The Moving Through Barriers to Embodiment course is designed for providers who have completed Introduction to Embodied Recovery for Eating Disorders (ERED) and are ready to apply the ERED approach to their work with clients. This 10 day, 2 module training offers participants an in-depth exploration of concepts presented in Introduction to Embodied Recovery for Eating Disorder (ERED) including:
- Nervous system regulation through the lens of Polyvagal Theory and the Window of Tolerance.
- Eating disorders behaviors through the behavioral lens of the Action Cycle and Barriers to Action.
- Attachment and defense systems through the somatic lens of the Relational Cycle.
- Trauma as a function of attachment, defense and sensory processing through the lens of the Defense-Response Cycle.
Through experiential and embodied practice, participants will:
- Deepen their bottom-up, felt-sense understanding of how eating disorders behaviors are the body’s expression of attachment adaptations resulting from physical and relational injuries and trauma.
- Increasing accuracy and nuance in the assessment of what drives ED behaviors through deeper understanding of Action Cycle Barriers.
- Learn body-based interventions to support “normative eating” specific to the Action Cycle Barriers and Attachment Adaptations clients are expressing through eating disorders behaviors.
- Enhance therapeutic presence for effective therapeutic co-regulation.
- Build connection and community with like-minding providers.
NOTE: Each cohort of this training includes a total of 70 hours of instruction in 2 5-day modules. Please, see description below for details of content covered in each module.
ERI welcomes people of diverse physical abilities and offers programs which are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. If you have requests or suggestions that would make enhance participation, please contact our registration administrator at: registration@embodiedrecovery.org
Cohorts
October 23-27, 2025 and March 26-30, 2026 – Chapel Hill, NC
April 24-28 and September 11-15, 2025 – Seattle, WA
Course Details
Description
Module One, the first 5-day module (days 1-5), offers 35 hours of training exploring:
- The neurobiological scaffold for eating disorder behaviors characteristic of the Insight and Response Barriers to Action.
- The Relational Cycle dynamics of pushing and reaching.
- Interventions that increase the embodiment of the push and reach developmental movement patterns of the Relational Cycle to increase bottom-up support of “normative eating”.
- The developmental tasks of embodiment, experiencing safety in existence and moving toward what we want.
- Defensive actions of fight and flight responses that are expressed through eating disorders behaviors.
- Therapeutic relationship and the practitioner’s attachment strategies and embodiment of the push and reach developmental movement patterns of the Relational Cycle.
- Skills for integrating the ERED approach into current best practices for eating disorders treatment.
Module Two, the second 5-day module (days 6-10), offers 35 hours of training exploring:
- The neurobiological scaffold for eating disorder behaviors characteristic of the Nourishment and Completion Barriers
- The Relational Cycle dynamics of grasp, pull and yield.
- Interventions that increase the embodiment of the grasp, pull and yield developmental movement patterns of the Relational Cycle to increase bottom-up support of “normative eating”.
- The developmental tasks of meeting needs and experiencing belonging.
- Defensive action of freeze responses that are expressed through eating disorders behaviors.
- Therapeutic relationship and the practitioner’s attachment strategies and embodiment of the grasp, pull and yield developmental movement patterns of the Relational Cycle.
- Skills for integrating the ERED approach into current best practices for eating disorders treatment.
