Program Author of Eating in the Light of the Moon How did you get started in your career? I always had an interest in women's issues. Disordered eating and body image seemed to me to be the most pervasive and compelling issues with which women were struggling. In the early 1980's there was very little help available in Hawaii -- so to fill what appeared to be a growing need, I co-founded the Anorexia & Bulimia Center with a couple other professionals. Over the years, as the need for more intensive treatment options became obvious, I created the first eating disorder residential treatment program and a couple intensive out-patient programs for women with eating disorders and for individuals with weight disorders seeking bariatric surgery. Currently, I am a licensed psychologist with a private practice specializing in women's issues and disordered eating, in Honolulu, Hawaii in addition to the treatment programs listed above. Eating in the Light of the Moon has now been published in five languages, and I lecture frequently to professional organizations, universities, medical institutions and the community at large and conduct professional trainings and workshops internationally. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Cultivate healthy doses of curiosity and creativity, developing a sense of humor, and finding where your passion lies. Working effectively with eating disorders requires an ability to look at both the bigger picture and the details, to use your intuition as well as your intellect, and to think outside of the box. I would also recommend a committment to personal growth and spiritual development so that you know how to feed your soul -- since much of the work is teaching those you work with how to do just that. Juliet Zuercher, RD Nutrition Educator with the Remuda Ranch Speakers Bureau How did you get started in your career? Directly out of college, I applied to Remuda Ranch's job posting in the back of the ADA journal. I started as a dietetic technician until I could take my registration exam; after passing, I picked up my own caseload as a staff dietitian and have been in patient care ever since. Over time I became the Nutrition Services Director at Remuda. Now I am the Nutrition Educator, travelling across the country presenting workshops to professionals on the treatment of eating disorders. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Read all that you can on eating disorders. A good place to start is the Gurze Books Catalog [link to www.bulimia.com] ---this is 'all things eating disorders'. Some of my favorite resources include: Intuitive Eating; Moving Away From Diets; Am I Hungry?; The Food and Feelings Workbook; Health At Every Size-The Surprising Truth About Your Weight; Eating Disorders: A Medical Guide to Care and Complications and Eating Disorders and The Recovery Process. Find a seasoned colleague to coach and mentor your professional development. There is no substitute for wise supervision. Self care is also very important in this emotionally taxing field. Maintain balance in life socially, mentally, physically and spiritually. Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD Co-author of Intuitive Eating Nutrition Therapist in Private Practice, specializing in Eating Disorders Consultant, Newport Academy How did you get started in your career? I was originally interested in nutrition as a way to increase my performance as an athlete (I competed in cross-county and track in college and qualified for the women's Olympic trials marathon). But my interest in eating disorders was piqued when I was the nutrition consultant for Columbia Pictures (now Sony Studios). I worked with celebrities who had "everything", yet they had profound issues with their food, mind and body. This was also true for the Hollywood professionals working behind the scenes (such as directors, producers and writers). These experiences, plus a fascination with the psychology of eating led me to the inception of the Intuitive Eating concept with my friend and colleague Elyse Resch, MS, RD, FADA. This work is so transformational and rewarding-helping people create a healthy relationship with food, mind and body-and to ultimately get their lives back. Now I have my private practice, I am the nutrition consultant for Newport Academy, a gender-based treatment facility for teens with substance abuse and eating disorders, and I provide Intuitive Eating training workshops to health professionals. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Discover your passion and your niche by volunteering for professional and eating disorder organizations such as the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). Be sure you are at peace with your body, mind and eating. Lastly, get supervision from professionals who specialize in eating disorders. Cynthia Hutchins MS, LPC Therapist in Private Practice How did you get started in your career? I began my career in counseling at a general mental health care facility in Arkansas. I did outpatient counseling with individuals with a variety of problems, both acute and chronic. I did psychological testing for the court system and was on call at their in-patient hospital one day a week. At that facility, I ultimately opened two satellite offices, one in a rural area and another on a local college campus. I applied for a job at West Oaks Hospital in Houston, TX and grabbed the opportunity to work as a counselor in their large eating disorder program. I was excited to specialize in something so complex and at that time, one of the few specialized eating disorder treatment programs in the south. I eventually became the coordinator of that program. Several years later, I moved to Dallas to become the coordinator of the Baylor Outpatient Eating Disorder Program. