Certificate in dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) for eating disorders

The demand for eating disorder (ED) treatment has never been greater. Over the course of the pandemic, the number of people suffering from an ED and seeking professional help has increased substantially. Waiting lists for hospital programming and for private eating disorder centres are exceptionally long. Chronic in nature, highly debilitating, and associated with extremely high mortality rates; eating disorders can’t afford to wait.

The Academy for Eating Disorders reported that someone dies as a direct result of their ED every 52 minutes. Given the severity and the sheer demand for services, it is reasonable to expect that health-care practitioners will have a lot of patients and clients with EDs.

This comprehensive 3-level certificate program offers a deep dive into eating disorders and their treatment using dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). Designed for flexibility, participants can register for Level 1, Level 2, or the entire series, depending on their learning objectives and experience.

• Level 1 Eating disorders (EDs): What every clinician needs to know on-demand training (optional): This training is the prerequisite to Level 2 for those who do not have foundational and current eating disorders education.
• Level 2 When standard eating disorders treatments are not enough: The MED-DBT protocol live webinar series starting April 9, 2025.
• Level 3 Virtual group consultation (optional): Participants will have the opportunity to develop their clinical expertise under the guidance of Dr. Anita Federici, PhD, C.Psych, FAED.

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Level 1 Eating disorders (EDs): What every clinician needs to know

On-demand (optional)

*Prerequisite for Level 2

Facilitators: Anita Federici, PhD, C.Psych, FAED, Jennifer Couturier, MD, FRCPC, and Anne Williams, RD.

Duration: 9.25 hours | CE: 9.25 hours

*Please note: If you do not have foundational and current eating disorders education, it is recommended to complete this on-demand training as a prerequisite for Level 2 When standard eating disorders treatments are not enough: The MED-DBT protocol live webinar series. You will have the option to register for the on-demand training during the registration of this certificate program.

Learning objectives:

• Identify and distinguish core features across 7 types of eating disorders.
• Assess symptoms using standard measures.
• Describe unique neurobiological and environmental underpinnings that cause and maintain eating disorders.
• Learn about medication management.
• Develop awareness to monitor common physical and emotional consequences.
• Assist clients in developing a non-dieting, mechanical meal plan.
• Describe the pros and cons of weighing clients.
• Identify weight bias and stigma, and how to provide trauma-informed ED care.
• Identify treatment options for clients with eating disorders.

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Level 2 When standard eating disorders treatments are not enough: The MED-DBT protocol

Live webinar series

Dates: April 9, 16, 23, 30, 2025 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET

Facilitators: Anita Federici, PhD, C.Psych, FAED, and Lucene Wisniewski, PhD, CPsych, FAED.

Duration: 20 hours | CE: 20 hours

This training focuses on the adaptation of standard DBT for individuals with multidiagnostic eating disorder presentations. This is not a standard eating disorder training nor is it a foundational training in DBT. We assume that clinicians already have:

• Foundational and current eating disorder education and experience.
• Foundational training in DBT.

This training explores the MED-DBT protocol, an adaptation of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for managing emotion regulation difficulties and high-risk behaviors in eating disorders. Participants will learn to address co-occurring issues like trauma and self-injury, apply the adapted Biosocial Theory, and use practical tools such as diary cards and chain analyses. The program also focuses on enhancing clinician effectiveness and reducing burnout when working with this complex population.

Learning objectives:

• Determine suitability for MED-DBT.
• Teach clients how biotemperament interacts with invalidating environments to cause and maintain complex ED symptoms.
• Conceptualize clients using MED-DBT dialectical dilemmas.
• Organize the first 4 sessions of MED-DBT.
• Identify where ED behaviours are placed on the target hierarchy.
• Increase commitment for ego-syntonic symptoms.
• Troubleshoot common challenges to MED-DBT diary cards.
• Adapt DBT skills for complex ED.

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Level 3 Group consultation

Virtual (optional)

Dates: TBD | Time: TBD

Facilitator: Anita Federici, PhD, C.Psych, FAED.

Duration and CE: Will vary depending on how many sessions attended.

As a participant in the Certificate in dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) for eating disorders (EDs), you’ll have the opportunity to develop clinical skills under the guidance of Dr. Anita Federici, a renowned expert in eating disorders and DBT. This limited group consultation program for 10 clinicians offers:

• Virtual group consultation sessions.
• Case study analysis and application.
• Opportunity to receive professional feedback.
• Skills enhancement for eating disorder clinical practice.

The consultation provides practical, hands-on learning to improve clinicians’ ability to support individuals with eating disorders.

If you are interested in signing up for the Level 3 Group consultation, please email Mary Anne Van Rooyen at mvanrooyen@sickkidscmhlearning.ca.

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To receive the joint Certificate of Participation from SickKids CCMH Learning Institute and The Centre for Psychology and Emotion Regulation, you must complete Level 2 When standard eating disorders treatments are not enough: The MED-DBT protocol AND Level 3 Group consultation (minimum of 13 sessions) of the Certificate in dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) for eating disorders program. Participants will receive a Certificate of Participation from SickKids CCMH Learning Institute for completing Levels 1 and/or 2 as stand-alone trainings.