Emily Murray, RD, LDN

Blog: emilymurrayrd.com

Instagram: @foodfreedomdietitian

What is your current position?

I currently hold a position at The Renfrew Center of Nashville! I work with clients who are enrolled in our day treatment and intensive outpatient programs.  

How did you get started in your career?

I received my Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology with a concentration in Nutrition and Dietetics from Tennessee Technological University, and I completed my Dietetic Internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. During my time at Vanderbilt, I competed my capstone rotation with the Adolescent Medicine Team at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, where I worked in multiple levels of care, including inpatient hospitalization and outpatient. I got my start in my career working with an outpatient private practice group of psychiatrists and therapists in Nashville! In that position, about 90-95% of the clientele I worked with had clinically diagnosable eating disorders, while the other 5-10% usually had some form of mental illness that was impacting their nutrition status in some way.

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

A few things come to mind when I think of advice for individuals who want to work in the eating disorders field: First, if you have a history of an eating disorder / disordered eating yourself, make sure you have done the work for yourself first before jumping in to helping others. This boundary will not only protect your own mental health, but also your future clients. Second, if you know you want to work with individuals with eating disorders before/during your internship, do your best to apply for programs that either have a special eating disorders rotation, or where you will have the opportunity to choose an “area of specialty” and get some experience that way. Third, network! I landed my first job without having to fill out a job application for that position! I met one of my co-workers at an eating disorders training event, networked, and the rest was history. Fourth, seek supervision! Reba Sloan, RD/LDN, MPH, FAED has been my supervisor from day one, and her advice and expertise has been invaluable! Fifth, if you want to treat eating disorders (and not just dip your toe in intuitive eating and some disordered eating), I highly recommend working in a higher level of care if possible. It’s not to say that you can’t do it without the higher level of care experience (I did) but you learn so much and see so much in those higher levels, that it can really enhance your knowledge and skills as a practitioner.

Diana Wright, MS, RD, CEDRD

Founder and Owner: Life Inspired Nutrition

Website: www.lifeinspirednutrition.com

Instagram: @Life_Inspired_Nutrition

Facebook: Life Inspired Nutrition

What is your current position?

I am the founder and owner of Life Inspired Nutrition, a private practice offering individualized nutritional consultations focused on helping clients recover from disordered eating and heal their relationship with food. We work from a non-diet, weight-inclusive approach routed in Health At Every Size Principles. 

How did you get started in your career?

I began my career during my combined Master’s of Clinical Nutrition at NYU and dietetic internship at the Bronx Veterans Medical Center. As I completed my rotations, I felt especially connected with nutrition counseling and one of my preceptors connected me with Melainie Rogers, MS, RD, CEDRD-S, founder of Melainie Rogers Nutrition and Balance Eating Disorder Treatment Center in NYC. Melainie and the incredible staff members became my mentors, providing me with further education and guidance on nutrition therapy for eating disorder treatment. I worked my way up from a recovery coach to the nutrition team leader and program coordinator for both the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) as well as the Day Treatment Program (DTP). I then relocated to San Diego and furthered my skill set as the West Coast Director of Nutrition for Eating Disorder Recovery Specialists (EDRS), an adjunct service providing transitional and supplemental support for individuals struggling with eating disorders. These positions allowed me to grow not only my experience with eating disorder treatment, but also my management skills. Since graduating from my Master’s program, I always had a small private practice and in 2017, I decided to focus primarily on my private practice. I then was able to hire an additional registered dietitian to the practice 1 year ago and we are expecting continued growth. 

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

I would recommend attending the amazing webinars, conferences and presentations that the field offers. I learned so much from these experiences! They allowed me to meet and brainstorm with wonderful professionals. Since the field is always changing and growing, I have found being a part of local and global professional networks is essential to expanding your knowledge. The IFEDD listserv in particular is immensely valuable! In addition, resources through the International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP), Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – Behavioral Health Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group (AND-BHN DPG), and the National Association of Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). There are also a plethora of amazing websites, books, podcasts, and social media accounts that provide valuable information to support your clients (There are too many to list but feel free to email if you’d like recommendations: [email protected]). In summary, get involved in the field, meet other professionals and stay connected via organizations, listservs and social media. We all learn from and support one another!

Catie Lynch, LCSW

Website: www.catielynchlcsw.com

Instagram: @catielynchlcsw

What is your current position?

I’m currently in private practice seeing clients virtually and in person. I specialize in eating disorders and body image. I’ve currently been in private practice for a little over two years.

How did you get started in your career?

I had a bunch of different jobs after I finished my masters program. I worked in addiction recovery, with chronic mental illness and then at a university setting. I saw A LOT and learned a ton from each position. After reaching out for help with my own eating disorder, I decided it was the specialty I wanted to pursue.

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

I would tell any new therapist that it takes time to feel comfortable and to be okay with asking for help. No one is perfect and we all need mentors, colleagues and supervisors to help us along the way. I would say to be persistent in pursuing what you want. I would also say that social work and counseling is very emotionally draining if you aren’t taking care of yourself. As practitioners, we must model good self care and self love by putting our needs first. 

Erica Leon, MS, RDN, CEDRD

Website: ericaleon.com

Facebook: @erica.leon.nutrition

Instagram: @ericaleonnutrition

Twitter: @EricaLeonRDN

Pinterest: EricaLeonRD

What is your current position?

I am the owner of Erica Leon Nutrition, a group nutrition practice that specializes in eating disorder treatment and prevention. We use a non-diet, Health at Every Size ® approach to help chronic dieters re-connect with their natural, internal signals of hunger, fullness, and satisfaction. We work with clients with all types of eating concerns. We also have group meal support, cooking programs, and in-person and online intuitive eating and nutrition workshops. 

