Listen in as Laurie Kohl, Director of Community & Provincial Programs at Family Services of the North Shore, leads us through an insightful and informative conversation with Dr. Josie Geller, Clinical Psychologist and Director of Research in the Eating Disorders Program at St. Paul’s Hospital.

Together they explore how validation builds self-compassion for people living with eating disorders, referring to Dr. Geller’s research focused on individuals with lived experience. Specifically, they look at levels of validation, the building blocks of self-compassion, as well as the barriers to self-compassion. Their conversation is anchored in the ways parents, caregivers, and professionals can provide support, along with examples of how to do this.

Show Notes:

  • Introduction to Dr. Geller’s recent research studies, including the approach and key findings
  • Definition of validation, and what exactly validation means to people living with eating disorders
  • Relationship between validation and self-compassion
  • Introduction of self-compassion, and association with positive outcomes in recovery
  • Introduction of barriers to self-compassion, and how people have overcome them
  • Types of support, and how to provide support
  • Importance of enduring support throughout the recovery journey
Resources

    • Read the research article on validation, The power of feeling seen: Perspectives on validation from individuals with eating disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders, 9, 149.

    • Research article: Self-compassion and its barriers: Predicting outcomes from inpatient and residential eating disorders treatment. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10(1), 1–10.