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Events from The Center for Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders: State of the Art Treatment
An Annual Symposium for Professionals

  • WHAT:
    • The treatment of eating disorders is a rapidly expanding field. The Center for Eating Disorders' annual symposium is designed to bring cutting edge, innovative treatment knowledge and options to the professionals caring for people with eating disorders. The symposium will be of interest to all professionals who make up the treatment team, including psychiatrists, internists, family practitioners, psychologists, registered nurses, social workers, registered dietitians, and expressive art therapists. This event has been approved for 6.25 educational credit hours.
  • WHEN:
    • Saturday, April 18, 2009
      The Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt
      7:00 am – Registration & Breakfast
      8:00 am – 4:30 pm Program

  • WHO:
    • Featured Presentations & Speakers

    • Mass Media, Eating Disorders, and the Bolder
      Model of Treatment, Prevention and Advocacy
      Michael Levine, Ph.D.

    • Improving the Treatment of Bulimia
      Stewart Agras, M.D.

    • The Relationship of Trauma and Eating Disorders:
      Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
      Stephen Wonderlich, Ph.D.

    • Integrated Treatment for Eating Disorders:
      Beyond the Body Betrayed
      Kathryn Zerbe, M.D.

    • Dynamic Tension to Dynamic Strength:
      Integrating Research and Practice in the Treatment
      of Eating Disorders
      Judith Banker, MA, LLP, FAED

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt to Host Special Events During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 22 – February 28, 2009)

  • WHAT:
    • The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt will host three events in observance of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 22 –February 28, 2008). National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is the largest eating disorders outreach effort in the country and is held annually during the last week of February.


    • The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt kicks off the week on Sunday, February 22, 2009 with two exclusive screenings of the documentary America the Beautiful, by Darryl Roberts. This film has gained national recognition for it’s exploration of America’s unhealthy obsession with beauty and the devastating consequences it has for individuals and our society as a whole. After each showing, director Darryl Roberts will conduct an in-person question and answer session with audience members. A trailer for the documentary can be viewed at http://www.americathebeautifuldoc.com/.


    • The week continues on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 with the annual "Love Your Tree" Poster Exhibit, Recognition Ceremony and Reception. During this event, posters created by Maryland middle, high school and college students will be displayed. Awards will be presented for posters that best portray the “Love Your Tree” themes of confronting narrow ideals about beauty, and embracing body diversity and acceptance.


    • The final event of the week on Thursday, February 26, 2009 is a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workshop facilitated by psychiatrist, Jeanne Serafin, M.D.. This seminar will be geared towards helping parents and adult loved ones who are confronted with the stress of caring for an individual with an eating disorder. Participants will learn the basic principles of mindfulness and techniques for responding to life’s daily stressors in healthy and positive ways.
  • WHEN:
    • Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009:
    • 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Session I screening of America the Beautiful and in-person Q&A with Director Darryl Roberts
    • 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Session II screening and Q&A

    • Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009:
    • 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – "Love Your Tree" Poster Exhibit, Recognition Ceremony and Reception

    • Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009:
    • 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workshop
  • WHERE:
    • The Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt
    • 6501 North Charles Street
    • Baltimore, MD 21204
  • COST:
    • All events are free to the public.
    • Pre-registration is required to ensure a spot at the event. To register, please call
    • Iris Fisher at (410) 938-3157 or send an email to ifisher@sheppardpratt.org

Live Chat with Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund

  • WHAT:
    • The Center for Eating Disorders is hosting a live chat with Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008.

    • Kirsten recently started her own foundation with the mission of "providing hope, networking, and financial aid to those seeking treatment and freedom from eating disorders". During a Live Chat on the 17th, Kirsten will be answering your questions about overcoming an eating disorder, her time as Miss America, and her ongoing commitment to raising awareness about eating disorders.

    • In order to take part in the chat, you must first be a registered user of the website discussion board – click here to register and return to the forum on Tuesday the 17th to enter the live chat room!

  • WHEN:
    • February 17th, 2009
      7:00 pm — 8:00 pm
  • MORE INFO:
    • For more information about the Kirsten Haglund Foundation click here.

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt is excited to present a special Love Your Tree Artist Workshop on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

Artists will be inspired to create one poster entry which expresses their personal vision in response to, “Like a tree my body is...". Emphasis will be placed on the power of imagery and metaphor to celebrate diversity, beauty and the individuality of every body shape. For more information on the Love Your Tree Poster campaign, scroll further down this page.

Love Your Tree Artist Workshop

Open to college students and young adults ages 17-25 Facilitated by: Julia Andersen, Senior Art Therapist

  • WHEN:
    • Saturday, December 6, 2008 — 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
  • WHERE:
    • The Towson Arts Collective
    • 406 York Road, Lower Level
    • Towson, MD 21204

Please contact Diane Margiotti at 23artist@gmail.com to register.

To view the flyer click here.

Author of Lying in Weight: The Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women to Speak at Center for Eating Disorders Presentation.