Agenda
Day 1 (Module 1)
9-10:15 Mindful arriving, Introductions, Housekeeping
10:15-10:45 Review Embodied Recovery Model from Phase I:
- Four Principles of ERED,
- Polyvagal Theory,
- Window of Tolerance,
- Bottom-Up Processing, Embodiment
10:45-11:00 BREAK
11:00-12:00 Review Embodied Recovery Model from Phase I, Impact on Eating Disorders Behaviors of:
- Attachment Injury,
- Trauma
- Sensory Processing on Neurological Regulation
12:00-1:30 LUNCH
1:30-3:00 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Neurological Regulation associated with:
- Normative Eating in “Clarity” stage of Action Cycle
- Successful completion of developmental tasks of Safety in Existence/Embodiment
- Relational Cycle movement pattern of Push
3:00-3:15 BREAK
3:15-4:45 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with:
- “Insight Barrier” to effective action
- Unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Safety in Existence/Embodiment
- Truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Push
- Sensory Processing Disorder
4:45-5:30 Questions and Closing
Day 2 (Module 1)
9-10:00 Mindfulness practice and Q and A
10-10:45 Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase Neurological Regulation,
- Soften “Insight Barrier” to Action,
- Support capacity for “Normative Eating”, and
- Repair attachment injury resulting in unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Safety in Existence/Embodiment and truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Push
10:45-11 BREAK
11:00 – 11:45 Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase Neurological Regulation,
- Soften “Insight Barrier” to Action,
- Support capacity for “Normative Eating”
- Repair attachment injury resulting in unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Safety in Existence/Embodiment and truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Push
11:45-12:30 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with Fight Response.
12:30-2:00 LUNCH
2-2:45 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with Fight Response.
2:45-3:30 Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to increase Neurological Regulation and support capacity for “Normative Eating” for clients with patterned Fight Response.
3:30-3:45 BREAK
3:45-5:00 Being an Embodied Therapist: Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase safety in therapeutic relationship when navigating attachment injuries associated with Safety in Existence/Embodiment.
- Build capacity for corrective experience of co-regulation
- Reduce therapist’s Insight Barrier in therapeutic process.
5:00-5:30 Questions/Closure
Day 3 ( Module 1)
9-10 Mindfulness Practice, and Q and A.
10:00-10:45 Therapeutic Skills: tracking, making verbal contact, assessment of present moment state of neurological regulation.
10:45-11:00 Break
11-12:15 Therapeutic skills: goals, treatment planning
12:15-1:45 LUNCH
1:45-3:15 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Neurological Regulation associated with:
- Normative Eating in “Effectiveness” stage of Action Cycle
- Successful completion of developmental tasks of Autonomy/Expressing Will and Want
- Relational Cycle movement pattern of Reach
3:15-3:30 BREAK
3:30-5:00 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with:
- “Response Barrier” to effective action
- Unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Autonomy/Expressing Will and Want
- Truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Reach
5:00-5:30 Questions/Closure
Day 4 ( Module 1)
9-10:00 Mindfulness Practice, and Q and A.
10-10:45 Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase Neurological Regulation,
- Soften “Response Barrier” to Action,
- Support capacity for “Normative Eating”, and
- Repair attachment injury resulting in unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Autonomy/Expressing Will and Want and truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Reach
10:45-11 BREAK
11:00 – 11:45 Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase Neurological Regulation,
- Soften “Response Barrier” to Action,
- Support capacity for “Normative Eating”, and
- Repair attachment injury resulting in unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Autonomy/Expressing Will and Want and truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Reach
11:45-12:30 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with Flight Response.
12:30-2:00 LUNCH
2-2:45 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with Flight Response.
2:45-3:30 Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to increase Neurological Regulation and support capacity for “Normative Eating” for clients with patterned Flight Response.
3:30-3:45 BREAK
3:45-5:00 Being an Embodied Therapist: Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase safety in therapeutic relationship when navigating attachment injuries associated with expression of Will and Want.
- Build capacity for corrective experience of co-regulation
- Reduce therapist’s Response Barrier in therapeutic process.
5:00-5:30 Questions/Closure
Day 5 ( Module 1)
9-10 Mindfulness Practice, and Q and A.