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Begin your career in a general mental health setting because so many of the eating disordered population have co-existing diagnoses. This broad background will provide a firm foundation to build upon. As you move into counseling eating disorders, affiliate with a group of treatment professionals to serve as mentors and build a team of allied professionals that you know have experience in treating eating disorders. I routinely refer my clients to a dietician, a cardiologist, a psychiatrist, and an internist who orders blood work and bone density scans. Become familiar with the network of local free support groups. My final piece of advice is "feed your own mind, body, and soul as you guide your client to do the same." Jenni Schaefer Author, Life Without Ed & Goodbye Ed, Hello Me Speaker, Singer/Songwriter Consultant, Center For Change How did you get started in your career? After I began doing well in my own recovery from anorexia/bulimia, I felt called to help others. I wrote a book about my personal journey and began speaking in local schools about recovery. I discovered that I love writing and speaking! I might not always write and speak about eating disorders, but I am deeply grateful for the work I have been able to do. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? If you are currently in recovery from an eating disorder, I cannot emphasize the importance of taking care of yourself first. Make sure that your recovery is solid. You cannot give away to others what you don't have. Believe in yourself and your dreams! Eileen Stellefson Myers, MPH, RD, LDN, FADA Nutrition and Wellness Consultant in Private Practice, specializing in disordered eating and sports nutrition Author, Winning the War Within: Nutrition Therapy for Clients with Eating Disorders How did you get started in your career? I was fortunate to work in the Behavioral Science Department at Hershey Medical Center during my junior and senior year while at Penn State. There I worked with the behavioral change program that allowed me to have my "THAT's IT" moment of how to help people make behavioral changes. I wrote my book "Winning the War Within: Nutrition Therapy for Clients with Eating Disorders" to help people new to the field of eating disorders understand how to be effective with nutrition counseling. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? If you are new to the field, find a supervisor or mentor who will help you better understand how to help someone with an eating disorder. If you do not understand the thought process of someone struggling with an eating disorder, you can do more harm than good. Rebecca Bitzer, MS, RD Owner of Rebecca Bitzer and Associates How did you get started in your career? I have always been drawn health/fitness/medicine and I wanted to help people so this seemed like a natural fit for me. Once I started my practice, I learned that I had a natural gift as a counselor which made it an even better fit for me as a nutrition counselor working with clients with eating disorders. Over time, I hired other dietitians and realized that it was essential for me to develop strong business skills. Subsequently, I have learned that many Registered Dietitians are in need of such skills, so I help others who want to start and/or expand their own practices. I love to inspire and empower professionals to think big and dream big. Recently, with my help, one of my former employees opened up her own nutrition counseling practice and she is about to hire her second employee. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Learn and practice extraordinary self-care, meaning eat well, exercise well, get adequate rest and most importantly push yourself out of your comfort zone every day. Pushing yourself to grow personally and professionally will help you counsel your clients better and also make your counseling much more authentic, powerful and inspirational. Ursula Ridens, RD Nutrition Therapist and President/Owner of Ursula Ridens, RD Inc. How did you get started in your career? My vision of having flexibility with my work schedule, being my own boss, and being able to make executive decisions mixed with my interest in health and nutrition is what got me started in my career as a private practice dietitian. However, this is not where I started out. I climbed the ladder through clinical and outpatient dietitian positions through a local hospital and gradually built my private practice simultaneously. As far as my specialty area...I developed an interest in the field of eating disorders in college and began researching on the topic and networking with professionals. I'd have to say that knowing my passion (helping clients develop a more peaceful relationship with eating and their body) is what has allowed me to build my business successfully. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? My #1 piece of advice is to share your passion and work interests with others. By this I mean talk about what you aspire to do, network with other professionals (both those in your field of choice and those outside of the field), perhaps volunteer your time or shadow a professional to gain experience in your area of interest. This might mean stepping out of your comfort zone. Believe that you can achieve anything! Lindsey Hall Cohn, CEDS Senior Editor at Grze Books Author of Bulimia: A Guide to Recovery How did you get started in your career? In 1980 I founded Grze Books, a publishing company specializing in eating disorders,with my husband, Leigh Cohn. At that time we had written a self-help book about my recovery, but the publishers we approached wanted the first book on bulimia to be by a professional in the field. So we decided to publish our book ourselves under the title Bulimia: A Guide to Recovery. It has now sold over 150,000 copies, which is pretty great! Leigh and I have been working in and supporting the field ever since through our mail order catalog, website, The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, conference booksales, and writing and editing books and articles. We've pretty much just followed our noses and done whatever we thought would be helpful for the field and for the individuals and families suffering with these serious illnesses. And although both of us have a CEDS from IAEDP, through the years we have talked to anyone who needed support, advice, and encouragement, for free. In our company we employ three people full time, and one part time. Although we all share and trade responsibilities, one person is in charge of order processing and inventory, another our website (bulimia.com), and the third our marketing efforts, which include putting together our two e-newsletters. The part-time person does shipping a couple of days a week. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Know yourself and your strengths, and pair those strengths with the needs of the field. For instance, if you love to speak to audiences, perhaps partner with a treatment center who wants to do outreach. If you love computers, investigate recovery-related web-based businesses and their needs. I'm a firm believer in doing what you love because that brings great energy and enthusiasm to the job, whatever it is. And as anyone who has read my book knows, being connected to that inner love was the driving force behind my recovery and continues to be the most important thing in my life. Blessings on your journey! Nancy Berry Marketing Manager, Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating Disorders How did you get started in your career? After a 9 month sabbatical; I realized I wanted a career in which I could make a difference. I didn't have any experience with eating disorders or marketing so I accepted an entry level position in the Marketing department. In that position I learned everything I could about eating disorders and about Remuda Ranch. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? It takes dedication and hard work to make it in the Marketing field. You have to be self-motivated and self-disciplined and stay in constant communication with your target audience. You need to be on top of the latest research and have a systematic approach to getting the information communicated. Keisha Howard Professional Relations Representative for the Renfrew Center of Texas How did you get started in your career? I've always had a passion for enhancing the lives of girls and women. In 2006, I started a non-profit self-esteem organization for girls as a way of giving back to adolescents, www.pearl-girls.org. I also decided to pursue my Master's Degree in Counseling, and then applied for my current position at the Renfrew Center because I believed in the empowering treatment philosophy of the program. I serve as a liaison for community members, parents, patients, and professionals in regards to Eating Disorder treatment at the Renfrew Center. My ultimate charge is to spread the word about eating disorders, including signs and symptoms and treatment options, in efforts of helping girls and women take steps towards recovery. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Network, network, network. It's all about who you know, and how you can add value to other people. Gina Scarano-Osika, PhD Psychologist in Private Practice and at North East Center of Excellence in Eating Disorders How did you get started in your career? I focused on research in the beginning, published a few journal articles and became well versed in evidence-based treatment for eating disorders. I began work at a private practice in 1994 and five years later moved closer to home and opened my own practice with my husband, a child psychologist. Now I am an out-patient provider for the North East Center of Excellence in Eating Disorders, which is an in-patient hospital affiliated with Strong Memorial and NY Presbyterian. I also do mental health evaluations for people seeking gastric bypass surgery at Albany medical Center or Ellis Hospital. