Live Webinar: Introduction to the MED-DBT Protocol: A Compassionate and Comprehensive Approach to Treating Multifaceted Eating Disorder Presentations
March 3, 2026 @ 9AM-10:30AM PT, 11AM-12:30PM CT, 12PM-1:30PM ET
(Registration will open a month before the webinar date)
This 90-minute webinar introduces MED-DBT (Multidiagnostic Eating Disorder–Dialectical Behavior Therapy), a groundbreaking adaptation of standard DBT developed to meet the needs of individuals with eating disorders who also present with multiple co-occurring challenges. These may include emotion dysregulation, suicidality, self-injury, trauma-related symptoms, autism spectrum conditions, OCD, and more.
As the complexity of clinical presentations continues to grow, many clinicians find that traditional eating disorder or DBT treatments don’t fully address the breadth of clients’ experiences, especially when high-acuity behaviors overlap. MED-DBT bridges this gap by offering an integrated, stage-based model that draws from the strongest elements of both DBT and evidence-based ED treatments.
Drawing on over two decades of clinical work and program development, Drs. Anita Federici and Lucene Wisniewski developed the MED-DBT protocol for the real world. It helps clinicians confidently work with individuals who often fall through the cracks of siloed treatment systems.
This session will introduce core elements of the MED-DBT framework, with special emphasis on the adapted biosocial theory for eating disorders and its practical implications for treatment planning. Participants will also learn how to implement a clinical decision-making hierarchy that helps prioritize multiple acute or life-threatening behaviors while maintaining therapeutic momentum.
Learning Objectives | By the conclusion of this event, participants will be able to:
- Describe the rationale for adapting DBT for clients with multidiagnostic eating disorder presentations.
- Describe the adapted biosocial theory, including how biological, sensory, and social-environmental factors contribute to eating disorder symptoms.
- Explain how to apply a risk-based treatment hierarchy to prioritize and balance competing high-risk behaviors (e.g., suicidality, medical instability, eating behaviors, self-harm).
Presenters:
Anita Federici, PhD, CPsych FAED is a Clinical Psychologist and the Founder of The Centre for Psychology and Emotion Regulation in Ontario Canada. An Adjunct Faculty Member at York University and Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), she is internationally recognized for her expertise in the treatment of eating disorders has been a leader in adapting DBT for multi-diagnostic clients. Anita is the co-author of Treating Eating Disorders with DBT: The MED-DBT Protocol (Guilford Press, 2025). Anita specializes in helping hospitals and organizations develop sustainable, evidence-informed care systems through team training, consultation, and program implementation. She has delivered over 400 invited talks and workshops, and her work has been featured in peer-reviewed journals, edited books, and international conferences. Her work integrates neurobiological research, clinical pragmatism, and an unwavering respect for client experience.
Lucene Wisniewski PhD, FAED is a clinician, trainer, and researcher whose interests center around using empirically founded treatments to inform clinical practice. Lucene, an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, has taught more than 150 workshops, lectures and presentations on Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavior Therapies internationally and has over 40 publications in peer reviewed journals and invited book chapters.
Lucene has been elected fellow, has served on the board of directors, and as the co-chair of the Borderline Personality Disorder special interest group of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). In 2013 the AED awarded Lucene the Outstanding Clinician Award to acknowledge her contribution to the field of eating disorder treatment. She is the owner and founder of The Center for Evidence Based Treatment Ohio (www.cebtohio.com), which offers therapy, training and consultation in evidence-based approaches to mental health conditions via traditional and teletherapy platforms. She is co-developer of the MED-DBT model and co-author of Treating Eating Disorders with DBT.
Additional Resources:
Website: www.cebtohio.com
Instagram: @cebt
Book: Guilford Press – Treating Eating Disorders with DBT
The Centre for Psychology + Emotion Regulation
Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn: @dranitafederici @psychologynorth
Book: Guilford Press – Treating Eating Disorders with DBT
