Radical Responsibility with JD Ouellette, MS

 

Episode 104 - Radical Responsibility with JD Ouellette, MS

by Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS

We are honored to welcome JD Ouellette, MS, an educator turned eating disorder professional to the show for the newest episode of Recovery Bites, “Radical Responsibility.” JD came into this work after her youngest child developed a anorexia in 2012. JD became involved in her daughter’s cutting edge, evidence-based treatment at UC San Diego where she reached full recovery, which ignite JD’s passion for access to evidence-based care and sharing with other parents through educating and mentoring. JD’s work eventually led her to open her own peer coaching practice.

Join Karin and JD for a conversation on the importance of early, family intervention, the role of psychoeducation for supports, how Family-Based Treatment (FBT) supports and changes the family system, the ways in which the eating disorder “voice” is the loudest voice, challenging parental fears of perpetuating harm for their child, setting boundaries with children, radical responsibility that comes with lived experience, and much more!

“One of the most powerful assets I had in fighting with and for my daughter’s life was a rapid learning curve in seeing that anorexia and my daughter were very separate entities, and that anorexia was also extremely manipulative and willing to exploit our love for our daughter in order to carry out its deadly mission. In my experience, loving parents worry deeply about causing their children distress, so it helps to really understand the research and principles behind the loving, validating insistence that is my “Full Metal Apron” coaching style. This poem and these words from my daughters are a window into our both our fight and our success.”
— JD Ouellette, MS

JD Ouellette, MS is an educator turned eating disorder professional as well as an “expert by experience” on eating disorders, peer mentoring, parenting, and life, as well as, a professional educator with deep experience and training as a volunteer peer coach/mentor and peer educator.

JD came to this work after helping her youngest child fully recover from anorexia at the age of 17, using Family-Based Treatment (FBT). JD’s family’s treatment experience included psychoeducation on the latest research; she became passionate about sharing with other parents through educating and mentoring, eventually opening her own peer coaching practice.

She has presented at several conferences including ICED, NEDA, and IAEDP L.A., served on the F.E.A.S.T. board, and co-founded World Eating Disorders Action Day. She is the Director of Mentorship for Equip, leading a team of dedicated, professional mentors.