Speakers

Biography

Dr. Diana Monsour is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. She received her master’s and doctorate in Counselor Education from Texas Tech University. Diana specializes in substance use disorders, eating disorders, and co-occurring disorders. Diana has worked in the treatment field for over 9 years and is now working in private practice.

Abstract

Substance use disorders (SUDs) and eating disorders (EDs) are serious and fatal mental health disorders that severely impact an individual’s quality of life. In the US, substance-related and eating-related issues are epidemics that plague the nation, making it impossible for the counseling profession to ignore. Furthermore, SUDs and EDs are often co-occurring (SUD+ED), complicating treatment and recovery for both the individual seeking treatment and the professional. Research exists on individuals who have recovered from a SUD, as well as individuals who have recovered from an ED, and often these approaches have conflicting ideologies. There are limited qualitative studies with individuals who are navigating recovery from both disorders. This is a presentation of a study that was conducted as part of a dissertation. The major purpose of this presentation is to explore the phenomenon of recovery by reflecting on essential themes revealed through the lived experiences of individuals with SUD+ED.  The presentation is designed to inform clinical practices based on what has worked for individuals who have overcome their disorders. The presentation is unique and significant in that this study examined individuals with different combinations of SUD+ED, filling a need in the counseling and treatment literature. This presentation provides recommendations for practice and research for counselors and treatment professionals in impatient and outpatient settings.