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Read contemporary research articles about the mind-body connection and consult with a specialist in the field. Treat the patient until you find something that works. Martha Peaslee Levine, MD Director, Intensive Outpatient Program and Partial Hospitalization Program Division of Adolescent Medicine and Eating Disorders Penn State/Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry How did you get started in your career? I was recruited by the Division Chief, Dr. Richard Levine, (who is also my husband) when a part-time psychiatric position became available. Subsequently, I increased my hours and took over the responsibilities as Director of these programs. Some of my past positions in psychiatry have included Acting Director of the Psychopharmacology Clinic at Bellevue Hospital, NYU Medical Center; Director of the Walk-In Clinic at Bellevue Hospital, NYU Medical Center in New York City and finally Director of the Outpatient Psychiatric Clinics at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York. When we relocated to Pennsylvania, I took a few years away from medicine to pursue fiction writing. I have had two children's books published and received awards for my poetry, short fiction and a ten-minute play, Three Psychiatrists and a Dream. I now enjoy combining my two vocations, psychiatry and writing. Within our program, I run a journaling group. I have a blog "Your Write to Health" on the Gurze website, [link to www.eatingdisordersblogs.com/your_write_to_health/] which provides journaling prompts. I have taught courses through the Humanities Department at Penn State College of Medicine on the role of arts in healing. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? The best advice that I could offer would be to find a way to incorporate what you love in the way that you practice. I enjoy including writing and other arts in my life, my work and my teaching. It is also important to respect the uniqueness of each and every individual. Many people in the past did not understand my passion for writing and did not always support it. However, I think that I am a more creative person and a better clinician because of my determination to follow my dreams. I also love what I do because I feel that part of my role in our Eating Disorders Program is to help others discover their own talents, interests and dreams. By helping them work toward recovery, I hope to help them take the power their disordered eating is stealing from them and use it to create a more fulfilling life. Reba Sloan, MPH, LRD, FAED How did you get started in your career? When I was 13 years old (in the 1960's) I went from being an overweight child to severely anorexic. There was very little awareness in regards to eating disorders at that time and even less treatment available. When I was hospitalized on a regular pediatric unit, I met with a registered dietitian who recommended that I pursue becoming a dietitian. I had no idea what a dietitian was at that time ... but I made up my mind there and then to become one! That was the beginning of both my journey to full recovery from anorexia and arriving where I am currently in my profession. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? Don't count on university programs or internships to provide you with what you need to be effective in this field. Much of what I have learned has been from attending continuing education events directly aimed at enhancing skill and knowledge levels necessary to treat eating disorders. Some of the most beneficial conferences I have ever attended are those geared more towards therapists. Consider pursing a Master's Degree in counseling or psychology. I have found my Master's of Public Health degree with a behavioral counseling emphasis to be invaluable! Finally... resolve any weight/food/eating issues you struggle with and plan to obtain case supervision as you begin your career. Kimberly Davidson Women's Pastor, Speaker, Author of I'm Beautiful, Why Can't I See It? How did you get started in your career? I was bulimic for 17 years. I feel it was a miracle from God that I was able to stop bingeing and purging. But my bulimia had been a secret, and I was so ashamed of my past that I didn't tell anyone that I was on the road to recovery. Fourteen years later, when I saw a story on television about an anorexic woman near death, I felt compelled to share with her the power of God in recovery. That is when I felt God telling me to reach out to others with a message of hope by telling my story. I started with a website, Olive Branch Outreach [link to www.olivebranchoutreach.com], and I visited other eating disorder websites and interacting in their chatrooms and message boards. Then I went back to school for a Master's Degree in Pastoral Care to Women. Over time, women from around the world contacted me looking for recovery tools based on God's Word. In response to these requests, I wrote "I'm Beautiful? Why Can't I See It?". What advice would you give to someone new to the field? If you want to work as pastor, you will need either a BS or MA from a Christian college or seminary. I also recommend joining the American Association of Christian Counselors so that you can take their courses and participate in their networking opportunities. You will need to affiliate and be supported by a church. I am not a paid employee. I do all of this on a volunteer basis. It may be a challenge to find