Director: Karen L. Smith, MSS, LCSW

Offering Presentations, Training, Workshops, Consultation and Program Development
to assist Schools, Universities, Counseling Centers, Hospitals, Clinics, Churches, Synagogues,
Social Service Agencies, Women's and Men's groups, Camps and Community Groups.

Eating Disorders are uncommon, historically speaking. Unlike depression and anxiety, which we can trace throughout history and culture, eating disorders have only appeared in noticeable numbers a few times in history in a handful of cultures.

Once on the scene, as they are today, they are uniquely prejudicial. While many psychological disorders lean towards particular demographics, none as overwhelmingly as anorexia and bulimia. Eating disorders are the almost exclusive domain of women.

Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating are culturally constructed. The particularities of who gets eating disorders, and that they are getting them in epidemic proportions in our era, in our country, are our clues to what eating disorders are about. They hold meaning about our time and place, and speak specifically, given the gender bias of the disorder, to something about how we define femininity.

Seeing the epidemic of eating disorders, with its overwhelming demographic of girls and women, as evidence that the societal construction of femininity and current beauty ideal are dangerous to women, Full Living offers training and education to those seeking to redefine gender and sexual expression.

Whether it is because you are the first point of contact with those struggling with eating disorders, body image distress, sexual and gender expression, or as part of your efforts to provide education and support to your community, let us help you.

We offer presentations and workshops to your community, staff, students, or clinicians. We can also assist you in designing year-round programming to be implemented by Full Living, or training your staff for implementation. When working with schools and universities, we recommend a multi-pronged approach that includes training and education for students, faculty, parents, coaches and counselors. Our clinicians will assist you in designing a program specific to you and your groups needs.