Not Just CEU`s, but an Adventure

My passion is helping those who suffer from eating disorders. I am a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and have spent years learning as much as I can about this complex disorder. As soon as I received my graduate degree, I realized I needed specific training in the field, so I got in my car and drove to Malibu to meet with Carolyn Costin, LMFT,CEDS. Carolyn is the founder of MonteNidoTreatmentCenter, The Eating Disorder Center of California and the author of many books, including The Eating Disorder Sourcebook, To this day; I think Carolyn’s book is one of the best books ever written about eating disorders for both professionals and those interested in the subject

Carolyn was nice enough to spend time with me and urged me to attend a week long workshop that she and Francie White, a Registered Dietician were co-facilitating in of all places, OrcasIsland. What kind of conference takes place on OrcasIsland? Certainly, not one where you sit in a hotel ballroom, under florescent lights, watching a power point presentation. Just getting there was an adventure, riding a ferry through the beautiful San Juan Islands.

That week was one of the highlights of my professional life. I began to understand the complexity of eating disorders and how best to work with my clients. But more importantly, I was able to get in touch with some of my own unresolved issues that were getting in the way of my work. I realized it wasn’t about just collecting CEU’s to renew your license and it wasn’t about just the latest research. It’s about slowing down and getting in touch with yourself. The week was spent working in the morning, hiking or kayaking in the afternoon and in the evening, Francie and Carolyn told a myth and we were challenged to see how that myth resonated in our own lives. I returned from OrcasIsland not only a better clinician, but a more insightful person.

Ten years after I attended that life changing workshop, I’m heading to Hawaii in September, to join Carolyn Costin, Francie White, Dr. Anita Johnston and eating disorder professionals from around the world for another week long training. I’m up for a new adventure, meeting new people in the field, and learning something new about myself. It’s the best way I can think of to get those CEU’s…

Look for my blog from the workshop in September.