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About
About Ashton
I'm Ashton, an occupational therapist and graduate of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. For my capstone project, I created this online educational program to educate healthcare professionals about occupational therapy's unique role with this client population.
Where It All Began
As someone who suffered and recovered from an eating disorder, I know from personal experience the impacts and barriers eating disorders (EDs) have on daily life, quality of life, relationships, and identity. As I began occupational therapy (OT) school and learned about OT's role in various settings, I began to realize how beneficial OT can be for those with EDs.
I became interested in OT's role in this setting and wanted to learn more, but our textbook only had one brief chapter and it wasn't a topic that was heavily discussed in OT school. I realized this was an area that needed more recognition, particularly among the OT community.
Get with the Program!
Eating disorders are still on the rise & significantly impact a person's ability to participate in daily life. Occupational therapists are crucial & unique members of the eating disorder treatment team, yet are often overlooked and undervalued in this setting. This is due to a lack of knowledge of OT's role in eating disorder intervention. It's crucial for healthcare professionals in the eating disorder setting to be aware of all treatment options available to clients.
Learn how & why occupational therapists are an important part of the eating disorder treatment team today!
Questions? Email [email protected] or write Ashton Gerardi, OTR, OTD through the contact form.