Media Archives | Eating Disorder Therapy LA

Date: Wednesday, September 13 at 7:30 PM

Presenter: Hope Levin, M.D.

Title: Psychopharmacological Treatment of Eating Disorders

Location: The office of Dr. Lauren Muhlheim (4929 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 245, Los Angeles) – free parking in the lot (enter on Highland)

Bio: Hope W. Levin, M.D. is a board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist. Since 2006, she has worked as a staff psychiatrist at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services where she serves as the psychiatrist on the eating disorders treatment team. She co-founded the UCLA Campus-wide Eating Disorders Partnership to collaborate with campus professionals who provide treatment to students with eating disorders. In addition to her work at UCLA, Dr. Levin is a staff psychiatrist at The Renfrew Center of Los Angeles and maintains a private practice in Santa Monica.

Dr. Levin completed her undergraduate education at Cornell University and medical school at MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine. She completed general psychiatry residency at University of Pennsylvania where she was Chief Resident, and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital program, Harvard University where she was also Chief Resident.

Dr. Levin gave this talk previously to our group in March 2012. She will present updated information.

RSVP to: drmuhlheim@gmail.com

SIG meetings are open to all LACPA members. Nonmembers wishing to attend may join LACPA by visiting our website www.lapsych.org

Tuesday, October 3 at 7:30 PM

Presenter: Bobbie Eisenstock, Ph.D.

Title: Media and Body Image: How Media Literacy Can Help Counteract Unrealistic Body Ideals

Description: In our media saturated world, it’s hard to escape the onslaught of messages that tell us how we should look, sell us products to achieve the ideal body, and pressure us to reshape our bodies with promises of happiness and success. How can we protect our self-image from media’s narrow and unrealistic ideals that can make us feel less confident and accepting of our bodies? Research demonstrates that media literacy can help counteract media’s role in normalizing cultural body standards that are naturally unattainable for most and can adversely affect body positivity. This mini-workshop highlights essential media literacy strategies and resources for self-care in the digital age.

Location: LACPA Office, Encino

Bio: Bobbie Eisenstock, Ph.D. specializes in the social and psychological effects of media and new interactive technologies on children, teens, and families. She facilitates media literacy workshops for parents, educators, and health practitioners to promote healthy child and adolescent development. A recipient of NEDA’s Westin Family Award for Excellence in Activism and Advocacy, Dr. Eisenstock is on the faculty at Syracuse University in Los Angeles and California State University, Northridge where she directs the Proud2Bme civic engagement project about media literacy and body image. Her students developed NEDA’s Get REAL! Digital and Media Literacy Toolkit and How to Spread Body Positivity in Your Community.

Here is a link to media literacy tips Dr. Eisenstock wrote for NEDA that were posted on its website earlier this month:

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/media-body-image-what-you-need-to-know

LACPA ADDRESS and PARKING INSTRUCTIONS: 6345 Balboa Blvd, Bldg 2, Suite 126, Encino 91316. The buildings are on the south-west corner of Victory and Balboa, and Bldg 2 is the second building from Balboa. If you come from the Westside, take the 405 to the 101 and exit going north on Balboa to just before Victory (park on the street or in the Sepulveda Basin Sports Complex (6201 Balboa Blvd.) on the west side of Balboa, just south of Victory). Or take the 405 to Victory (past the 101 if you are coming from the Westside) and exit West onto Victory. Take it to Balboa and turn left, now heading south. On your right, you will see the buildings. The LACPA office is right by the entrance off the parking lot, on the left if you walk in from the parking area.

Parking at The Encino Office Park lot between the hours of 9am – 6:30 pm is restricted to building tenants only. We can park there in the evening and on weekends, but not 9 – 6:30 weekdays.

RSVP to: drmuhlheim@gmail.com

SIG meetings are open to all LACPA members. Nonmembers wishing to attend may join LACPA by visiting our website www.lapsych.org

Eating Disorder film Tchaiko Omawale [image description: photo of me and Tchaiko Omawale] — with Tchaiko

In the wake of the premiere on Netflix of another eating disorder film, my friend, JD Ouellette, reminded me that the frustration over another stereotypical narrative about eating disorders could provide an opportunity. At the NEDA Conference in 2014, both JD and I (as well as many other attendees) were impressed by Tchaiko Omawale’s sharing of her inspiring story of recovery on the Friends and Family Panel. Later, we learned about her work (writing, directing, and producing) on Solace, a coming of age feature film inspired by Tchaiko’s journey with an eating disorder and self-harm. In April, I had the opportunity to attend a fundraiser for Solace and preview a scene. I spoke about the need for more films, stories, and images of people from diverse backgrounds with eating disorders, reading some parts of this article.

Eating Disorder film presentation [image description: photo of me speaking at the event] — Speaking at the fundraiser

As summarized in Truth #5 of the collaborative consensus document, the Nine Truths, “Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, body shapes and weights, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses.” When I work with people of diverse backgrounds, they consistently tell me they are frustrated that mainstream eating disorder narratives do not portray people who resemble them. Not only the popular media — television, film, print articles, online publications — but even the marketing materials of many eating disorder treatment centers continue to depict eating disorder sufferers mostly as the common stereotype: female, white, and thin.

To those interested in supporting a film that doesn’t reinforce stereotypes, Tchaiko Omawale has made such a film. She needs additional funding to complete the film, which is in post-production. Visit Solace Film page to learn more and, if you are so inclined, join me in supporting this important project. She has a donation page.

Category: Media

Fall 2017 LACPA Eating Disorder SIG Events

A More Diverse Eating Disorder Film