10:00-10:45 Therapeutic Skills: facilitating experiential interventions, assessment
10:45-11:00 Break
11-12:15 Skills: goals, treatment planning
12:15-1:15 LUNCH
1:15-2:15 Case studies
2:15-2:30 BREAK
2:30-3:30 Questions and Closing
Day 6 (Module 2)
9-10:15 Mindful arriving, Introductions, Housekeeping
10:15-10:45 Review Embodied Recovery Model from Phase I:
10:45-11:00 BREAK
11:00-12:00 Review Embodied Recovery Model from Phase II, Module 1,
12:00-1:30 LUNCH
1:30-3:00 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Neurological Regulation associated with:
- Normative Eating in “Satisfaction” stage of Action Cycle
- Successful completion of developmental tasks of Meeting Needs
- Relational Cycle movement pattern of Grasp
3:00-3:15 BREAK
3:15-4:45 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with:
- “Nourishment Barrier” to effective action
- Unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Meeting Needs
4:45-5:30 Questions and Closing
Day 7 (Module 2)
9-9:45 Mindfulness practice (Orienting to sound, what are you grabbing hold of, what are you having difficulty grasping) and Q and A
9:45-10:45 Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase Neurological Regulation,
- Soften “Nourishment Barrier” to Action,
- Support capacity for “Normative Eating”
- Repair attachment injury resulting in unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Meeting Needs and truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Grasp
10:45-11 BREAK
11:00 – 12:30 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Neurological Regulation associated with:
- Normative Eating in “Satisfaction” stage of Action Cycle
- Successful completion of developmental tasks of Intimacy
- Relational Cycle movement pattern of Pull
12:30-2:00 LUNCH
2:00-3:15 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with:
- “Nourishment Barrier” to effective action
- Unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Intimacy
- Truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Pull
- Sensory Processing Disorder
315-3:30 BREAK
3:30-4:30 Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase Neurological Regulation,
- Soften “Nourishment Barrier” to Action,
- Support capacity for “Normative Eating”
- Repair attachment injury resulting in unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Intimacy and truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Pull
4:30-5:15 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with Freeze (High) Response.
5:15-5:30 Questions/Closure
Day 8 (Module 2)
9-9:45 Mindfulness Practice, and Q and A.
9:45-10: 45 Being an Embodied Therapist: Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase safety in therapeutic relationship when navigating attachment injuries associated with Safety in Meeting Needs and Intimacy.
- Build capacity for corrective experience of co-regulation
- Reduce therapist’s Nourishment Barrier in therapeutic process.
10:45-11:00 Break
11-11:15 Therapeutic Skills: The Action cycle stage of Satisfaction in the therapeutic process-tracking, making verbal contact with somatic, affective and cognitive indicators of transformation.
11:15-12:30 Therapeutic skills: goals, treatment planning for clients expressing Nourishment Barrier.
12:30-2:00 LUNCH
1:45-3:15 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Neurological Regulation associated with:
- Normative Eating in “Relaxation” stage of Action Cycle
- Successful completion of developmental tasks of Belonging in community
- Relational Cycle movement pattern of Yield
3:15-3:30 BREAK
3:30-5:00 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with:
- “Completion” to effective action
- Unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Belonging in Community
- Truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Yield
5-5:30 Questions and close
Day 9 (Module 2)
9-10 Mindfulness Practice, and Q and A.
10-10:45 Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase Neurological Regulation,
- Soften “Completion Barrier” to Action,
- Support capacity for “Normative Eating”, and
- Repair attachment injury resulting in unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Belonging in Community and truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Yield
10:45-11 BREAK
11:00 – 12:00 Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase Neurological Regulation,
- Soften “Completion Barrier” to Action,
- Support capacity for “Normative Eating”, and
- Repair attachment injury resulting in unsuccessful completion of developmental tasks of Belonging in Community and truncated Relational Cycle movement pattern of Yield
12-12:30 Didactic and Experiential exploration of Eating Disorders Behaviors expressing Neurological Dysregulation associated with Low Freeze Response.
12:30-2:00 LUNCH
2-2:45
2:45-3:30
3:30-3:45 BREAK
3:45-5:00 Being an Embodied Therapist: Didactic and Experiential exploration of skills to:
- Increase safety in therapeutic relationships when navigating attachment injuries associated with expression of Belonging.
- Build capacity for corrective experience of co-regulation
- Reduce therapist’s Completion Barrier in therapeutic process.
5:00-5:30 Questions/Closure
Day 10 (Module 2)
9-10 Mindfulness Practice, and Q and A.