a paid position within the church/faith-based community. Referrals come mostly from word of mouth. Eileen Stellefson Myers, MPH, RD, LDN, FADA Dietitian in private practice specializing in disordered eating and sports nutrition Author of Winning the War Within How did you get started in your career? I was fortunate to work in the Behavioral Science Department at Hershey Medical Center during my junior and senior year while in school at Penn State. There I worked with the behavioral change program that allowed me to have my "THAT's IT" moment of how to help people make behavioral changes. After working for several years, I wrote my book "Winning the War Within: Nutrition Therapy for Clients with Eating Disorders" to help people new to the field of eating disorders understand how to be effective with nutrition counseling. What advice would you give to someone new to the field? If you are new to the field, find a supervisor or mentor who will help you better understand how to help someone with an eating disorder. If you do not understand the thought process of someone struggling with an eating disorder, you can do more harm than good. Leslie P. Schilling, MA, RD, CSSD, LDN Nutrition Counselor & Consultant What is your current position? I am the owner and operator of Schilling Nutrition Therapy, LLC in Memphis, TN. My areas of expertise include disordered eating, sports nutrition, and weight management. How did you get started? As a teenager I was involved in many sports like track & field, gymnastics and cheerleading. As I entered college I realized the connection between fuel and performance which lead me to really love and enjoy my nutrition classes. My goal through college was to work with high-level athletes and help them maintain a competitive edge through nutrition. As I got further into my career, I was doing a lot of sports nutrition work and quickly realized that some of my athletes had greater issues than performance nutrition alone. One particular client set the stage for my career shift towards working more with disordered eating. I quickly obtained all the book knowledge I could, went to workshops and sought the assistance of other professionals working with eating disorders. Currently, I'm very fortunate to be a part of a supervision group with several local therapists which has been invaluable. Advice to someone who's interested in entering the field My advice to someone entering the field is to work with professionals that do what you want to do. I have students now that are volunteering with me which could turn into more later for them. Go to conferences out of the realm of basic nutrition. Many of the most useful workshops I've been to were geared towards therapists and physicians. Now I'll be pointing those who want to enter the field to this great new resource at www.eatingdisorderjobs.com. Dena Cabrera, Psy.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Speaker's Bureau Member Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders How did you get started in your career? My career started in 1998 when I was accepted into a post-doctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology which brought me to Arizona. Following this two year position, I accepted my first "real" job in eating disorders at Remuda Ranch Treatment Programs. What advice would you give to someone interested in the eating disorders field? It's important to get a diverse and broad range of clinical experience and training before specializing too soon in one area in your undergraduate or graduate program. I felt my diverse clinical training and experience prepared me well to work with the co-morbidity and clinical issues present with those suffering from eating disorders. If possible, I also suggest working with a multidisciplinary team. I have learned a tremendous amount about eating disorders from my colleagues from other disciplines. Matthew Tiemeyer MA, LMHC Blue Harbor Counseling How did you get started in your career? I began work in a private clinic that specialized in treating those with eating disorders, but initially I was not involved in their treatment. Over time, I was introduced to working with these clients, and I was delighted to find that I enjoyed it immensely. Of course, most with eating disorders are women, which raises the question of what it means to work with a male therapist in these sensitive issues. For some, a male therapist is simply not a good option. For others, there is an opportunity to experience a redemptive therapeutic relationship that challenges wounds that often were inflicted by men. I'm honored to walk with clients in these places. What advice would you give to someone interested in the eating disorders field? Your own self-care will be key to being a vibrant resource for your clients. Seek others who work in the field. A supervisor is very important to help in becoming accustomed to the (sometimes dramatic) ups and downs of working with difficult clients, and a solid consultation group is extremely valuable. Apply your knowledge with confidence, while being willing to question what you've learned. Beyond this, guard your time outside of work. An exhausted therapist is likely an ineffective one. Contact Us  |   Privacy Policy  |   Refund Policy  |   Terms of Use designed by johnson technical group, inc.