How did you get started in your career?

I enjoyed my nutrition coursework in college, so I decided to do a dietetic internship and work in a hospital. I loved doing that work, but I was young and impatient, so I tried my hand at several other nutrition careers. I worked in sales and marketing for a formula company. Next, I worked in public relations for some big-name products like Optifast and Sweet and Low. I found I missed working directly with patients, so I eventually started my private practice. 

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

a) Experiment with different nutrition jobs. I found my way to eating disorder treatment through trial and error. That’s how I learned which career excited me and was the best fit for my needs and skill set. How can a young person know which job is right for them until they are out in the field? 

b) Network. Go to events and talk to people. I learned about every one of my jobs through connections I had made at various dietetic association meetings. 

c) Have supervision if you do direct patient care. Particularly with patients who suffer from eating disorders, make sure you have guidance. Supervision was not readily available when I first started seeing patients. I had to rely on wisdom from the therapists who were working with my patients. Nowadays, supervision is a prerequisite to becoming certified as an eating disorder specialist.

Lastly, I do have a book in the works but it’s too soon to announce it! I will just say that there are recipes in it, and it’s anti-diet culture. That’s all I can say right now!

Whitney Russell MS, LPC-S, CEDS-S

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.bravehavencounseling.com

Instagram: @whitneylpc

What is your current position?

I have two professional hats that I wear right now. I have a therapy practice in Richardson, TX called Brave Haven Counseling where I specialize in eating disorders, addictions, mood and anxiety, women’s issues, relationship difficulties, and the enneagram. My services include individual and family therapy, telehealth sessions, consultation, and supervision. It is one of my missions in life to give my clients and my supervises a safe space where they can do difficult and hard work. My favorite part about being a therapist is establishing relationships with my clients where I am able to help them to see what they have been missing about themselves all along- that they are powerful beings worthy of great love, belonging, and connection. Having my LPC-S and my CEDS-S allows me to guide the next generation of practitioners and it is a very rewarding aspect of my practice. 

Along with having my private practice, I am also the Regional Director for Center For Discovery in Texas and Illinois. I oversee the operational and clinical divisions for all of the residential facilities and outpatient locations in both of these states. I offer guidance and support to the leaders of these programs daily. It is my hope to empower these leaders to be their authentic selves as well as establish safe spaces for their clients and employees. 

How did you get started in your career?

I have always been interested in eating disorders. Growing up in our society it is very difficult to not be a victim of diet culture and feel like you always need to be perfecting your body, eating the right foods, and crafting an image. After I became fully licensed while working at the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center, I seized an opportunity in 2011 to be a primary therapist at an outpatient facility for eating disorders and never looked back. The belief systems we cultivate in our clients around body image, food, self-care, authenticity, and courage have really become a part of my own identity and I have so much gratitude for this work. 

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

Be ready to examine your own thoughts and beliefs about the world. Being effective in the world of eating disorders means that you have to “walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk”. Examining how you interact with and participate in diet culture is the first step. 

Upcoming Workshop Information – October 18, 2019

Website: www.Kaloncollective.com

1) Kena Watson, LPA

What is your current position?

I am the administrator for Kalon Collective LLC and a psychologist in private practice. I am the first point of contact for new clients seeking services.

How did you get started in your career?

I gained insight into the need for Kalon Collective LLC’s services through my work as a direct care staff member and then a therapist at an eating disorder treatment facility. It was through aftercare planning for my individual clients that I saw that there was a gap in outpatient resources, especially for accountability and education in preparing and cooking meals or even having meals alone, with friends or on the job. Kalon Collective LLC was started to fill those gaps and further promote clients in their recovery.

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

Self-care, self-care, self-care! No one is immune to negative self-talk and/or poor relationships with food and body (including mental health professionals). Be sure you are taking time for yourself as you hold space for your clients.

2) Jennifer Murphy

What is your current position?

I am the Culinary Consultant for Kalon Collective LLC.

How did you get started in your career?

I started my work with folks in eating disorder recovery employed at an eating disorder treatment facility, where I obtained my experience through various roles in direct patient care. Throughout the years of working for this facility I moved into the role of Culinary Director at one of the two locations. It was in this role that I saw how effective one on one interactions, challenges and education in the kitchen were for the patients there. This insight led my partners and I to form Kalon Collective LLC as an outpatient resource, providing again the one on one care that people might have not received during their time in treatment.

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

Keep an open mind, be patient, try to put yourself in your client’s shoes, and be yourself. Remember that you are planting a seed in someone’s life and even if you see the fruits of your labor or not, you are still making a significant impact.  

3) Sara Riggs MSW, LCSW

What is your current position?

I oversee the marketing and social media for Kalon Collective LLC and am a licensed clinical social worker in private practice.

How did you get started in your career?

I first found my way into helping folks with eating disorders after undergrad, working as an administrator at an outpatient eating disorder center. From there I moved into a direct care staff role at a different eating disorder facility, and then was offered a therapist position once I graduated with my master’s degree at that same facility. I worked full time as a therapist until fully licensed as a clinical social worker and then began my yearlong transition to outpatient, while building Kalon Collective LLC with Jennifer and Kena. Our combined, unique experiences allowed us to see what was missing in the eating disorder recovery community and generally in the world of effective health and wellness practices.

What advice would you give to someone new to the field?

Find a good supervisor and network/group to consult and work with. I felt incredibly lucky and appreciative to work with some really talented, supportive, generous and compassion folks over the years either as supervisors or as colleagues. You can learn a lot from working side by side with people, as well as offer and receive true support from others who are doing similar work. Kalon Collective LLC wouldn’t have been created or what it is today without the support from many awesome folks in our community and field.