Eating Disorders & Healthy Living
Wit & Reason with Dr. Alexis Moreno
Eating disorders can affect anybody. Around 30 million people in the United States have an eating disorder with anorexia being associated with one of the highest mortality rates of psychiatric disorders. Several celebrities including Demi Lovato, Paula Abdul, Russell Brand, Lady Gaga, Alanis Morissette, Princess Diana, Elton John, & Jane Fonda, have used their platform to let others with eating disorders know they’re not alone and to encourage them to seek help. On today's show, we're expanding this effort to provide some education on signs of eating disorders, how to get support for yourself or others who may have an eating disorder, and how eating disorders evolved from both our nature and nurture.
Listen in as Dr. Alexis interviews Christie Dondero Bettwy, Executive Director of Rock Recovery who openly shares personal experience recovering from an eating disorder, and Callie Dyer, MA, Director of Development & Resident in Counseling at Rock Recovery who dives into eating disorder treatment.
Resources from the Show
9 Celebrities with Eating Disorders (Healthline).
A Registered Dietitian Says: Weight Watchers: Stay Away from Our Children (Sunny Side Up Nutrition).
Scientists Have Found That Anorexia is Linked to Metabolism (CNN).
One shared meal at a time: The unique way this Virginia group is helping people with eating disorders (The Washington Post).
Learn More About Rock Recovery (Rock Recovery).
Airing Weekdays on 96.3 HD4 DC Radio
Host
DR. ALEXIS MORENO
CONSULTING PSYCHOLOGIST & HEALTH CORRESPONDENT
Dr. Moreno is passionate about the interplay between mass media communications, culture, and personal factors. Which explains her academic pursuits. She has a Doctorate in Community Clinical Psychology, a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Bachelor of Science in both Television Broadcasting and Psychology. The more time she spends studying psychological theory, researching human behavior, and working in the community, the more she is inspired by the power of systematically addressing personal and social issues. She has worked as a health educator with middle and high school students, provided psychotherapy with children, families, and couples recovering from violence and trauma, and treated adults on parole and in maximum security psychiatric hospitals suffering from severe mental illness. Dr. Moreno uses an ecological and biopsychosocial approach to every case conceptualization and collaboratively works with teams in a respectful, humanistic style. Passionate about working with a diverse clientele, she tailors her interventions and presentations to engage and meet the needs of every stakeholder involved.
Guest
CHRISTIE DONDERO BETTWY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ROCK RECOVERY
Christie came on as Rock Recovery’s first staff member in April 2013 after serving as a faithful volunteer for three years. Prior to coming on staff, Christie worked for Habitat for Humanity’s seventh-largest U.S. affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as a consultant with PwC in Washington, D.C. Having gone through recovery herself, Christie understands the depth of clinical, community, and spiritual support needed to recover and is passionate about spreading the message that complete freedom from an eating disorder is possible. She loves sharing her story with groups across the country and unsuspecting captive audiences on airplanes and at dinner parties who ask what she does for a living. Christie lives with her husband Ryan in Washington, DC where they try to soak in all of the food and culture that the city has to offer.
Guest
CALLIE DYER, MA
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & RESIDENT IN COUNSELING, ROCK RECOVERY
Prior to her role with Rock Recovery, Callie worked in a variety of non-profit and for-profit organizations focused on providing mental health and education services. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Southwestern University in Texas and her Masters in Counseling from Wake Forest University. Callie completed her final counseling internship for graduate school at Prosperity Eating Disorders and Wellness Center in Herndon, VA. In that role, she conducted group and private counseling for clients struggling with disordered eating and co-occurring diagnoses. Callie first began volunteering with Rock Recovery as a group therapy assistant in 2017 before joining the team as the third full-time staff member in August 2019. She spends her free time seeing live music, traveling as much as possible, doing yoga, and searching for the city’s best latte!