CREDN Conference for Professionals

Please join us for the 15th Annual Columbia River Eating Disorder Network (CREDN) Conference for Professionals. The theme this year is Rethinking Obesity: A Compassionate and Collaborative Approach to Weight Concerns. The presentations will offer fresh perspectives on obesity with special emphasis on childhood obesity and clinical practice. Helping without harming will be a major focus of the conference. We will also provide tools to optimize your time with patients.

Date: Saturday, February 18

Time: 8:30am - 4:00pm  

Location: Lewis & Clark College, Templeton Campus Center, Stamm

Conference Schedule

8:30-8:45 a.m.         
Welcome and Introduction

Dana Sturtevant, M.S., RD and Jacqueline Abbott, Dr.PH, RD, LD

8:45-Noon     
Morning Plenary Session

Celebrating All Shapes and Sizes: Helping Children and Teens Feel Good About Their Bodies and About Themselves 
Sandra Friedman, B.S.W., M.A. 

This workshop shifts the paradigm of obesity from the current belief that fat is bad to the belief that fat in itself is a body type and not a measure of health or self-worth. Instead of asking what we can do to help our ‘over’-weight kids lose weight, this workshop will explore how we can help children and teens of all shapes and sizes accept their bodies, develop resilience and a strong sense of self, and become and stay healthy.

Noon-1 p.m.          
Lunch

1:00- 2:15 p.m.    
Afternoon Plenary Session

Caution: Dieting and Exercise can be Hazardous to Your Health  
Kenneth L. Weiner, M.D., FAED, CEDS

Research indicates that the long term benefits of diets with regard to long term weight management are minimal at best and that potential side effects of dieting behaviors are far too great to for it to be recommended as “treatment for obesity’. The majority of individuals with eating disordered behaviors report that they engaged in dieting prior to developing an eating disorder. Nonetheless, in the U.S., 50 billion dollars plus is spent on dieting each year. This workshop will examine the shared risk factors common to obesity, dieting and eating disorders as well as an integrated approach to prevention. 

2:15-2:30 p.m.         
Break

2:30-4 p.m.
Breakout Sessions             

1) A Compassionate Approach to Weight Concerns in the Medical Setting  
David A. McAnulty, M.D., Natasha Polensek, M.D., F.A.A.P., and Jacqueline Abbott, Dr.PH, RD, LD

The discussion of “weight” in the medical setting presents a unique conundrum: does the initiation of the topic of weight by the medical professional help or harm? This workshop will provide 1) an opportunity to explore our own attitudes and possible weight bias 2) communication strategies that help discuss weight concerns with support and respect 3) strategies for medical team, patient and families that focus on health not weight.

2) Health at Every Size: Practical Applications in the Clinical Setting  
Hilary Kinavey, M.S., LPC and Dana Sturtevant, M.S., RD

The five basic tenets of Heath at Every Size (HAES) are health enhancement, size and self-acceptance, the pleasure of eating well, the joy of movement and an end to weight bias.  Using a combination of therapeutic approaches, including mindfulness, self-compassion, and intuitive eating, HAES can strengthen an individual’s commitment to their health and wellness by focusing on quality of life and self-care instead dieting for cosmetic reasons. Research has shown that lasting behavioral change and movement toward a natural weight range is much more likely to occur through ‘self-care,’ rather than through the self-loathing, body dissatisfaction and fear that motivates people to diet.  In this breakout, presenters will review the philosophical approach of HAES, discuss research findings, and explore the practical application of HAES in a clinical setting.

3) Supporting Clients Who Choose Weight Loss Surgery  
Jennifer Tolman, Ph.D., Sara Hunt, Ph.D., and Kelly Laschkewitsch, RD

Weight loss surgery is increasingly becoming a treatment option chosen by individuals with obesity or metabolic problems, and is often strongly recommended by medical professionals concerned about long term effects of obesity. As the population of individuals who have undergone the surgery grows, mental health, nutrition, and medical professionals are learning that these individuals present with a unique set of treatment issues, both leading up to the surgery, and in the weeks, months, and years after the surgery has been completed. In this breakout session, presenters will explore common psychosocial issues that arise both before and after weight loss surgery, research to date on psychosocial outcomes of the surgery, and treatment interventions to address issues that concern this unique population. 

