Eating disorders are among the most deadly and misunderstood psychiatric illnesses—and as a clinician, you will encounter them. Whether masked by depression, anxiety, trauma, or presenting in clients who don’t fit the stereotype, disordered eating often goes undetected and untreated.
This course invites you to step into your role as a trusted provider with the insight and confidence needed to identify early signs, understand complex origins, and respond ethically and effectively—before the consequences become life-threatening.
Dr. Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C, brings over two decades of clinical experience to this essential training. A Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and internationally recognized speaker, Dr. Smith offers unique expertise on comorbid presentations, emotional regulation, and systemic issues in eating disorder treatment. Her leadership in developing evidence-based models, such as the Renfrew Unified Treatment Model, ensures learners gain practical tools grounded in clinical science.
Using a clear, integrative approach, Dr. Smith equips clinicians to recognize eating disorders across all client populations and understand the psychological, biological, and sociocultural factors involved. She also guides attendees through the essential structure of multidisciplinary treatment, offering clinicians actionable strategies for collaborative care.
This course covers the true prevalence and mortality risk of eating disorders; common misconceptions and missed diagnoses; the psychological function of disordered eating; biological and sociocultural risk factors; the risks of dieting; systemic and provider bias; and the foundational importance of teaming with medical and nutrition professionals in treatment.
Key Takeaways:
Recognize key risk factors: Understand the biological, psychological, and sociocultural roots of eating disorders.
Spot early warning signs: Identify behaviors and patterns that indicate a client may be struggling with disordered eating.
Collaborate for effective care: Learn how and why to engage a multidisciplinary team to ethically and effectively treat eating disorders.
Why this course?
Essential training for real-world practice: Eating disorders are prevalent across all demographics and often emerge in clients seeking therapy for other issues. This course prepares you to meet that reality.
Led by a nationally recognized expert: Dr. Smith offers rare insight from both clinical and academic perspectives, including co-authorship of a leading treatment manual published by Oxford University Press.
Offered by a trusted CE provider: Telehealth Certification Institute is committed to excellence, integrity, and equipping clinicians with practical skills that improve outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
Identify three etiological factors that increase vulnerability for the development of eating disorders.
List four warning signs that an individual might be struggling with disordered eating.
Explain why it is essential for mental health clinicians to work with a multidisciplinary team to effectively treat eating disorders.
Your clients depend on you to see what others may overlook. This course gives you the clinical insight to identify disordered eating early, reduce harm, and provide effective, ethical care. Join us to expand your impact in ways that can truly save lives.
Add this course to your cart to develop your skills, boost your confidence, and enhance your impact as a behavioral health professional.
This is a non-interactive self-study course. Instruction consists of 90+ minutes 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(s) 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, effective 7/31/2024. 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.
