Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center

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Andrea's Voice with Doris and Tom Smeltzer

Karin Lewis

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Andrea's Voice with Doris and Tom Smeltzer Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS

IN THIS EPISODE:

In this episode, I am joined by Doris and Tom Smeltzer, two parents who were thrust into the world of eating disorders through Andrea, their 19 - year - old daughter, who died of bulimia in June 1999. Author, activist, career educator, and international speaker, Doris Smeltzer is the President of Andrea's Voice Foundation, a non-profit founded following her daughter's eating disordered death. Doris holds a master's in counseling psychology, with published works including the book, Andrea's Voice: Silenced by Bulimia, "A Joyful Journey" blog, the AndreasVoice.org web site, and numerous published pieces in newspapers, magazines, and books including an article in the landmark, Treatment of Eating Disorders.

Doris and Tom have keynoted at numerous conferences and presented at universities and organizations internationally. As the first bereaved parents invited to present before a congressional briefing on eating disorders in Washington, DC, their story has now been told in the headlines of periodicals and in radio and television spots from New York to California.

SOME OF THE TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • The deadly truth about eating disorders.

  • Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.

  • What to tell parents.

  • The emotional distress that starts before behaviors begin.

  • Symptom interruption.

  • It is through community that we heal.

  • It takes a village!

ABOUT ANDREA, DORIS, & TOM SMELTZER:

Andrea Smeltzer died in her sleep at the age of 19 after a one-year struggle with bulimia. Andrea's parents, Tom and Doris Smeltzer, now devote their time to eating disorder prevention through Andrea's Voice Foundation. Tom and Doris Smeltzer are Andrea’s parents. Tom with a Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Doris with a Master's in Counseling Psychology are career educators. Now retired from the local school district, Doris devotes 100% of her time to eating disorder prevention through Andrea's Voice Foundation. Tom, too, focuses more attention on their non-profit’s efforts following his retirement as a Professor from a local college in Northern California.

Doris authored Andrea's Voice: Silenced by Bulimia and wrote for 7 years a popular "Advice for Parents" blog for her publishers, Gürze Books, until focusing on her own A Joyful Journey blog. She hosted the VoiceAmerica™ Radio Show, Savor Yourself...beyond skin deep, has been named a Community Hero by both her hometown of Napa, and the NorthBay ED organization, EDRS, and awarded the Soroptimist Ruby Award for Women Helping Women. Together, Doris and Tom co-authored an Article in the book, Treatment of Eating Disorders: Bridging the Research-Practice Gap, (Academic Press, 2010), and appeared in the 2007 award-winning documentary, "America the Beautiful: Is America Obsessed with Beauty?" 

Andrea Lynn Smeltzer, 19, was trained in opera, enjoyed the theater, was an avid dancer and masterful at making jewelry and crafting poetry. After studying in Spain for a year at the age of fourteen, she spoke Spanish fluently. At the time of her death she was studying German, with a plan to master Japanese next. Prior to college, Andrea was elected president of her high school's Amnesty International group and was an outspoken advocate for human rights. At Pitzer College, she was awarded the prestigious Fletcher Jones Scholarship, worked as a Resident Assistant and Mentor, majored in International Business and Politics - and looked forward to saving the world. She died tragically after thirteen months of bulimic behaviors on June 16, 1999.

Since Andrea's death, Doris and Tom have created various eating disorder educational presentations and outreach efforts (locally, nationwide and internationally), have appeared in popular media (TV, radio, film), authored numerous published articles, books. blogs, and their web site, all with the intent to educate and inform others on the need for research, prevention, early recognition, immediate intervention and the skilled treatment of eating disorders. Doris and Tom created Andrea's Voice Foundation (AVF) dedicated to promoting education and understanding toward the prevention, identification, diagnosis, treatment of disordered eating and related issues, and transforming perspectives...one person at a time

Doris and Tom continue their outreach efforts in the local community and beyond via presentations and workshops at school districts, colleges, universities, professional organizations, and treatment centers. When not educating on disordered eating and providing training on bully prevention and character education, gardens and works on projects with Tom in their Northern California home, which they share with their cats and llamas. Doris especially enjoys spending time with her daughter Jocelyn and son - in - law, Tracy, and dancing with her infant grandson, Fischer Lynn.

CONNECT WITH DORIS & TOM SMELTZER:

ABOUT KARIN LEWIS:

Karin Lewis, MA, LMFT, CEDS has been recovered from Anorexia Nervosa for over 20 years and has been specializing in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders since 2005. Karin is the founder of the Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center located in Boston, MA. To learn more about Karin and her center’s services, you can visit Karin Lewis Eating Disorder Center. You can connect with Karin on social media by following her on Facebook and Instagram.