Meeting Eating And Learning Simultaneously
10-session / 30-hour:
M.E.A.L.S. Online Certification Program:
The Psychology of Eating and Emotional Well-being

Directed by
Colleen Baratka, MA, TEP, Psychodrama Trainer & Supervisor, CTP-3 &
Daniela Simmons, PhD, TEP, Psychodrama Trainer & Supervisor, Creator of Tele'Drama (United States)


Description:
Learning while having a meal can be a productive way to maximize your time, especially if you have a busy schedule. This training offers a balanced and enjoyable way to appreciate your food while exploring your relationships with it, being present in the experience.

Program Structure:This online certification program integrates psychodrama techniques with the psychology of eating, providing a comprehensive approach to improving emotional well-being and fostering a healthier relationship with food. Join us for this unique learning experience and transform the way you think about meals and emotional health. Each session will include a blend of didactic teaching, experiential demonstrations, and practical applications to solidify understanding and skill development.

Each session will build on the previous ones, providing a comprehensive approach to improving emotional well-being and fostering a healthier relationship with food. 

Session 1: Understand the Psychology of Eating

• Explore the psychological factors that influence eating habits and food choices.
• Recognize the impact of emotions on eating behaviors.

Session 2: Enhance Emotional Well-being

• Develop strategies to manage emotional eating.
• Learn techniques to improve emotional well-being through mindful eating practices.

Session 3: Improve Mindfulness and Presence

• Practice mindfulness techniques during meals to enhance the eating experience.
• Cultivate a deeper connection with food and its impact on overall health.

Session 4: Develop Healthy Eating Habits

• Identify and address unhealthy eating patterns.
• Create personalized plans for balanced and nutritious meals.

Session 5: Strengthen Relationships with Food

• Explore personal relationships with food and their origins.
• Develop a positive and healthy relationship with food.

Session 6: Eating Disorders and Child Development Theory

• Understand eating disorders from the perspective of child development theory.
• Explore fractured mirroring related to body image and the lack of correct doubling and mirroring.
• Discuss how the child becomes the family double, losing a sense of self.

Session 7: Theoretical Integration

• Relate Moreno's theories to those of Erickson, Freud, and Winnicott’s object relations theory.
• Weave these theories into understanding eating behaviors and emotional well-being.

Session 8: Trauma and Food

• Examine the relationship between trauma and food.
• Understand how traumatic experiences can affect eating behaviors and emotional health.

Session 9: Addiction and Food

• Explore the connection between alcohol/addiction and food, considering both break down to sugar.
• Investigate the role of family/genetics in addiction and feelings of being out of control.

Session 10: Practical Application and Integration

• Practice psychodrama techniques to apply the learned theories and strategies.
• Integrate knowledge into practical scenarios to improve understanding and effectiveness.

 Dates:

Wednesdays, October 1, 8, 23, 28; November 5, 12, 19; December 3, 10, 17, 2025

Please note:

• The module is unique to those who attend and WILL NOT BE RECORDED.
• The best way to participate is through your computer; however you may attend via a tablet or cellphone.
• Payment, in case of cancellation, will be credited to future workshops.
• You will receive the zoom invitation via email.