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The Victory Program Conference: Beyond the Game: Understanding Eating Disorders in Athletes

Dances of Disconnection: The Insidious Nature of ED at the Intersection of Artistry & Athleticism in Dancers

Stephanie Weatherstone, LCSW, CEDS-C
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Pricing

Information

Date & Time

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Define “aesthetic sports,” and identify factors that cause dancers and participants in aesthetic sports to be particularly vulnerable to eating disorders.

  • Utilize the perspective of artist vs. athlete described and demonstrate insight that will aid in more effective treatment.

  • Implement advocacy strategies for patients who are dancers at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels targeting harm reduction by creating healthy boundaries across systems.

  • Identify the double-edged sword of dancers’ inherent sensitivity including heightened proprioceptive awareness amid perfection driven performance.

  • Examine and formulate strategies to address the ego-syntonic culture of thinness and overt body tailoring of dance within the artist/athlete’s ecosystem.

Educational Goal

The goal of this presentation is to highlight the intersecting eating disorder related vulnerabilities of dancers as both artists and athletes; specifically addressing how the pervasive culture of perfectionism within the dance ecosystem often conflates healthy striving with pathology. By cultivating insight into these intersecting systemic pressures, this workshop equips and empowers clinicians to implement effective approaches to treating this special population that respect the dancer, the dancer’s art, their physical well-being, and facilitates the dancer’s ability to return to dance safely in recovery.

Description

Dance is both an art and a sport, and as a result dancers present with a unique vulnerability to eating disorders. This workshop explores the complex intersection of artistry and athleticism in dancers, focusing on the factors that converge creating a heightened vulnerability to eating disorders within these populations. Attendees will gain tools to advocate for patients across micro, mezzo, and macro levels while learning to navigate the unique challenges of dancers' sensitivity, proprioceptive awareness, and the pervasive culture of thinness and perfectionism. Through this examination, clinicians will be better equipped to provide effective, insight oriented, harm-reduction-focused treatment by fostering healthy boundaries and promoting individuation within the dance ecosystem.

Presenters

Stephanie Weatherstone, LCSW, CEDS-C
Stephanie Weatherstone, LCSW, CEDS-C, is an internationally certified Eating Disorders Specialist and consultant with over 20 years of clinical experience. She is the founder of Weatherstone Collaborative, an outpatient practice focused on complex eating disorders, with specialized expertise in supporting performing artists, competitive athletes, and families navigating developmental and other challenges. Stephanie believes that assembling a strong multidisciplinary team is imperative for effective eating disorder treatment and having worked within the full breadth of all levels of care, brings extensive skill and experience in coordinating such teams. As a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work, Stephanie is further dedicated to training the next generation of clinicians, having notably launched the university's first course on the assessment and treatment of eating disorders. Her clinical and academic work is defined by a compassionate, insight driven and narrative-focused approach that empowers both clients and clinicians toward lasting healing and authentic engagement.

Financially Sponsored By

  • McCallum Place