Shoreline Eating Disorder and Body Image Specialist Gina Macdonald, MA, LPC, CEDS-S was recently featured in the internationally recognized resource catalogue Gurze/Salucore; invited to be part of the national EDReferral’s February 2020 issue; and chosen as the new Vice President of the New Haven/Hartford Chapter of International Association of Eating Disorder Specialists (iaedp).

Recognition of Macdonald’s contributions to the field of eating disorders and body image are not insignificant. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor working with the eating disorder population for more 25 years. Her expertise in clinical therapy, graduate degree in expressive art therapy (movement), and training in yoga, mindfulness, and body image therapy, inspired her book Mind Your Own Body, A Body Image Handbook (2019), which includes the most up to date theories and research about body image and disordered eating.

With extensive training through iaedp, she was a natural choice as Vice President of its newly-formed the New Haven/Hartford Chapter. As such, she’ll work to advocate for a high level of professionalism by promoting ethical and professional standards and education, training, and certification for those who meet prescribed competency and experience requirements.

As an IADEP Certified International Eating Disorder Specialist/Supervisor, Macdonald lectures for clinicians’ Continuing Education Credits (CEUs); credentialing for eating disorder specialists through iaedp; and to students at colleges and universities throughout New England. She has maintained a full-time, private practice in in Branford since 2007, providing individual care and groups to treat the spectrum of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and emotional eating for both local and statewide adolescents and adults. Her work in ED treatment centers includes Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living, The Renfrew Center of CT, and with Walden Behavioral Care in Guilford. In 2019, she presented a talk on “Body Image Therapy: A New Endeavor in the Treatment of Eating Disorders” at the Shoreline Clinical Networking Breakfast at Waters Edge Resort. Currently, she is offering an online training and consultation group “Body Image Theory & Practice” for clinicians, and her book Mind Your Own Body was featured in a book review by EdReferral.com in February.

For more information about treatment, upcoming events and trainings, or to purchase a copy of Mind Your Own Body, A Body Image Handbook, visit www.gina-macdonald.com.