About this course
The intersection of trauma and eating disorders presents a significant clinical challenge that demands an integrative and individualized approach. Clients with a history of trauma and a subsequent diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) frequently develop maladaptive coping mechanisms, including disordered eating behaviors, to manage distress. When PTSD co-occurs with eating disorders-particularly severe presentations such as Anorexia Nervosa, Binge-Eating/Purging type-the complexity of care escalates, requiring the coordination of multiple disciplines to ensure comprehensive and effective treatment. This panel presentation brings together medical, nutritional, and specialized clinical professionals to explore a complex case involving comorbid PTSD and Anorexia Nervosa. Through collaborative discussion, the panel will demonstrate how multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation can guide treatment planning and intervention, especially when evidence-based and patient-centered strategies are tailored to an individual's unique clinical picture. Central to this presentation is the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as part of an integrative approach that includes nutritional rehabilitation, medical oversight, and acceptance- and exposure-based psychotherapies. While EMDR is widely recognized as an effective treatment for PTSD, its application in eating disorder treatment is less established. This presentation will review the emerging evidence supporting EMDR in addressing core trauma-related beliefs that often underlie and maintain eating disorder behaviors. The team will discuss how trauma symptoms-such as guilt, shame, and self-punishment-can fuel restrictive eating or compensatory behaviors, and how targeted reprocessing through EMDR can reduce these drivers and promote symptom resolution. A symptom prioritization framework will be introduced, offering clinicians a structured method for deciding which symptoms to target and in what sequence, depending on the patient's readiness and evolving treatment needs. In addition to EMDR, the panel will explore non-traditional and evolution-informed clinical strategies that were key to the case's progress. These include a weight transparency protocol-where weight is shared collaboratively rather than withheld-which served to reduce anxiety, enhance trust, and support engagement in food exposures. The team also integrated Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles to foster psychological flexibility and reduce avoidance behaviors that were both trauma- and ED-related. Through this case, the panel underscores the importance of flexibility, humility, and interdisciplinary cooperation in modern eating disorder care. The discussion will address the clinical decision-making process, key therapeutic inflection points, and the importance of adapting evidence-based modalities like EMDR to suit the nuanced needs of clients with co-occurring diagnoses. Attendees will leave with a richer understanding of how trauma-focused interventions can be ethically and effectively incorporated into eating disorder treatment-and how empathy and innovation can evolve alongside the evidence to support client-centered healing.
