Eating Disorders At & Beyond Mid Life

Increasing numbers of midlife and older women are seeking eating disorders treatment, despite prevailing beliefs that eating disorders only affect the young. Many adult women hide their disorder effectively; others may have years of semi-recovery or subclinical symptoms, with the multiple stressors and transitions of midlife triggering relapse. Motivation for recovery is also more complex, as midlife women bring increased knowledge from life experiences and long to release themselves from their eating disorder identity. This presentation explores the Relational Cultural Theory model of growth fostering relationships and mutuality as keys to recovery for adult women. RCT understands eating disorders as strategies of disconnection resulting in chronic isolation from meaningful engagement with themselves, their body’s needs and their relationships. The concept of fluid expertise values that both client and clinician bring wisdom and knowledge to build upon mutual understanding of these disorders and create new pathways towards recovery. Presented by Margo Maine, PhD, FAED, CEDS, Karen Samuels, PhD, FAED and Denise Folcik, who has recovered after two decades of bulimia.
Recorded live on February 20, 2014.