MED-DBT 4-Day Intensive Live Training: Treating Multidiagnostic Eating Disorders Using MED-DBT

Eating disorders are complex, high-risk neurobiological illnesses associated with significant morbidity and mortality. While first-line treatments such as CBT-E and FBT are effective for many individuals, a substantial subset of patients present with multidiagnostic profiles that include chronic emotion dysregulation, suicidality, self-injury, trauma, medical instability, and entrenched eating disorder behaviors. These individuals often cycle through levels of care, are described as “treatment resistant,” and experience care as coercive, invalidating, or unsafe.

The MED-DBT (Multidiagnostic Eating Disorder - Dialectical Behavior Therapy) model was developed in response to this gap. MED-DBT is a comprehensive, DBT-consistent, medically anchored adaptation designed specifically for individuals with eating disorders and co-occurring psychiatric and physical conditions. The model integrates DBT philosophy, behavioral science, medical risk management, and eating disorder–specific neurobiology to support safety, collaboration, and sustained engagement without relying on coercion or oversimplified recovery narratives.

This 4-day live intensive training provides clinicians with an in-depth, practice-oriented introduction to the MED-DBT model as outlined in the MED-DBT text. Participants will learn how to assess fit, organize treatment, target effectively, manage medical risk, address ambivalence and anosognosia, and apply core DBT strategies within the unique clinical realities of eating disorder care. Emphasis is placed on fidelity to DBT principles while addressing the ethical, clinical, and systemic complexities that arise when working with high-risk eating disorder presentations.

The training blends didactic teaching with clinical examples, case discussion, and applied decision-making. Participants will leave with a clear conceptual framework, shared language, and practical guidance for implementing MED-DBT within outpatient team-based settings.

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