Eating Disorders Association of Maine (EDAM) is a network of like-minded people and organizations dedicated to promoting health and wellness at every size, body acceptance, and the prevention of eating disorders and disordered eating throughout Maine. We provide identification of resources, training, education, awareness, and support for individuals, families, treatment providers and communities throughout the state. EDAM wishes to offer hope, help and support to all who are impacted by eating disorders.
The Need for the Eating Disorder Association of Maine
An estimated 10 million females and 1 million males are battling eating disorders according to the Centers for Disease Control and the National Eating Disorders Association. Anorexia nervosa has the highest fatality rate of any mental illness in the country.
40% of newly identified cases of anorexia are in girls 15-19 years old, and the incidence continues to increase.
The mortality rate associated with anorexia is 12 times higher than the death rate of all other causes of death for females 15-24 years old.
Only 30% of people with anorexia receive mental health care.
Only 6% of people with bulimia receive mental health care.
Intervention and treatment within the first 6 months of developing disordered eating is crucial and is associated with better recovery outcomes.
In Maine, there is one program that provides intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization—the New England Eating Disorders (NEED) Program at Sweetser in Saco and there is one residential treatment center that specializes in treating co-occurring disorders - Crossroads Treatment Facility in Portland.
Many medical and mental health providers in Maine are not aware of the resources and treatment options available, are isolated from other providers with whom they may collaborate, and could benefit from more training and experience in the treatment of eating disorders.
Teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, college professionals, and other concerned adults who work with children and young adults are aware of the prevalence of eating disorders, but are unsure of how to respond. They could benefit from collaboration with others, especially in the areas of prevention, screening and early intervention.
Primary Care Physicians, Pediatricians and other health professionals are challenged by knowing mental health providers or registered dietitians who specialize in eating disorders treatment.
There is a lot of confusing and incorrect information circulating about healthy eating, obesity, exercise, and other eating and weight issues that may influence a person’s eating behaviors and distorted thinking. Our nation’s “war on obesity,” diet mentality, and thin ideal is a primary and constant factor in the development of eating disorders.
Meet the EDAM Board Members
Sarah (Say) Carnahan, MA, MSW, LCSW - President
Sarah (Say) Carnahan (she/her) is an LCSW, and the Director of Mental Health and Counseling Services at the University of Maine Farmington. Sarah got her clinical MSW as well as her M.A. in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from The Ohio State University. While there, Sarah received training through The Center for Balanced Living, which was then an independent, nonprofit treatment eating disorder treatment center run by Dr. Laura Hill. (Since then, CBL has become part of The Emily Program.) As a therapist, Sarah uses an integrative approach with a strong undercurrent of DBT. She also has significant training and experience in working with folks in the LGBTQIA+ community. Sarah is passionate about providing consultation and education for those who want to learn more about working with people with eating disorders.
Kathleen Hart, Ph.D. - Vice President
Kathleen received her doctorate from Boston College and trained in clinical psychology at Boston Children’s Hospital and The Cambridge Hospital. Dr. Hart completed her Pre-doctoral Internship at The Children’s Hospital of Colorado. She also worked at Bethesda Hospital, Colorado both on the adult Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse units. Now in private practice, Dr. Hart works with teens and adults with eating and anxiety disorders using behavioral treatments including: Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT), Family Based Treatment (The Maudsley Method) and Mindfulness Training. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Hart devoted a portion of her career to research. She studied the relationship between parental attachment, sex roles and eating disorders. Her findings are published in the Journal of Psychological Assessment, Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology and the Journal of Sex Roles.
Laura Sproch, PhD - Treasurer
Dr. Sproch is a clinical psychologist and the owner of Vibrant Psychology, a teletherapy outpatient practice specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. She is a clinical psychologist committed to evidence-based treatments for eating disorders, which has guided the supervisory, educational, clinical, research, administrative, and outreach work that she has been involved in. In particular, she utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral therapy, family-based therapy, and interpersonal therapy in the treatment that she provides. Dr. Sproch was previously the program director of the New England Eating Disorders Program at Sweetser, a comprehensive eating disorder-specialized treatment program in southern Maine. Prior to her work in Maine, Dr. Sproch was the research coordinator at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt (Baltimore, MD) and also trained at Friends Hospital (Philadelphia, PA) and ‘Ai Pono Eating Disorder Program (Honolulu, HI). Dr. Sproch received her doctorate from Hofstra University in Clinical and School Psychology and her undergraduate degree from Vassar College.
Jacqueline Plachta, M.Ac, Dipl. AC
Jacqueline Plachta is a licensed Oriental Medicine practitioner who is working with Taoist Five Element Chinese Medicine in the area of addiction, trauma and chronic illness. Her private practice is located in Brunswick and Portland, ME. Jacqueline has been working with alternative therapies for recovery from eating disorders for over 20 years. She comes to the board with an extensive background in organizational and technical skills from previous board positions in non-profit organizations.
Brock Libby, M.D.
Dr. Libby is an adolescent medicine physician who has roughly 5 years of experience of treating all forms of eating disorders. He is from Cornville, Maine and has always wanted to bring his training back to his home state. He attended fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and trained under Rebecka Peebles, M.D. He was trained in mostly family based therapy approaches to those under the age of 18 and dialectical behavioral therapy for those over that age. He is also fortunate enough to be trained to understand the interplay between mental health comorbidities and how this influences both treatment and treatment outcomes. He partners closely with behavioral health and dietetic providers for the best possible outcomes. Given that he is an adolescent medicine provider, he has an array of connections across the country in higher levels of care and other institutions who can assist with complex, out of state cases. Furthermore, he provides clinical care to gender diverse individuals so has a wide breadth of experience in treating LGBTQ youth who have eating disorder pathology. Dr Libby does have some training in therapeutic techniques but relies on behavioral health support as this is the mainstay of treatment in those who struggle with their relationship to nutrition. He has worked with Maine Medical Center to help create the malnutrition protocol that presently exists and is used for those who meet admission criteria.
Tonya Spaulding, RDN, LD
Tonya Spaulding is a Registered, Licensed Dietitian, whose practice is guided by the empirical principles of “Health At Every Size” (HAES). She believes that respecting all persons in all bodies is the weight-inclusive, compassionate, self-care approach to wellness that achieves the most affirmative outcomes. Tonya has been providing health and wellness nutritional care in a variety of settings for over 18 years. Tonya specializes in evidence-based, medical nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling across a wide variety of settings including clinical, long-term/skilled rehabilitation care, community outreach, outpatient therapy and behavioral health care. She has worked with clients with eating disorders in residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs, and currently focuses on providing virtual and in-person outpatient nutrition therapy. Tonya is a Certified Intuitive Eating counselor and holds her Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist Certifications through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). She founded her private practice in 2017 through which she provides weight inclusive nutrition therapy for individuals with lived experiences including eating disorders, chronic dieting and compulsive exercise patterns.
Lindsay Susi, MSW
Lindsay Susi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Clinical Director of the New England Eating Disorders (NEED) Program at Sweetser, a comprehensive eating disorder treatment program located in Saco, Maine. She began her work in eating disorders as an intern with this program in 2013 and became a full-time clinician with NEED in 2016. Her clinical experience includes using evidenced-based practices to address disordered eating patterns, behavioral challenges, motivational challenges, communication issues, and interpersonal relationship issues through individual, group and family therapy. Her focus of treatment includes use of cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal and solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing and mindfulness techniques. She is passionate about working with individuals to address and re-work their relationship with food/body and has extensive experience in working with adolescents, adults, families and supports in clinical settings.
