Dr. Meagan Gallagher, C.Psych: Eating Disorders - Transcending Stereotypes to Optimize Care

Thoughts on Record: Podcast of the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Eating disorders are among the most serious of mental health challenges, and yet are mired in stereotypes, stigma and misunderstanding. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Meagan Gallagher joins us for an in-depth discussion of eating disorders which covers:

• How Dr. Gallagher became interested in treating eating disorders from a personal and professional perspective
• An in-depth clinical consideration of the most common eating disorders in adults
• Conceptualizations around the clinical presentation of eating disorders, including misleading stereotypes
• Core-interventions/phased-treatment approaches for eating disorders
• Opportunities & caveats around the integration of family members into treatment
• Managing the special challenges with respect to insight/willingness that can at times characterize eating disorders
• Effectiveness of available treatment and how to shape expectations about outcomes for client and clinician alike
• Addressing "social contagion" considerations around eating disorders as well as navigating unhelpful online influences and communities with respect to eating disorders
• How to help children and adolescents think critically about societal messaging with respect to body types, body ideals etc.

Dr. Meagan Gallagher is a clinical psychologist who works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families who are experiencing a range of difficulties related to mental health concerns. She provides psychological assessments and treatment using evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (including Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy and Prolonged Exposure for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Emotionally Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Mindfulness. Dr. Gallagher has specific interests and extensive experience in the assessment and treatment of Eating Disorders and body image concerns, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Mood Disorders, and adolescent mental health. She is currently in private practice at Integrated Wellness Ottawa.

https://integratedottawa.ca