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2026, 23 October, Irving TX: The Story Within: Narrative Approaches That Deepen Insight and Structure Recovery Work

CE Hours 1

About this live event

This presentation introduces a narrative-based approach to treatment planning and progress monitoring in eating disorder care. Drawing on Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and narrative theory, this model uses story, metaphor, and imagery to help clients make sense of their experiences, externalize the eating disorder, and engage more meaningfully in recovery. By framing goals and setbacks within a narrative lens, clinicians can reduce shame, enhance self-compassion, and create treatment plans that feel coherent and personally relevant. The session will demonstrate how narrative language can support identity development, strengthen therapeutic alliance, and provide families with a shared way of understanding progress. Attendees will learn practical strategies for incorporating metaphors, story themes, and narrative progress indicators into both clinical work and documentation, ensuring alignment with evidence-based outcomes across all levels of care.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe how narrative structure, metaphor, and imagery enhance motivation, engagement, and self-compassion in individuals receiving eating disorder treatment.
  • Apply narrative and metaphor-based techniques to conceptualize treatment goals and monitor progress in a developmentally attuned, person-centered way.
  • Integrate narrative-informed documentation practices that link story elements and metaphors to measurable clinical outcomes, supporting clear communication among clients, families, and multidisciplinary teams.

Learning Levels

  • Intermediate

Agenda

11am - Networking 11:30am - lunch and announcements 12:00-1pm - CE Presentation The Story Within: Narrative Approaches That Deepen Insight and Structure Recovery Work

Live event Instructor(s)

  • Mary Elizabeth Akinaka LPC-S, CEDS-C

    VP of Clinical Services, Alsana Mary Elizabeth Akinaka, LPC-S, CEDS-C, currently serves as Vice President of Clinical Services at Alsana Eating Disorder Recovery Community in Birmingham, Alabama. With over a decade of experience in the eating disorder field, Mary Elizabeth has dedicated her career to supporting compassionate, individualized, and effective care for clients in recovery. She is especially passionate about leading multidisciplinary teams that create brave spaces where clients can engage deeply in their healing journeys.

    Mary Elizabeth holds a bachelor’s degree in Collaborative Special Education from Auburn University and a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, along with a Certificate in Marriage and Family Counseling, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

    An advocate for weight-inclusive, client-centered care, Mary Elizabeth regularly presents on topics related to eating disorder treatment and health equity. She has also been featured on several podcasts where she shares insights into weight-inclusive approaches, compassionate leadership, and the evolving landscape of eating disorder recovery.

    Mary Elizabeth is energized by authentic connection and believes that growth often comes through engaging with stories that differ from our own. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two sons.

  • Katherine Jordan, RD, LD, CEDS-C

    Director of Nutrition Services, Alsana Katherine currently serves as the Director of Nutrition Services at Alsana Eating Recovery Community. She began her career with Alsana as an intern in 2014 and joined full-time as a dietitian in 2016. She has since served as Lead Dietitian and the Director of Clinical Services at the Birmingham residential program. Passionate about the field of eating disorders, Katherine is honored to walk alongside clients in their recovery journeys and is inspired daily by their courage. She values the opportunity to witness transformation—in relationships with food, body, movement, and self—that allows clients to experience true freedom in mind, body, and soul. A registered and licensed dietitian nutritionist, Katherine is also a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Supervisor and a member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, boxing, and traveling.

  • Keesha Amezcua LMFT, CED-C, CDWF

    Keesha Amezcua serves as Alsana’s Chief Clinical Officer, bringing twenty years of experience in the eating disorder treatment field. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist Consultant. Keesha brings a wealth of expertise and a track record of clinical excellence to the organization. Previously Keesha held clinical leadership roles over all levels of care for both adolescents and adults as Vice President of Clinical Programming for Monte Nido & Affiliates. Keesha also brings international program development experience contributing to Wandi Nerida, Australia’s first residential eating disorder treatment center. Apart from her clinical work, Keesha has authored numerous publications on eating disorder recovery and regularly speaks at national conferences. She holds certifications as a Daring Way Facilitator and in specialized therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), enhancing her ability to deliver trauma-informed, evidence-based care. Under Keesha’s leadership, Alsana is poised to excel in providing outstanding care, fostering a nurturing environment for professionals, and shaping the future of the eating disorder treatment industry.

CE Process Info

  • Joint Accreditation

    Joint Accreditation (JA)

    In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

  • Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)

    This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

  • Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)

    Completion of this RD/DTR profession-specific or IPCE activity awards CPEUs (1 IPCE credits = 1 CPEU). If the activity is dietetics related but not targeted to RDs or DTRs, CPEUs may be claimed which are commensurate with participation in contact hours (1 hour/60 minutes = 1 CPEU). RDs and DTRs are to select activity type 102 in their Activity Logs. Performance Indicator selection is at the learner’s discretion.

  • Physicians (ACCME) Credit Designation Statement (ACCME)

    CE Learning Systems designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • Nurses (ANCC) Credit Designation Statement (ANCC)

    Successful completion of this program qualifies for 1 contact hours for nurses.

  • American Psychological Association (APA)

    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1 clinical continuing education credits.

  • National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)

    iaedp™ is approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), provider number 5912.

  • New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYEDSW)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. #0060.

  • New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy (NYSEDCAT)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board of Creative Arts Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0008

  • New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSEDLMHC)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.

  • New York Education Department Board for Licensed Psychoanalysts (NYSEDLP)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychoanalysts as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts. #P-0031.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYEDPSY)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists. #PSY-0016.

  • New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYEDMFT)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists. #MFT-0045.

2026, 23 October, Irving TX: The Story Within: Narrative Approaches That Deepen Insight and Structure Recovery Work
You Have Completed This course
Free
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    1
  • Type
    Hybrid Event
  • Location
    Texas Tech DFW (4201 State Hwy 161, Suite 250, Irving, TX 75038)
  • Date
    Fri Oct 23rd, 2026
  • Time
    11:00am - 01:00pm CDT

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