Fees & Registration

Regular: $165 

CREDN members: $145

Students or residents: $50

6 CEUs available.

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon refreshments will be provided.

Online registration is now closed. On-site registration will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the conference.  

Special Hotel Rate

Two nearby hotels have extended a special reduced rate to CREDN Conference attendees. 

The Lakeshore Inn located at 210 N. State Street, Lake Oswego offers non-view rooms for $89 and rooms with a view for $99. Please call 503-636-9679 to make your reservation.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 14811 Kruse Oaks Dr, Lake Oswego offers their rooms at $84 per night. Please call 503-624-8400 to make your reservation.

Conference Sponsors

Many thanks to our sponsors, including the Center for Community Engagement and the Addiction Studies Program at the Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling, the Kartini Clinic for Disordered Eating, the Moore Center for Eating Disorders, Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, and Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders. 

For information on becoming a sponsor, please contact Emily Morin at (503) 768-6043.

 

About the Presenters

Sandra Friedman, B.S.W., M.A. is an educator, author and counselor in the area of eating disorder treatment and prevention, body image and weight issues and the promotion of Health at Every Size. She has extensive experience in facilitating professional training workshops and community education seminars across Canada and in the United States. She is the creator/author of the widely used Just for Girls Program and Just for Boys Program and author of Body Thieves: Help Girls Reclaim their Natural Bodies and Become Physically Active. She lives in Sechelt, British Columbia where she is actively involved in food security and keeping the rabbits out of her vegetable garden. Visit her at www.salal.com.

Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS is the Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of the state-of-the-art Eating Recovery Center in Denver, Colorado. Along with Dr. Emmett Bishop, their 50 years of combined experience in treating Eating Disorders yielded a medically based, visionary, center that offers the highest-quality continuum of care.  Dr. Weiner is a nationally recognized and award-winning, psychiatrist, professor, lecturer, co-author, director, and fellow.   

Jacqueline Abbott, Dr.PH, RD, LD earned a Doctorate in Public Health with an emphasis in Preventive Care and a Masters in Health Sciences from Loma Linda University. Dr. Abbott is a nationally recognized expert in the field of eating disorders and has over 20 years experience in the field as a working clinician and consultant and has been an adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark College for over 15 years.  Dr. Abbott co-developed the Eating Disorder Certification (EDCP) coursework and program at Lewis & Clark and for the past 4 years in collaboration with the Center for Community Engagement and the Addiction Studies Program, has served as co-coordinator of the EDCP and has assumed a primary role in leading, coordinating, and teaching for the EDCP. As a licensed and registered Dietitian and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, Dr. Abbott’s practice at Northwest Primary Care is centered on eating disorders and child and adolescent obesity.

Sara Hunt, Ph.D. is a psychologist with the Oregon Bariatric Center in Springfield, Oregon.  She conducts psychosocial evaluations of patients prior to weight-loss surgery as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team. Dr. Hunt also facilitates a monthly support group in addition to offering individual counseling for patients pre or post surgery. Most recently, Dr. Hunt started a behavior change support group for post-surgery patients struggling with outcomes. Dr. Hunt received her Doctoral degree in psychology from Utah State University and completed an internship in Toronto, Ontario at a children’s rehabilitation center.

Hilary Kinavey, MS, LPC specializes in eating disorders and weight-related concerns, in addition to healing from trauma, anxiety and depression and addictions. She is dedicated to helping others live conscious, authentic lives by cultivating a healthy relationship between food, mind, and body. When working with clients Hilary draws upon mindfulness practice in combination with cognitive-behavioral techniques, family systems theory and motivational interviewing. She is trained in EMDR, Phase I and II and is an adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark College in the Eating Disorder’s Certificate Program.

