About this course
This module introduces clinicians to dialectical dilemmas as predictable and clinically meaningful patterns that arise in the treatment of multidiagnostic eating disorders. Participants will learn how opposing behavioral and emotional tendencies (e.g., vulnerability vs. self-invalidation, apparent competence vs. active passivity) reflect the interaction of biological vulnerability and invalidating environments. The MED-DBT model also introduces new dialectical dilemmas commonly observed in patients with multidiagnostic eating disorders.
The course emphasizes how failure to recognize these dilemmas can lead to clinician polarization, invalidation, and treatment drift, particularly when working with complex presentations involving co-occurring conditions (e.g., suicidality, trauma, neurodiversity). Participants will develop skills in applying a dialectical stance to maintain balance between acceptance and change, improve therapeutic alliance, and enhance treatment effectiveness.
Attention is given to how systemic, cultural, and identity-based invalidation shapes the presentation and interpretation of these dilemmas, ensuring clinicians apply this framework with cultural humility and responsiveness.
Disclosure
DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).
The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer:
PLANNERS AND REVIEWER
The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.
FACULTY
The authors of this course content are also the authors of the book, Treating Eating Disorders with DBT: The MED DBT Protocol, which is listed as a suggested resource for this CE program. The authors receive royalties from the sale of this book. The inclusion of this book as a resource is not intended to promote its sale, but rather to provide a relevant text that complements the course material and may be of value to participants. The authors have no other financial or personal relationships that could be construed as conflicts of interest regarding the content of this course.