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt is pleased to present scientist and medical journalist Trisha Gura, Ph.D., author of Lying in Weight: The Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women, a book that reveals how marriage, pregnancy, parenting and other mid-and late-life events can trigger eating disorders. Gura spoke during a special presentation, Lying in Weight, on Oct. 5 at the Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt.

Gura spoke about eating disorders as they wax and wane throughout major life transitions. She touched on topics such as stress and brain biochemistry, marital discord, pregnancy while there is a history of an eating disorder, and the many difficult transitions of midlife (Ex. menopause, aging, and empty nesting). Members of the public were invited to join Gura for her keynote address, and question and answer session, to be followed by a reception with book signing and book sale.

For more information on Trisha Gura, visit www.trishagura.com

To download the flyer, click here

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt Presents its Third Annual “Love Your Tree” Poster Campaign

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt is inviting middle and high school students from throughout Baltimore to participate in its third annual “Love Your Tree” poster campaign, which aims to promote healthy body image.

Students are invited to create posters that challenge narrow beauty ideals, and embrace body diversity and acceptance. Posters will be accepted from Sept. 15, 2008 until Dec. 12, 2008 and one will be selected for reproduction, which will be displayed as part of an exhibit during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week – Feb. 22 through Feb. 28, 2009.

“Love Your Tree” is an inspiring body image campaign based on the work of Eve Ensler, the author of the award winning play “The Good Body.” In her play “The Good Body,” Ensler listens to a wise African woman describe the natural beauty of trees, and urges Ensler to stop hating her body and appreciate diversity. “Eve, look at the tree. Now look at this tree. Do you hate that tree because it doesn’t look like this tree? You’re a tree, I’m a tree. You’ve got to love your body Eve. You’ve got to love your tree!”

For more information on how to participate in the “Love Your Tree” body image campaign, please call the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt at 410-938-5252.

Poster entries must be no smaller than 9” X 12” and no larger than 18” X 24”. Only two dimensional media will be accepted. Participating artists and their families are invited to attend the exhibit during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Schools may register for an art education workshop staffed by one of the Center for Eating Disorder’s art therapists, who will present the Eve Ensler body image material and provide an opportunity for students to create a poster entry.

Click here to download the registration form
Click here to download the flyer for the poster campaign

Best-Selling Author, Jess Weiner, Presents Keynote Address During National Eating Disorder Awareness Week at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt.

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The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt was thrilled that best-selling author, advice columnist and self-esteem expert, Jess Weiner, served as the keynote speaker during an event to acknowledge National Eating Disorder Awareness Week on March 2, 2008. Weiner spoke at length to an audience of more than 100 people about her personal journey and body image in today's society.

Jess, who suffered from an eating disorder as a teen, chronicled her battle in her first book, A Very Hungry Girl. Her second book, Life Doesn't Begin 5 Pounds From Now, teaches girls and women about learning to love their bodies. Jess has inspired millions of women and teens with her refreshingly candid views on body image. She was recently named the Global Ambassador for the Dove Self-Esteem Fund, and has appeared on Oprah, The Tyra Banks Show, The Today Show and CNN Showbiz Tonight.

To learn more about Jess' presentation, read the blog post "Jess Weiner – Living Life to the Fullest" at www.eatingdisorder.org/blog

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt Receives more than 80 Posters for "Love Your Tree" Campaign

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The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt received more than 80 posters, created by students from five public and private schools in Baltimore County, in response to the Center's second annual "Love Your Tree" campaign. This challenge invited students to create posters that confront narrow ideals about beauty, and embrace body diversity and acceptance. "Love Your Tree" is a body image campaign based on the work of Eve Ensler, the author of the award winning plays "The Good Body" and "The Vagina Monologues."

The posters were displayed and participating students were celebrated during a reception held during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. One poster was selected for reproduction and it was created by Ariana Vaeth, a seventh grade student at Sudbrook Magnet Middle School, who resides in Windsor Mill. The title of the poster is "Evening Lit-tra-tree", and depicts a girl reading the book "Love Your Tree" under the shade of a loving tree.

More than 60 people attended the reception, including students, their parents and family members, Steven Crawford, M.D., associate director of the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, Julia Andersen, Julia Andersen, senior expressive arts therapist at the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, and Farrell Maddox, art supervisor at Baltimore County Public Schools.

Art is one form of therapy that the Center for Eating Disorders uses to help patients with eating disorders such as, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating, express feelings and explore conflicts. This course of treatment helps patients become more aware of the connections between eating disorder symptoms, negative body imagery and impulse control.

Schools interested in being notified of next year's "Love Your Tree" poster campaign should contact Julia Andersen at the Center for Eating Disorders at 410-938-5227.

Author of Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders speaks at “Gaining the Truth” Presentation

photoOn Sunday, Oct. 21, best selling author Aimee Liu spoke to an audience of more than 75 patients, family members, friends and staff members from the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt about her personal experience with anorexia. She also read excerpts from her book Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders, which draws upon Liu's personal accounts of recovery and includes interviews with leading researchers to clearly illuminate that recovery involves more than good nutrition. Prior to the presentation, Liu visited with patients currently under going treatment at the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt.

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To read Liu’s own account of her time at the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, please visit her blog.