Eating Disorders Training Certificate Program

Description

Eating disorders are among the most complex and deadly mental health conditions—and they are far more common and diverse than many clinicians realize. This certificate program offers an essential, in-depth training experience for behavioral health professionals who want to provide effective, ethical, and inclusive care across diverse populations and presentations.

Eating disorders often go undetected or are misdiagnosed, especially in clients who don't fit the outdated stereotypes. This comprehensive training series will help clinicians recognize, assess, and treat eating disorders with confidence, compassion, and clinical excellence.

Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C, is a nationally respected expert in eating disorders, evidence-based treatment, and the Unified Protocol. As a therapist, trainer, and published author with decades of experience, Dr. Smith brings clarity, rigor, and nuance to one of the most misunderstood areas in mental health care. Her unique specialization in ARFID, gut-brain interaction, and emotional disorders gives her training unparalleled depth and relevance.

Dr. Smith’s approach blends clinical wisdom with evidence-based practices. Her teaching emphasizes the realities of complex cases, ethical nuance, sociocultural considerations, and practical collaboration among treatment teams. Each course builds toward a stronger foundation of competence and confidence for real-world clinical work.

This self-paced, 24-hour certificate program includes four curated courses: (1) assessment and diagnosis of eating disorders, (2) medical, psychiatric, and nutritional collaboration, (3) sociocultural barriers and ethical complexity, and (4) evidence-based treatments including CBT, family-based therapy, and ARFID-specific interventions. The training integrates current research with real-life clinical scenarios, systemic awareness, and decision-making frameworks.

Key Takeaways:

• Comprehensive clinical knowledge: Gain a deep understanding of biological, psychological, and sociocultural contributors to eating disorders.

• Integrated care strategies: Learn how to work effectively across disciplines, levels of care, and treatment models.

• Practical tools for complex cases: Use ethical frameworks and evidence-based techniques to treat diverse clients with confidence.

Why this course?

• Rigorous and inclusive training: Unlike generic overviews, this certificate addresses intersectional identities, diagnostic challenges, and multidisciplinary realities.

• Expert instruction by a trusted leader: Dr. Smith is a widely respected clinician, trainer, and author known for translating complex issues into clear clinical practice.

• Mission-driven education: Telehealth Certification Institute equips clinicians with the highest-quality continuing education grounded in kindness, excellence, and integrity.

Learning Objectives:

After participating in Eating Disorders: Etiological Factors, Assessment & Diagnosis course,  participants will be able to:

• Identify the etiological factors that increase vulnerability for the development of eating disorders.

• Recognize how to comprehensively assess and differentially diagnose a range of eating disorders and related conditions.

• List the criteria for level of care appropriateness based on a comprehensive eating disorder assessment.

After participating in Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Understanding Nutritional, Medical and Psychiatric Aspects of Treating Eating Disorders course, participants will be able to:

• Implement strategies for collaborating with multidisciplinary professionals including nutrition, medical and psychiatric professionals.

• List at least two medical complications that require ongoing monitoring in individuals with eating disorders.

• Discuss two varied approaches to the nutritional treatment of eating disorders and be able to explain the benefits and challenges of each approach.

After participating in It’s Complicated: Ethical Issues, Maintaining Factors and Barriers to Treating Eating Disorders course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the maintaining factors that inhibit treatment and recovery from eating disorders.

• Discuss at least two sociocultural influences that impact the development and maintenance of eating disorders.

• Apply an ethical decision-making model to the treatment of complex eating disorders.

After participating in Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches for Eating Disorders course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the key elements of family-based treatment for adolescents with eating disorders.

• Explain the application of cognitive behavioral principles and strategies to the treatment of eating disorders.

• Identify at least one evidence-based approach to the treatment of avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

Clinicians at all levels of experience will benefit from this rich and relevant program. This certificate course will help you meet the needs of your clients with more clarity, confidence, and cultural humility—one course at a time.

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Format and Access

This is a self-study online program. Instruction consists of a total of 24 hours of video instruction and a post-test.

Course Details

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: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C

Melanie Smith (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.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This program consists of a total of 24 continuing education hours of credit (6 of which are ethics) upon completion of all four courses.

Counselors:

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:

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 24 total credits including 18 clinical and 6 ethics 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:

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:

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 1440 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.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement