Professional Events
Professional Summer School Series
Professional Summer School Series
Available Online, July 1 – August 31, 2025
Available July 1 – August 31, 2025
Cost: $125 | Includes access to 5 trainings
Offering 8 CE hours (four 1.5 hour seminars and one 2 hour seminar)
Hosted by: The Renfrew Center Foundation
Held Online
The Renfrew Center Foundation is pleased to offer our Summer School Series, an opportunity for mental health professionals to access 5 On-Demand Continuing Education (CE) courses. These powerful presentations will address core issues in the treatment of eating disorders.
In this series, Renfrew experts will explore topics which include:
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- Addressing Obstacles to Care
- Body Image and Diet Culture
- Screening and Diagnosis
- Transdiagnostic Treatment
- Treating College Students
Training #1
Navigating the Complexities of Eating Disorders
Presenter: Erin Birely, LCPC
This presentation will explore how body image is developed, understand the theory of embodiment and identify internalized biases and stigmas that may impact the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders. Participants will learn about the dangerous reality of eating disorders and the impact of diet culture in diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders. We will discuss the nutrition philosophy and explore intuitive eating. We will also learn skills for early recognition and assessment tools for eating disorders.
Training #2
Undetected: Preventing, Screening, & Treating Eating Disorders
Presenter: Samantha DeCaro, PsyD
Eating disorders remain among the deadliest psychiatric conditions, impacting individuals across diverse backgrounds. Although awareness of mental health continues to grow, critical gaps remain in training related to the prevention, identification, and treatment of eating disorders.
This workshop will equip participants with practical tools to recognize high-risk populations, understand key risk factors, utilize validated screening and assessment measures, and implement evidence-based interventions that enhance motivation, clarify personal values, and support emotional awareness. Attendees will explore strategies to strengthen protective factors and mitigate risks, fostering a culture grounded in prevention, early detection, and timely intervention.
Training #3
We’re in this Together: Navigating Collaboration on Campus for College Students with Eating Disorders
Presenter: Laura McLain, PsyD, BC-TMH, Jessica Berens, MS, RD, LDN, and Kasey Walls, DNP, PMHNP-BC
The complexities of eating disorders in college students coupled with short-term treatment limitations present unique challenges for college health professionals in effective assessment and intervention. Challenges on campus, including siloed providers, negatively impact students and receiving robust support. Collaboration between providers is essential in providing the best ethical care to diverse students.
This training will provide an in-depth look at how to assess, collaboratively treat, and refer students to the appropriate resources. Discussion will focus on establishing multidisciplinary teams, collaborating with providers, and implementing short-term evidence-based treatment interventions.
Training #4
“I Know They Need More But…”: Common Obstacles in the Treatment of Eating Disorders
Presenter: Ashley Moser, LMFT, CEDS
One of the most common dilemmas clinicians face in treating eating disorders is what to do when a client needs more support. Obstacles to care can feel endless and leaving clinicians to grapple with questions like: Is some help better than no help? Is it ethical to treat or not treat? Is this obstacle something that can be worked through with time?
This presentation will explore this common clinical dilemma and the questions clinicians face. Attendees will learn practical tools for navigating obstacles to support ranging from systemic to individual. Evidence-based treatment approaches will also be provided for those clients in need of more support but … Special attention will be given to the role of the clinician and preventing burnout in working within obstacles.
Training #5
Permission to Feel: A Transdiagnostic Approach to Understanding Eating Disorders
Presenter: Christina Purkiss, LMHC, CEDS-C
This presentation examines the psychological complexity of eating disorders and explores the benefits of a cutting edge, evidence-based trans-diagnostic treatment which focuses on emotional awareness and exposure. There is now growing evidence that emotional avoidance is a maintaining factor for eating disorders as well as co-morbid conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse and trauma response. Treatment which specifically focuses on targeting emotional avoidance, while developing emotional awareness, tolerance and acceptance, can provide an integrated, unified approach to resolve the myriad of symptoms which are often associated with the complex eating disorder client.
Accreditation
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- The Renfrew Center Foundation has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5852. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Renfrew Center Foundation is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
- The Renfrew Center Foundation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Renfrew Center Foundation maintains responsibility for the program and its content.
- CDR:
- Navigating the Complexities of Eating Disorders awards 1.5 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.
- Undetected: Preventing, Screening, & Treating Eating Disorders awards 1.5 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.
- We’re in this Together: Navigating Collaboration on Campus for College Students with Eating Disorders awards 2 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.
- “I Know They Need More But…”: Common Obstacles in the Treatment of Eating Disorders awards 1.5 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.
- Permission to Feel: A Transdiagnostic Approach to Understanding Eating Disorders awards 1.5 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.
- NASW:
- Navigating the Complexities of Eating Disorders is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886357583-2785) for 1.5 continuing education contact hours.
- Undetected: Preventing, Screening, & Treating Eating Disorders is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886357583-5679) for 1.5 continuing education contact hours.
- We’re in this Together: Navigating Collaboration on Campus for College Students with Eating Disorders (Recorded Webinar) is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886357583-9680) for 2 continuing education contact hours.
- “I Know They Need More But…”: Common Obstacles in the Treatment of Eating Disorders is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886357583-8767) for 1.5 continuing education contact hours.
- Permission to Feel: A Transdiagnostic Approach to Understanding Eating Disorders is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886357583-9371) for 1.5 continuing education contact hours.
CE credits will be sent via email around mid-September. To receive credit, you will need to complete the online seminar evaluation and posttest for each course.
For questions, please contact [email protected].
*All presentations are 1.5 hours, except for We’re in this Together: Navigating Collaboration on Campus for College Students with Eating Disorders, which is 2 hours.
About the Presenters:
Jessica Berens, MS, RD, LDN, is a Senior Regional Nutrition Manager at The Renfrew Center. She received a dual-Bachelor’s degree in Food Science & Human Nutrition and Psychology from The University of Florida, and her Master of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from with a concentration in nutrition and sports Texas Tech University. Mrs. Berens has experience working with all eating disorder presentations and specializes in Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) as well as bringing weight neutral language and goals into higher levels of care.
Erin Birely, LCPC, started working as the Team Leader of The Renfrew Center of Baltimore in September 2016 and joined the Alumni Services Team in 2019 as the Alumni Services Coordinator. Prior to joining Renfrew, Erin had worked in private practice as well as inpatient, partial and intensive outpatient levels of care. Erin has worked in the field of eating disorder treatment since receiving her Master’s degree in 2012. She enjoys working with people to make positive and long lasting changes in life through therapy and building their emotional tolerance.
Samantha DeCaro, PsyD is the Director of Clinical Outreach & Education for The Renfrew Center, a licensed psychologist, and the co-host of the podcast All Bodies. All Foods. As Renfrew’s national spokesperson, Dr. DeCaro has been featured as an eating disorder expert on various news programs, podcasts, and online publications.
Laura McLain, PsyD, BC-TMH, is the Site Director at The Renfrew Center of Atlanta. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Northridge and her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. Dr. McLain has worked in a variety of settings and with several different populations including children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities, emerging adults, depression, anxiety, self-esteem and identity issues, addictions, and relationship issues. In addition to her role at Renfrew, she also works in private practice serving individuals suffering with eating disorders, substance use disorders, and trauma. Dr. McLain is an active member of the American Psychological Association (APA), is a member of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), and is a Board Certified Telemental Heath Provider.
Ashley Moser, LMFT, CEDS, is a Clinical Education Specialist at The Renfrew Centers. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University. Ms. Moser has extensive experience in providing therapy and clinical supervision, with a focus in the treatment of eating disorder and relationships. She is a frequent speaker on the topics of body image, evidence-based treatment of eating disorders and engaging families and partners in the treatment process.
Christina Purkiss, MA, LMHC, CEDS-C is the Regional Assistant Vice President for The Renfrew Center. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida. Prior to joining Renfrew, she served as the Program Director for an eating disorders facility in Orlando, overseeing the PHP and IOP programs. She has extensive experience treating individuals with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, and related disorders. In addition, Ms. Purkiss has worked with various other clinical disorders including substance abuse, depression and anxiety. Ms. Purkiss has been with The Renfrew Center since 2018 and serves on the board of the Central Florida iaedp Chapter in Orlando.
Kasey Walls, DNP, PMHNP-BC is a doctorally prepared psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. She received her undergraduate nursing degree from the University of Pittsburgh and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Robert Morris University, which is just outside the city of Pittsburgh. Kasey started her nurse practitioner career in the community mental health setting in rural, underserved, Southwestern Pennsylvania. She has been with The Renfrew Center since 2019, starting at the Pittsburgh site and transitioning to virtual care during COVID. She is currently the psychiatric provider for Renfrew at Home Northeast.
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