PREVIEW:

Disordered eating—different from eating disorders—is a condition we're seeing more and more often at Open Sky. While eating disorders may be more commonly understood in our society, disordered eating is less well known. In this episode of the SKYlights Podcast, Senior Clinical Therapist Kirsten Bolt, MED, LMFT helps us better understand this topic, especially as it relates to youth. Kirsten explores the rise of disordered eating; its impacts on physical, emotional, mental, and relational health; how she works with students to build awareness and create change; and what concerned parents can do to approach this topic with their children.

GUEST PROFILE:

KIRSTEN BOLT, MED, LMFT

Kirsten Bolt  is a Senior Clinical Therapist at Open Sky. Passionate about working with adolescent girls, Kirsten emphasizes emotional regulation, assertive communication, identity development, vulnerability, and healthy relationships in her treatment approach. She incorporates humor and playfulness into all she does and quickly develops strong therapeutic relationships with her students and families.

As a family therapist, Kirsten is skilled in clarifying complicated systemic issues and helping formulate a concrete diagnostic assessment. She is supportive of parents who might need extra coaching due to anxiety, grief, and other personal struggles. With her firm and direct approach, Kirsten confronts presenting issues and holds students and families accountable to their therapeutic work, while circumventing the shame that can interfere with progress.

TOPICS COVERED:

00:00 Intro

01:57 Why do we need to talk more about disordered eating?

04:22 The difference between disordered eating and eating disorders

07:02 Disordered eating patterns

09:23 How parents can understand more

12:01 The impact of disordered eating on day-to-day life

15:27 Co-occuring mental health issues

16:25 Causes of disordered eating

20:22 The role society plays in disordered eating

23:13 What can parents do?

26:06 Kirsten’s therapeutic approach

SELECT QUOTES:

“As we see some of the disordered eating patterns take hold, anxiety can increase, depression can increase, which again, can further complicate the relational factors. And so isolation can increase, kids can then start picking up some other unhealthy patterns. They might find themselves engaging in self injury or substance use. There can be other behavioral patterns that they pick up as well. It can also affect one's executive functioning skills, which affects school and affects vocation and work. I would say that mental health and emotional health tolls exacerbate everything.”

“I think we so commonly think about disordered eating, we think eating disorders, we think of anorexia, we think of girls. And it's just not that. There are so many people that are struggling with this. It’s across all populations and demographics.”

“I think this is something that people are utilizing as a means to cope and manage their emotions. Sometimes it’s about, ‘This is something I can control where everything else in my life feels out of control, and I feel powerless.’ I think that’s a huge  contributor.” 

“Food is a way we come together as family and friends. There's a lot to celebrate about food and as with everything, there can be that double-edged sword.”

“It’s a starting point to be able to ask direct questions. It conveys, ‘I see you, I’m paying attention, and I care.’ These are really important messages for our kids.”

“So much of our work out here is helping create awareness and helping create internal motivation for change.”