Why Eating Disorder Training?
Did you feel prepared to help people with eating disorders when you initially began clinical work as a dietitian, mental health counselor, or medical professional?
Across the board, dietitians, therapists and medical professionals report having received inadequate education and training to work with people with eating disorders during the course of their formal education. Historically clinicians were expected to basically improvise and "wing it" when beginning work in the ED field.
Statistics indicate that we will all work with people with eating disorders, whether we realize it or not. As well-intentioned providers, we want to provide the safest, most effective care for all of the people who seek our help.
If you are ready to find out more about how to become an International Eating Disorder Specialist, click on the button below.
Our Story
After 40-plus years of combined experience working with people with eating disorders, we have the clinical experience to know what has worked for us and what has not. Often times the "gold standards" of treatment (in research) do not prove to be the most effective practices in real life.
Veronica and I were fortunate enough to be growing our practices when we met in 2021. During our first conversation, we commiserated about the lack of high-quality ED education for clinicians. We needed a program that could make new employees as competent as possible as quickly as possible.
Up until then only one option was available to clinicians of all types. We found that program to be lacking: the education part was minimal and the supervision part was lengthy and expensive. Further, the reputation of that credential and its organizing board had wavered over the years.
As overwhelming as this undertaking was, we slowly got started, creating an outline of contents. These 10 modules were envisioned based on recommendations of the Academy of Eating Disorders mixed with our professional experience of what was most crucial to convey to learners.
On Leap Day of 2024, we announced our program to the world. Awareness began growing in the eating disorder community. Positive feedback from participants increased national and international interest in our Inclusive Eating Disorder Specialist program. We have learners in nearly every state in the US and in 5 countries worldwide.
In 2026, we put all the pieces together by adding our Consultation Cohorts. These 18-month groups provide synchronous mentorship and case feedback in real time. Now clinicians are able to combine both the robust training with the support of experienced eating disorder clinicians to enhance application of and confidence with the education.
If you are ready to take the leap and get started, or if you just want to find out more, click the link below.
Jennifer Pereira, LPC-S, RD, LD, IEDAS-C
Veronica Rocha, LPC-S, IEDAS-C
Our Programs
Curriculum
Our training and credential program offers 41 hours of education. These hours also count for continuing education for therapists, dietitians, and medical providers. 10 Modules include: Diagnostic Information, Medical Complications, Nutrition 1 and 2, Therapy Skills 1 and 2, Compulsive Exercise, Intersectionality and Bias, Body Image, Weight Inclusivity, Relapse Prevention, and more.
Consultation Cohorts
The cohort program lasts 18 months and provides guidance and mentorship to learners as they implement their knowledge into practice. Each cohort is small enough to build lasting connections with colleagues. Cohorts are led by a rotation of experienced eating disorder professionals. Includes 18 monthly group sessions and 6 individual sessions.
