Eating disorders are among the deadliest of all mental health conditions—yet often remain hidden behind stigma, stereotypes, and systemic gaps in care. As the digital age reshapes clinical practice, behavioral health professionals face a new and urgent challenge: How do we recognize, treat, and support individuals with eating disorders in virtual settings where symptoms may be easier to miss—but no less lethal?
This compelling self-study course invites clinicians to gain essential knowledge and skills to meet the rising tide of eating disorder presentations in today’s digital and post-pandemic world. Through engaging instruction and practical tools, participants will walk away more prepared to recognize warning signs, understand underlying causes, and provide effective virtual support.
Dr. Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C, brings over 15 years of clinical experience in eating disorder treatment, supervision, and training. A Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and co-author of The Renfrew Unified Treatment Model for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity, Dr. Smith is a nationally recognized leader in evidence-based care for ARFID, Rumination Syndrome, OCD, and related disorders. Her work centers on the ethical, inclusive, and practical application of best practices in both in-person and virtual settings.
With warmth and clarity, Dr. Smith guides clinicians through the complexity of eating disorders by weaving research, real-world application, and clinical insight. Her approach helps providers build the confidence to assess clients accurately, adapt treatments appropriately, and deliver effective interventions through telehealth.
This course explores the disordered eating continuum; signs and symptoms of major eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and ARFID; biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors; the emotional and neurobiological underpinnings of disordered eating; weight stigma and systemic barriers to care; and how to ethically adapt clinical practices to telehealth, including virtual meal coaching and safety considerations.
Key Takeaways:
Understand root causes: Learn the biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of eating disorders.
Recognize disordered eating early: Identify clients who may not present with typical symptoms or who come in for unrelated issues.
Adapt treatment for telehealth: Gain practical strategies for modifying protocols in virtual care settings while maintaining ethical and effective treatment.
Why this course?
Timely and urgent content: Eating disorder symptoms have surged in the wake of COVID-19 and social media influence—this course equips you to respond with competence and care.
Expert-led, research-informed: Dr. Smith’s extensive experience and peer-reviewed contributions ensure that what you learn is grounded in both science and clinical practice.
Created for busy clinicians: Offered through the Telehealth Certification Institute, this course is designed to meet your needs as a post-graduate professional seeking flexible, relevant, high-quality continuing education.
Learning Objectives:
List at least one biological factor, one psychological factor and one sociocultural factor associated with the development and maintenance of eating disorders.
Describe at least one way to adapt standard eating disorder treatment protocols to a virtual setting.
Gain insight, tools, and renewed confidence to help clients struggling with eating disorders—no matter their background, diagnosis, or where they first show up for care. This course helps you recognize what’s often overlooked and take action with compassion and clinical skill.
Add this course to your cart to start learning instantly.
This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 1.5 hours of video instruction and a post-test.
Availability: From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.
Who Should Attend: This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.
Teaching Methods: This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.
How to Attend: Instructions for attending and completing a course can be found here.
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Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C
Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C (she/her) is a therapist in private practice at CBT of Central & South Florida (https://cbtcentralflorida.com) and a Consulting Clinical Training Specialist for the Renfrew Center. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor in the State of Florida. Additionally, she is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Approved Consultant (CEDS-C) and is a Certified Therapist & Trainer of the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP). Special treatment interests include Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction such as Rumination Syndrome, OCD, phobias including emetophobia, health-related anxiety, and coping with chronic pain & chronic illness.
Dr. Smith is passionate about the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based treatments, clinical supervision, and clinical training and has presented numerous lectures, workshops, and Keynote presentations at academic and professional conferences nationally and internationally. She has co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals and is co-author of the peer-reviewed treatment manual and patient workbook, The Renfrew Unified Treatment Model for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity, published by Oxford University Press.
Disclosure Statement: The instructor for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.
Credit Hours: This course consists of 1.5 continuing education hours of credit.
Counselors:
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Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.
Marriage and Family Therapists: Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations. You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.
Social Workers:
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Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 clinical continuing education credits.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.
Addiction Professionals:
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This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.
Psychologists:
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Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.
Art Therapists: Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.
Other Professionals: This course qualifies for 90 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.
This is a non-interactive, self-study course.
