015 - Facing the Toughest Moments in Eating Disorder Caregiving (with Dr. Erin Parks)

Episode 015

Title: Facing the Toughest Moments in Eating Disorder Caregiving (with Dr. Erin Parks)

In this episode, Jenni Gaines and Laura Cohen sit down with Dr. Erin Parks, clinical psychologist and co-founder of Equip, to tackle the situations caregivers dread most: mealtime meltdowns, a child who seems to have stopped caring about everything, and the terrifying reality of self-harm and suicidality. Dr. Parks explains the neurobiology behind why consequences and rewards work differently in the eating disorder brain, and shares a vivid real-world example of how one family used that understanding to break through a months-long standoff. She also offers direct, compassionate guidance on how to talk openly about self-harm, when to involve emergency services, and how to protect your child while accepting the limits of your own control. Listeners will come away with practical tools for the hardest moments of caregiving and a reminder that imperfect support is still meaningful support.

00:00 Introduction, Disclaimer, and Content Warning

01:02 Guest Introduction: Dr. Erin Parks

04:40 When Meals Go Wrong: What to Do After You Snap

08:40 De-escalating in the Moment

11:35 Repairing After a Blow-Up

14:35 What Distress Tolerance Actually Means

23:48 Neurobiology 101: How the Eating Disorder Brain Processes Consequences and Rewards

30:19 The Shake Story: Finding the Key That Motivates Your Child

34:56 When Your Child Feels Nothing: Depression and Eating Disorders

39:22 Self-Harm and Suicidality: How to Keep the Conversation Open

47:53 Safety Planning and Imminent Risk

52:41 One Practical Tip: Choose One

SUPPORT & RESOURCES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

FEAST website:

https://feast-ed.org/

FEAST programs and services:

https://feast-ed.org/programs-and-services/

FEAST webinar - How to Talk to Your Child When ED Has You Walking on Eggshells: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6ibx-8YhWE

Brainstorms podcast episode:

https://brainstormsorg.wordpress.com/2016/10/29/episode-8-eating-disorder-interview-with-dr-erin-parks/

Guest Bio:

Dr. Erin Parks is a clinical psychologist and researcher who co-founded Equip in 2019. Equip is now the largest virtual eating disorder treatment program in the United States. As Chief Clinical Officer, she leads the clinical and research efforts that keep Equip's outcomes best in class. Before Equip, Dr. Parks was on the faculty at UC San Diego, where she treated patients across all levels of care for eating disorders. She earned her PhD from UC San Diego and completed her undergraduate work at Northwestern University.