10:00-10:45 Therapeutic Skills: facilitating experiential interventions, assessment
10:45-11:00 Break
11-12:15 Skills: goals, treatment planning for Client with Completion Barrier
12:15-1:15 LUNCH
1:15-2:15 Case studies
2:15-2:30 BREAK
2:30-3:30 FINAL Questions and Closing
Objectives
Upon completion of Module 1, participants will be able to:
- Explain the bottom-up relationship between the sensorimotor developmental movement of Push and the successful completion of the developmental task of embodiment and the Action Cycle stage of Clarity.
- Explain the bottom-up relationship between the sensorimotor developmental movement of Reach and the successful completion of the developmental task of expressing wants and the Action Cycle stage of Effectiveness.
- Identify attachment injuries and character adaptations associated with over-bounded and under-bounded Push.
- Identify attachment injuries and character adaptations associated with over-bounded and under-bounded Reach.
- Identify 3 eating disorders behaviors associate with the Insight Barrier to Action.
- Identify 3 eating disorders behaviors associate with the Response Barrier to Action.
- Facilitate 1 intervention to increase bottom-up support for normative eating behaviors associated with the Action Cycle stage of Clarity.
- Facilitate 1 intervention to increase bottom-up support for normative eating behaviors associated with the Action Cycle stage of Effectiveness.
- Demonstrate 2 skills to increase co-regulation and safety in the therapeutic relationship.
Upon completion of Module 2, participants will be able to:
- Explain the bottom-up relationship between the sensorimotor developmental movement of Grasp and the successful completion of the developmental task of having needs met and the Action Cycle stage of Satisfaction.
- Explain the bottom-up relationship between the sensorimotor developmental movement of Pull and the successful completion of the developmental task of experiencing intimacy and the Action Cycle stage of Satisfaction.
- Explain the bottom-up relationship between the sensorimotor developmental movement of Yield and the successful completion of the developmental task of experiencing belonging and the Action Cycle stage of Relaxation.
- Identify attachment injuries and character adaptations associated with over-bounded and under-bounded Grasp.
- Identify attachment injuries and character adaptations associated with over-bounded and under-bounded Pull.
- Identify attachment injuries and character adaptations associated with over-bounded and under-bounded Yield.
- Identify 3 eating disorders behaviors associate with the Nourishment Barrier to Action.
- Identify 3 eating disorders behaviors associate with the Completion Barrier to Action.
- Facilitate 1 intervention to increase bottom-up support for normative eating behaviors associated with the Action Cycle stage of Satisfaction.
- Facilitate 1 intervention to increase bottom-up support for normative eating behaviors associated with the Action Cycle stage of Relaxation.
- Demonstrate 2 skills to increase co-regulation and safety in the therapeutic relationship.
Audience
The training is appropriate for all members of multidisciplinary eating disorders treatment teams including mental health professionals (Psychologist, Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Creative Art Therapists), medical providers (MD’s, Psychiatrists, Nurses), Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, treatment program staff and adjunct providers such as yoga therapist. This training is also applicable for the same professionals who work with common co-occurring disorders such as addiction, mood disorders and trauma which arise from the same mind/body/spirit constellation that gives rise to eating disorders.
Prerequisites
One of the following courses is required before you can take this course:
Tuition and Refund Policy
See the individual cohort listing for tuition fees.
BIPOC/LGBTQ, Student and Work-study SCHOLARSHIPS : We reserve select slots in each training for reduced rate scholarships. If you would like to request a scholarship, please contact Jenn at registration@embodiedrecovery.org.
REFUND: Refund of full tuition paid minus $100 available if cancellation is made up to 6 weeks prior to start of Module 1. Refund of 50% of tuition paid minus $100 available if cancellation is made between 2-6 weeks prior to start of Module 1. No refund available available if cancellation is made within 2 weeks of start of Module 1.
Continuing Education
Each module of this course offers 35 CE’s. Participants must attend all 5 days of each module to receive CE’s for that module.
The Embodied Recovery Institute (ERI) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7539. Program that do no qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. ERI is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 35 CE’s per module are available to participants who attend the entirety of this program and complete the course evaluation.
The Embodied Recovery Institute, Provider Number 2075, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/16/24-9/16/25. Social workers competing this course receive 35 General continuing education credits per module.