Kelly Laschkewitsch, R.D. is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Health degree at Oregon State University.  Kelly has worked at the Legacy Good Samaritan Weight Management Institute, a Centers of Excellence for bariatric surgery, since it opened in 2004.  As a dietitian and program coordinator Kelly’s responsibilities at the Weight Management Institute include nutritional counseling before and after bariatric surgery, facilitating support groups, presenting at various weight related education events in the community, physician outreach and development of weight sensitivity education for hospital and medical staff.  Kelly’s most recent project was coordinating the development of a 24-week multi-disciplinary behavior based weight management program, recently implemented at the Weight Management Institute.  She holds a certificate in adult weight management from the American Dietetic Association, has served as an advisor for continuing education for dietitians for Barimd, and has presented at several local continuing medical education programs on obesity. Her passion is helping people achieve better mental and physical health by understanding changes they are capable of making in their eating and self-care.

David A. McAnulty, M.D. maintains a family practice and is Medical Director at Northwest Primary Care’s Sellwood/Moreland Clinic in Portland, OR. He earned is medical degree at University of California at Davis and his special interests include preventative medical care and chronic disease management. Dr. McAnulty teaches at OHSU and is a member of the following professional organizations: American Academy of Family Physicians, Oregon Academy of Family Physicians and Oregon Medical Association. In addition he is Chair of both the Providence Milwaukie Hospital Family and Internal Medicine Department and the Providence Milwaukie Hospital Peer Review Department.

Natasha Polensek, M.D., F.A.A.P. is the Director of the Doernbecher Healthy Lifestyles clinic. Dr. Polensek specializes in caring for all sorts of kids in her general pediatric practice from birth through age 24. She also directs a clinic for kids with severe obesity and obesity-related disorders and is interested in a community-wide approach to working on this issue. She is a founding board member of Health Bridges International, www.hbint.org, a Portland-area nonprofit that performs various health related and medical projects in several countries, but with a concentration in Peru. She spent several years traveling the globe and becoming involved in various projects but returned to Portland to be a doting aunt to her niece and nephew. Dr. Polensek enjoys reading, dancing, camping and tai chi in her free time.

Dana Sturtevant, M.S., RD is a registered dietician and Kripalu yoga teacher with extensive experience using a motivational approach to help individuals let go of food/weight obsession to heal relationship with food and reach a natural, healthy weight. As a nutrition therapist, Dana’s specialization and interests include: Food/Weight/Body Image concerns, Eating Disorders, Heart Disease/Cholesterol/Blood Pressure, Diabetes/Glycemic Control, Disease Prevention/General Health and Disease Management. Dana works with patients using awareness practice and conscious eating guidelines as the foundation for a more enjoyable eating experience.

Jennifer Tolman, Ph.D.  works as Director of Specialty Services for Avalon Hills Eating Disorder Residential Treatment Facility, located in northern Utah.  Utilizing Avalon Hills’ Treat to Outcome approach, she works with families and clinicians on issues of legal advocacy, particularly with patients who are un or underinsured, to make sure their treatment is driven by outcome, not by insurance benefit.  She also works with insured patients who can benefit from mental health parity laws.  Additionally, she provides patient follow-up for patients having discharged from Avalon Hills and helps to make their transition to outpatient treatment teams seamless so treatment gains can be maintained upon discharge.  Jennifer also has a small private practice in Eugene and works with the inpatient team at RiverBend Medical Center.

About CREDN

The Columbia River Eating Disorder Network (CREDN) is a non-profit organization composed of treatment professionals dedicated to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. We promote community awareness of eating, weight and body-image concerns, and provide referral information for those seeking treatment. Membership is only $35 per year.  For more information about CREDN, visit www.credn.org. To become a member, email Joyce Korschgen at joyce.korschgen.lpc@gmail.com.