Masterclass on multi-diagnostic eating disorder treatment using dialectical behaviour therapy (MED DBT)
Masterclass on multi-diagnostic eating disorder treatment using dialectical behaviour therapy (MED DBT)
About this event
By Dr. Lucene Wisniewski, FAED.
Thursday 22nd May 2025, 9.00am - 11.00am (Sydney, AEDT) 2 hour duration
The work of professionals who treat clients diagnosed with an eating disorder (ED) and significant other comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, suicidality or BPD can be complicated.
First and foremost, multi-diagnostic ED clients can be ambivalent about treatment and recovery. Professionals are often in the position of having to “sell” the treatment we believe is needed to individuals who have not been helped often by multiple previous interventions.
Furthermore, EDs can be life threatening illnesses and professionals may become unclear about priorities when attempting to help a client who has more than one life-
threatening condition: e.g., What if my client is self- harming and is medically unstable – which do I deal with first?
The work of the ED professional is further complicated by behaviors that can interfere with the treatment delivery. Behaviors such as angry outbursts, failure to complete homework, lying, water-loading, and cancelling sessions are considered therapy-interfering behaviors (TIBs) and can interfere with clients’ abilities to benefit from treatment, remain in treatment, or both.
Finally, the professional’s own burn out and frustrations can interfere with treatment, as well.
MED - Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT for Multidiagnostic Eating Disorders), provides a clear and systematic model for dealing with ambivalence, multiple-problem cases, as well as life-threatening and therapy-interfering behaviors.
In this two-hour advanced Masterclas, participants will be exposed to MED- DBT theory and practice. Particular attention will be given to how to apply motivation and commitment strategies, how to conceptualize and organize patient behavior in terms of priorities, and how to identify and address therapy-interfering behaviors on the part of the patient and therapist. Using lectures, case examples, small group exercises and role plays, participants will have the opportunity to practice and observe MED- DBT treatment strategies for those diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Goal: To provide clinicians with expert training in DBT for Multi-diagnostic Eating Disorder Clients
Lucene Wisniewski, PhD, FAED is a clinician, trainer, and researcher whose interests center around using empirically founded treatments to inform clinical practice. Lucene, an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, has taught more than 150 workshops, lectures and presentations on Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavior Therapies internationally and has over 40 publications in peer reviewed journals and invited book chapters. Lucene has been elected fellow by the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), where she has served on the board of directors and as the co-chair of the Borderline Personality Disorder special interest group. In 2013 the AED awarded Lucene the Outstanding Clinician Award to acknowledge her contribution to the field of eating disorder treatment. In 2023, Lucene was recognized as ABCT Champion. In 2024 Lucene was honored with the Fulbright Specialist Award, through which she served at Comenzar de Nuevo AC, a non-profit institution in Monterrey, Mexico. Lucene is the founder and Chief Clinical Officer of the Center for Evidence Based Treatment (www.cebtohio.com), which offers therapy, training, and consultation in evidence-based approaches to mental health conditions via traditional and teletherapy platforms.
ANZAED Members: $50.00
Non-Members: $90.00