Gatewell’s founder, Dr. Rosenfeld, has presented at universities and conferences around the country. For more information on these topics, or for booking Dr. Rosenfeld for a speaking engagement, please contact us.
Does Every Woman Have an Eating Disorder?
In this presentation, Dr. Rosenfeld explores America’s obsession and drive toward thinness that has exploded over the last few decades. What was once considered abnormal and unhealthy in regard to eating and body-image behavior is now considered matter of fact. The bottom line is that most women today have some type of eating disorder. Dr. Rosenfeld examines the excessive daily messages we receive about food and our bodies through the media and celebrities, as well as the bombardment of conversations between friends and family. The current fat-phobia epidemic and the dieting culture explosion is everywhere we turn. How can we escape it? Dr. Rosenfeld discusses eating disordered symptoms that we might not necessarily see as disordered. She examines how to counter these messages, arriving at a cultural zeitgeist that is less eating-disordered focused. She provides tools for how to insulate ourselves against the barrage of messages impacting our collective body image and self-esteem. Dr. Rosenfeld stresses audience participation, inviting attendees to examine and challenge their ideas about food and their bodies. Estimated length of lecture/workshop is one hour, with questions and answers.
How to Raise an Eating-Disorder Free Child
This lecture can be adjusted for parents of daughters of varying age groups (elementary school age, tween years, teen years, college bound, etc). In this talk, Dr. Rosenfeld discusses the recent explosion of eating disorders starting at earlier and earlier ages (as young as five) and now taking on different shapes and forms that are often even more dangerous. Why are young children showing disordered eating behaviors so early on? Dr. Rosenfeld provides comfort and insight for parents and explores specific proactive tips and strategies on how to reduce the likelihood that your daughter will develop an eating disorder. She answers the questions parents are afraid to confront. What foods should you have in the house? How should you talk to your daughter about how she looks without emphasizing her weight? Should you encourage your daughter to exercise? What if you notice she is getting heavy? During the lecture, Dr. Rosenfeld describes specific warning signs of eating disorders so that parents can be on the active lookout for symptoms. She then offers tips on how to intervene if you notice your daughter is struggling with these concerns. Estimated length of workshop/lecture is 45 minutes, including questions and answers.
Family Fallout: Coping with Eating Disorders
In this presentation, Dr. Rosenfeld addresses what happens in a family when someone is diagnosed with an eating disorder. What types of emotions do family members experience? How do they cope? Is there a possibility that other family members (e.g., siblings) may subsequently develop an eating disorder? Are there ways to reduce the likelihood of someone developing an eating disorder? Dr. Rosenfeld tackles these questions and more by presenting original research and case studies, suggesting how eating disorders may become family issues. She offers tools for self-care, family preservation, and coping with family fallout in the face of an eating disorder diagnosis. Audience participation is encouraged. Estimated length of talk is 30 minutes, with ample time for Q & A.
How Much Exercise Is Too Much?
As both a psychologist specializing in eating disorders and sports psychology, and a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Dr. Rosenfeld tackles the diagnosis of exercise addiction. While we are all familiar with the benefits of exercise, few people are aware that going overboard when it comes to exercise has serious physical and psychological consequences. People with an addiction to exercise often have other issues that could include disordered eating, distorted body image, and other addictions. In this lecture, Dr. Rosenfeld addresses questions and strategies many people are afraid to ask – or to take a look at in their own life. How often should I really be exercising? At what intensity should my workouts be? When does exercise become an addiction? How do I know if I am addicted? How can too much exercise be bad for you?! What is wrong with working out daily? Dr. Rosenfeld provides tools and tips for incorporating healthy exercise into your lifestyle, and opens up a discussion on this possibility. Estimated length of lecture/workshop is 45 minutes, including questions and answers.
Lose the Diet, Eat in Peace.
Dr. Rosenfeld explains why diets simply do not work, and discusses how and why people on diets end up losing and gaining weight repeatedly, across the board. She offers evidence that diets are not the best approach for weight loss, and that they keep people from developing healthy relationships with food. Dr. Rosenfeld describes the successful technique of intuitive eating–eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full. In this lecture she helps participants identify when and what to eat and how to know their hunger and satiety cues. Specific intuitive eating strategies are provided. Finally, Dr. Rosenfeld leads the audience in a brief eating exercise to encourage more mindful eating. Estimated length of lecture/workshop is one hour, with questions and answers.
How to Love Your Body (or at Least Accept It)
In this talk, Dr. Rosenfeld explores our collective body dissatisfaction and examines the root of the problem.She discusses and debunks various body image myths in depth (e.g., If I am thinner, I’ll be happier). The audience will be engaged in specific exercises geared toward improved body image, both during the presentation and beyond. Dr. Rosenfeld explores the pros and cons of fixation on body shape and size and encourages a larger focus on self-esteem. This lecture/workshop is 45 to 60 minutes long.
Social Drinking: How Much Is Too Much?
Alcohol use occurs on a continuum, between social drinking and varying severities of misuse. In this presentation, Dr. Rosenfeld helps participants identify what constitutes problem drinking. Participants take a private self-test and explore their current relationship with alcohol. Dr. Rosenfeld focuses on the thin line between healthy and unhealthy drinking and offers strategies to moderate alcohol use. She also discusses what next steps to take if problem drinking is identified. This workshop is interactive and the estimated length is 45 to 60 minutes.
Re-Create Exercise: Body-Positive Fitness for Personal Trainers/Group Exercise Instructors
Body-positive fitness introduces exercise as a health- and life-affirming force, independent of shape and weight. In this workshop, Dr. Rosenfeld discusses the prevalence and warning signs of eating disorders/body image concerns, as well as compulsive exercise, and explains how these issues commonly present in fitness settings. She discusses how to approach clients that might need help and offers coaching/cueing tips for teaching and training in a body-positive manner – helping reduce the triggering of eating and body image concerns. Finally, Dr. Rosenfeld discusses current trends in the fitness and body image worlds, including “fitspiration,” popular diets, and the Health at Every SizeⓇ approach, and their impact on clients’ health and well-being. This workshop can be customized from one to three hours.
How to Compete in Your First Marathon, Triathlon, or Other Road Race
In this interactive talk, Dr. Rosenfeld helps first-timers take the plunge into their first marathon/triathlon. Blending her expertise from sports psychology, clinical psychology, and personal training, as well as her own experience competing in marathons and triathlons and serving as Chief Psychologist for the NYC Triathlon, Dr. Rosenfeld explains the nuts and bolts of physical and mental preparation for the race. She details a beginner training schedule, paying special attention to managing time, preventing injuries, and anticipating race day. She then discusses psychological techniques to enhance training, manage the mental race, and cope with pre-race jitters. She goes over strategies such as visualization, dissociation, goal setting, and emotional regulation. Dr. Rosenfeld encourages participant questions and feedback throughout this workshop. The estimated length of this presentation is 45 minutes.