Eating Disorders in the Age of Semaglutide: The Complexity of Helping Clients Find Their Path Friday, November 8, 2024, 12:00-2:30 PM ET (With CE’s)

Eating Disorders in the Age of Semaglutide: The Complexity of Helping Clients Find Their Path 

Friday, November 8, 2024  

12:00 – 2:30 PM ET

Webinar Presenters 

Kim Dennis, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist, eating disorders specialist and board certified in addiction medicine. She specializes in treating eating disorders, addiction, trauma, and complex co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Dr. Dennis also brings lived experience to her work as a physician with long-term recovery from ED, addiction and developmental trauma.  

She is the co-founder, Chief Medical Officer, and CEO of SunCloud Health. Dr. Dennis is also on faculty at University of Illinois Chicago as a clinical assistant professor in the department of psychiatry. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, and completed her psychiatry residency training at the University of Chicago Hospitals, where she served as Chief Resident. Dr. Dennis is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago in the Department of Psychiatry. She believes in and maintains a holistic perspective in psychiatry, incorporating biological, psycho-social, and spiritual approaches into individually tailored, weight neutral treatments for each patient.  She serves as a board member for the Eating Disorders Coalition and Galen Mental Health, a member of NEDA’s Clinical Advisory Council, a member of the American Association of Pediatrics Eating Disorders and “Obesity” Workgroup, and past co-chair of AED’s Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders SIG. 

Rhona Epstein, Psy.D., began her recovery journey at seventeen years old after battling binge eating and bulimia from childhood. Affected so deeply by the recovery process, she determined to devote the rest of her life to helping others out of the same insanity with food abuse and weight obsession. Since 1994, Rhona has provided individual, couples, family, group therapy and coaching online & in her private practice in Chester County Pennsylvania. While she’s expanded her practice to reach people with a wide range of issues, she specializes in treating addictions and eating disorders. Depending on the client, Rhona integrates either twelve-step recovery principles or biblically based spirituality in therapy. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Chestnut Hill College in 2009. Dr Rhona’s latest books include Satisfied, The Satisfied Workbook, and Hope & Healing for Food Addiction. 

Summary:

Recent media hype and aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies have thrust GLP-1 agonist medications—originally developed for diabetes management—into the public eye, inadvertently affecting individuals with eating disorders. This webinar will explore the pharmacological mechanisms of these drugs, their effectiveness in controlling diabetes, and the potential risks they pose to individuals in larger bodies, both with and without eating disorders. Our expert presenters will critically examine preliminary research on using these medications for treating addiction and binge eating disorders, viewed through the lenses of eating disorder treatment, health equity, weight inclusivity, and holistic care. Participants will acquire practical strategies to facilitate nuanced risk-benefit discussions with patients, families, and multidisciplinary medical teams. 

Learning Objectives 

Participants will: 

1. Describe how GLP-1 receptor agonist medications affect mental health and eating disorders, particularly in the context of recent marketing trends and media coverage. 
2. Identify both the potential benefits and the unique risks of GLP-1 medications for patients with eating disorders, considering factors such as health equity, weight inclusivity, and holistic care. 
3. Create individualized, bio-psycho-social-spiritual risk/benefit analyses to collaboratively optimize care plans for patients with eating disorders who are using or considering GLP-1 medications. 

Continuing Education  

Approved for 2 CEs for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Chemical Dependency Counselors  

Approved for 2 IBCC CEs for Pastoral Counselors, Pastors, Teachers, and Coaches 

The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) offers some psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and play therapists Continuing Education (CE) credit due to good standing with certain states and a limited number of professional organizations. It remains the responsibility of each participant to be aware of state licensure and CE requirements. Participants should check their state and/or local regulations regarding required Continuing Education hours. For more information on Light University Continuing Education programs, please visit https://www.lightuniversity.com/continuing-education-statements/.   

*Webinars MUST be watched LIVE to receive CE Credit.