Authenticity and empathy: Exploring the use of self in eating disorders treatment

Authenticity and empathy: Exploring the use of self in eating disorders treatment

Presented by SickKids CCMH Learning Institute

Date: February 24, 2026 
Time: Noon  to 3 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Anita Federici, PhD, CPsych, FAED., and Dhwani Joshi, MSW, RSW.

Description: The therapeutic relationship plays a critical role in evidence-based eating disorder treatment. This workshop focuses on the use of self in standard front-line ED treatments, emphasizing how therapists’ cultural, gender, and lived experiences shape their work with clients.

Participants will engage in reflective exercises, case discussions, and experiential activities to explore how their personal identities and experiences impact the therapeutic alliance, treatment planning, and outcomes.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the concept of the "use of self" in therapeutic practice and its specific relevance in eating disorder treatment 
• Identify how cultural, gender, and lived experiences influence the therapist’s perceptions, interventions, and interactions with clients 
• Explore strategies to use authenticity and self-awareness to strengthen the therapeutic alliance while maintaining appropriate boundaries 
• Develop skills to address potential countertransference and biases that may arise in eating disorder treatment 
• Integrate culturally responsive approaches through consideration of clients’ diverse perspectives on body image, food and lived experiences into treatment planning
  
  For full program overview and registration details please visit: https://cvent.me/0M7rYe

Facilitator Bios:
Anita Federici, PhD, CPsych, FAED., is a clinical psychologist and the owner of The Centre for Psychology and Emotion Regulation, a clinic specializing in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders, personality disorders, and trauma. She serves an adjunct faculty position at York University and is a distinguished Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). Her work focuses on developing and adapting treatments for individuals with complex clinical presentations including substance use disorders, suicide, self-injury, PTSD, and those struggling with emotion regulation difficulties. Anita has had a considerable impact on the field through her leadership, advocacy work, and expertise and has provided more than 300 lectures, workshops, and invited talks. She has worked extensively with hospitals and community organizations across Canada offering team training, implementation support, and program development. Her work has been presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals and invited book chapters. 

Dhwani Joshi, MSW, RSW., is a Registered Social Worker with a passion for providing culturally safe therapy, specializing in trauma, mental health, and addictions. Cultural humility is central to her approach, creating open, safe spaces for clients to explore their cultural perspectives on mental health. In addition to individual therapy, group facilitation has been a consistent thread throughout Dhwani's clinical work, and she has been sought out to lead innovative programs in outpatient hospital settings. These include the ‘Seeking Safety’ group for individuals with concurrent trauma and substance use, as well as a harm reduction-focused day treatment program for Concurrent Disorders. Dhwani’s experience also includes earning an international social work diploma and receiving a Field Excellence Award for her grassroots work in Beijing, China where she introduced culturally adapted mental health concepts. Her practice reflects a strong commitment to fostering meaningful, culturally humble therapeutic engagements. 

Continuing Education (CE) information: 3 CE hours