Continuing Education

Using Ancient Wisdom & Modern Neuroscience to Understand & Treat Eating Disorders

with Dr. Anita Johnston

IN PERSON ONLY on UT Knoxville Student Union 1502 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916

Friday, April 25, 2025 from 9:00 am-4:00 pm ET

COURSE DESCRIPTION

For eons, ancient traditions in cultures across the world have used metaphor and storytelling for teaching and healing. Only recently, however, has modern science developed technology that gives us a glimpse into brain functioning, allowing us to see how these processes work. A metaphor is a bridge between two ideas that, at least on the surface, are not equivalent or related.  Many individuals struggling with eating disorders perceive their struggles with eating as unrelated to other aspects of their lives. Metaphor can be a useful tool to help them find important connections necessary for recovery.

This presentation includes recent studies that explain the neuroscience behind the efficacy of metaphor and storytelling in helping clients develop insight that can be used for recovery. In this presentation, which is both didactic and experiential, neuroscience research will be combined with ancient parables, storytelling, and metaphor that can be used in eating disorder treatment.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

Explain how storytelling can be used as a tool for revealing the adaptive function of disordered eating behavior;

Identify the transforming function of metaphor;

Describe how modern neuroscience research supports the use of traditional storytelling;

Name the neural correlate of metaphor in the brain;

Identify the hemisphere in the brain responsible for finding the connections between seemingly unrelated things;

Describe how metaphor functions as a change agent; and

Identify the brain wave pattern that occurs immediately before insight occurs.

CEUs

Participants are eligible to earn 6 CEUs  (Pre-approved for LCSW, LPC, and LMFT)

A link for the program evaluation will be emailed to participants after the event has concluded. To receive the participation certificate, participants must complete the evaluation by the deadline indicated in that email. Certificates are not automatically generated and will be emailed out after the deadline to complete the evaluation has passed.

ACCESSIBILITY

Please email cswcep@utk.edu with any questions, including those related to accessibility. There is space in the registration form to indicate accommodations required. Please allow adequate time to arrange accommodation(s).

Note on Accessibility: It is a priority to make our events inclusive and accessible. For any questions or to notify us of a request, please email cswcep@utk.edu at least five business days prior to the event.

LOGISTICS

Training will be held in person at the UT Knoxville Student Union at 1502 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916. Parking information will be provided to participants in advance of the event. Lunch will be provided.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Anita Johnston, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and author of Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationships with Food Through Myths, Metaphors, and Storytelling, which has been published in seven languages. A pioneer in the field of eating psychology for over thirty-five years, she is currently the Founder and Executive Clinical Director of Ai Pono Hawaii Eating Disorder Programs, which has a residential eating disorder treatment program on Maui. She is the co-creator of the Light of the Moon Café, an online resource with interactive and self-study courses and a supportive community for women around the world. Dr. Johnston provides virtual individual consultations and conducts workshops internationally.  She is best known for integrating metaphor and storytelling into her training as a clinical psychologist to explain the complex issues that underlie struggles with eating and body image.