Disordered eating does not occur in isolation. It develops within cultural, familial, and systemic narratives that define which bodies are valued, which foods are moralized, and how control is used to manage distress. Clinicians, like clients, are shaped by these same narratives, often holding implicit beliefs about health, discipline, or body image that influence the therapeutic process.
This 3-hour training invites participants to explore the intersection of mindfulness, implicit bias, and eating disorder treatment. Drawing from Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and trauma-informed approaches, the course examines how mindful awareness can expose and soften unconscious judgments around food, body, and identity. Participants will learn to notice their own biases with curiosity rather than shame, support clients in doing the same, and create clinical environments that emphasize self-determination, safety, and inclusion.
Through experiential practice, discussion, and ethical reflection, clinicians will gain tools to integrate mindfulness and compassion into their work, reduce bias in assessment and treatment planning, and strengthen therapeutic presence. This course fulfills CE requirements for implicit bias, cultural humility, and ethics in clinical care as recognized by ASWB, NBCC, and ACE.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to
- Identify how implicit and explicit bias related to body size, food, and health influence assessment, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes in eating disorder care.
- Explain how mindfulness-based approaches increase awareness of bias and support clinicians in responding with presence, empathy, and cultural humility.
- Demonstrate at least two mindfulness interventions, such as mindful eating or somatic grounding, that enhance curiosity, compassion, and regulation.
- Apply ethical principles from the NASW, NBCC, and ASWB codes related to self-determination, competence, and respect for client dignity and worth.
- Evaluate strategies to recognize and interrupt bias within clinical language, supervision, and organizational systems to promote equitable and trauma-informed care.
Syllabus:
Objective #1: Foundations of Eating Disorders
- Overview of Eating Disorders
- Common Misconceptions
- Impact on Individuals
Objective #2: Understanding Implicit Bias
- Definition of Implicit Bias
- How Bias Impacts Clinical Care
- Barriers to Equitable Treatment
Objective #3: Mindfulness in Clinical Practice
- Principles of Mindfulness
- Increasing Self-Awareness
- Regulating Reactions and Assumptions
Objective #4: Integrating Mindfulness and Bias Awareness
- Identifying Personal Biases
- Applying Mindful Awareness in Sessions
- Supporting Inclusive, Client-Centered Care
Summary/Q&A
Social workers completing this course receive 3 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 3 Clinical continuing education training.
Instructor: Kristin Whiting-Davis, LCSW-C, LICSW, LCSW
Recording Date: March 14, 2026
CEUS On-Demand, LLC, provider #2274, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/7/2025 - 08/6/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 3hrs Clinical continuing education credits.
CEUs On-Demand, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CEUs On-Demand, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
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Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com