Mindfulness, Movement & Eating Disorders: The ROADE Program with Dr. Mark Hardison

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mark Hardison — occupational therapist, researcher, and co-developer of the ROADE Program — a community-based, mindfulness-driven intervention for individuals with disordered eating, funded by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation.

With a background that bridges psychology, occupational therapy, and clinical research, Dr. Hardison brings a perspective rarely heard in eating disorder recovery spaces: that healing has to show up in the daily rhythms of your life, not just in the therapy room.

Here's what we cover in the episode:

What occupational therapy actually is — and why its focus on daily function makes it a natural fit for eating disorder recovery

Why the sensory system plays a critical and often overlooked role in healing — and how occupational therapists are uniquely trained to work with it

The ROADE Program — how it was built, what it involves, and what its early results are already showing Why mindfulness belongs in even the most physically-focused therapy settings — and how Dr. Hardison brought it into hand therapy before ever working in mental health

How OT and mental health counseling complement rather than compete with each other — and what each brings to an interdisciplinary recovery team

What it means to reclaim self-care as a healing occupation — something personal, sustainable, and genuinely yours

If you've ever felt like something was missing from your recovery, struggled to translate therapy insights into daily life, or simply never considered what occupational therapy could offer in this context — this conversation will open a door you didn't know was there.

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Contact Mark Hardison here: Mhardison@hpu.edu

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00:00 – Intro

00:26 – Meet Dr. Mark Hardison 01:44 – From Psychology Major to Occupational Therapist

02:57 – Bringing Mindfulness Into Hand Therapy

04:49 – How the ROADE Program Was Born

07:41 – Embodiment & the OT Framework

08:32 – Running Away From Emotion vs. Leaning In

09:37 – Inside a ROADE Program Session

12:23 – Why Start With Body Scan

14:45 – What Is Interoception & Why It Matters

15:51 – How Eating Disorders Disconnect You From Your Body

16:18 – Being in Your Body With Compassion

19:47 – What OT Brings to an Eating Disorder Team

21:42 – Reclaiming Self-Care as a Healing Occupation

22:10 – Sensory Integration: OT's Unique Edge

23:42 – ROADE Program Results So Far

25:00 – What's Next & How to Get Involved 26:49 – Where to Find Dr. Hardison

Disclaimer: The information on this channel is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or therapy. The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Kristina Dobyns or Beyond Binge Eating.