Marty Lerner
Ph.D.
Free
Marty Lerner, PhD. Expert
Marty Lerner Quick Facts
- Main Areas
- Eating Disorders, Addictions
- Career Focus
- CEO and Clinical Director -Treatment of Eating Disorders
- Affiliation
- Milestones In Recovery, Inc. - Eating Disorders Program
Dr. Lerner is the founder and executive director of the Milestones in Recovery Eating Disorders Program located in Cooper City, Florida. A graduate of Nova Southeaste University, Dr. Lerner is a licensed and board certified clinical psychologist who has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders since 1980. He has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs that include The NPR Report, 20/20, Discovery Health, and ABC’s Nightline as well authored several publications related to eating disorders in the professional literature, national magazines, and newspapers including USA Today, The Wall Street journal, New York Times, Miami Herald, Orlando and Hollywood Sun Sentinels. An active member of the professional community here in South Florida since finishing his training, Dr. Lerner makes his home in Davie with his wife Michele and daughters Janelle and Danielle and their dog, Reggie.
Marty Lerner Books
Articles by this expert
SelfGrowth articles and saved writing connected to this expert.
Article
COMPLIANCE VERSUS ACCEPTANCE AND SURRENDER
A frequently overlooked phenomenon within the recovering community, aka 12-step oriented fellowships, is a true understanding of the difference between compliance and acceptance with respect to one’s addiction[s]. As most professionals and addicts themselves have come to understand, addiction is a disease with a common set of symptoms and characteristics that cut across all flavors of dependency – whether we’re speaking of alcohol, drugs, eating disorders [including compulsive overeating, food addiction, bulimia, et al], compulsive gambling, or codependency.
Recently added
Article
12 Step Programs for Eating Disorders and SMART Recovery
SMART* Recovery and 12-Step Programs In the world of addiction treatment there are several choices one has in the way of utilizing and attending a community based support group. Should one look more closely at what is offered to those with an eating disorder the choices are somewhat more limited but non-the-less do exist. This article takes a look at two diverse, yet complimentary approaches, 12 Step oriented programs and the SMART Recovery program.
Recently added
Article
Eating Disorders, Addictions, and Alte atives to Traditional Therapies
Rather than a specific therapy, there is a philosophy that appears to hold the key to binding all this treatment and recovery stuff together, Interestingly enough, an anthropologist named David Reynolds introduced me to this “philosophy” several years ago. Dr. Reynolds, who last I heard lives in Hawaii and holds a faculty position at UCLA’s medical school, wrote a book in 1984 called Constructive Living. The good professor chronicled specific “treatment” approaches taught in Japan referred to as “Morita Therapy”.
Recently added
Article
Eating Disorders: Intuitive Eating or Structured Food Plans?
Internal vrs. Exte al Cues of Hunger
Recently added
Article
Is Binge Eating really a serious Eating Disorder?
There is a prevailing assumption within the public arena as well as within the population of those suffering with an eating disorder, that Binge Eating Disorder, aka Food Addiction, is less "serious" than the other eating disorders - namely anorexia and bulimia. In addition, as if to make matters worse, BED as well as the other related eating disorders are viewed [even by patients] as a breakdown in self discipline or a failure of willpower. The more recent research would suggest these perceptions are dangerously mistaken.
Recently added
Article
Body Image, Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders
Recently added
Article
Recovering from an Eating Disorder: "Food for Thought"
There a few “implied” assumptions I have regarding the basic building blocks to recovering from any addiction – of which I consider most eating disorders to be.
Recently added
Article
Dual Diagnoses and Eating Disorders: "Double Trouble"
From a professional perspective, it has been my experience that when people come into treatment for an eating disorder they often bring with them concomitant issues with either depression and/or substance abuse.
Recently added
Article
Eating Disorders Treatment with Co-Occurring Diagnoses
Despite some disparity estimating the number of people who seek treatment for an eating disorder, there is an ever increasing body of evidence to suggest an eating disorder diagnosis rarely is unaccompanied by at least one other bona fide illness. Those most often identified as “primary suspects” include one or more of the following: recurrent or single episodes of depression, anxiety disorders, bi-polar disorder, attention deficit disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, current or past histories of alcohol and/or drug dependencies, and obsessive compulsive disorders.r
Recently added
Article
Treating Eating Disorders: The First Assumption
Let’s be clear from the get go, when it comes to getting help for an eating disorder there are a couple of assumptions to consider. Let’s look at a one of these and consider if this might “ring true” for you.
Recently added
Article
Eating Disorders: Is it all about weight?
Treating Eating Disorders: The Second Assumption In a previous article I suggested we consider a few basic assumptions that seem to apply when speaking about eating disorders. Before moving on, I’d recommend looking at what all the various forms of eating disorders have in common rather than addressing them in terms of their differences. By this time most of us are familiar with the “clinical criteria” of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Unfortunately, the medical criteria delineating between each of these has led many to “not see the forest from the trees.”
Recently added
Article
Insurance Coverage for Eating Disorders
Recently added
Favorite Quotes & Thoughts from Marty Lerner
I consider compulsive overeating, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and some forms of anorexia (e.g. bulimarexia) to be part of an addictive process. Hence, we refer to these in terms of "food addiction." The drive or compulsion to overeat despite obvious consequences is somewhat like the plight of alcoholics and those suffering from other addictions. In fact, many food addicts are either currently struggling with, or have encountered problems with other dependencies. Compulsive eaters who resort to purging via laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, vomiting, food restriction, and/or excessive exercise are addicted to a vicious cycle of binge eating and a relentless effort to avoid weight gain (bulimia). Still others are equally driven to lose weight by purging in one form or another whether binge eating or not (bulimarexia).
I believe all food addicts have in common a debilitating obsession with food and body image coupled with an inability to manage or control their eating behavior. In fact, the real measure of an eating disorder is not just what someone weighs or how often they binge eat, restrict, exercise, or purge. Rather, it is the degree to which the quality of their life has deteriorated and their relationship with food has taken center stage in their life. Although food addiction presents itself in many different forms, the common denominator is a loss of control... first over food, then over the ability to effectively manage one's life.
Contacting Marty Lerner
How to get started
There are a few “implied” assumptions I have regarding the basic building blocks to recovering from any addiction – of which I consider most eating disorders to be. Let me be candid and put out there one of the most important assumptions I have – recovering from an eating disorder begins with a total commitment to remain consistent with a recovery program* no matter what we are feeling or what “tricks” our minds play with us.
*From a “recovery perspective” a program of recovery refers to maintaining a prescribed food plan (typically in conjunction with a dietitian or health professional with experience in the field of eating disorders), adherence to a moderate (also prescribed) schedule of regular exercise, finding and maintaining a healthy balance between work, rest, and play, and cultivating a personal connection with a support group and “higher power” of your own understanding. In our experience at Milestones, we refer to the basics of recovery as S.E.R.F. – spirituality, exercise, rest, and food plan.
Now for the tough part that separates a recovery program from a “diet program” disguised as “recovery”. Like most addictions and illnesses that center on our need for CONTROL, all eating disorders have in common the obsessive focus on the goal of total control of, in this case, weight or size. Letting go of control from a recovery perspective is not about “giving up” but rather following a prescribed program (as noted above) and letting go of the outcome – namely not making changes in response to feelings or perceived or real changes in our bodies. Allowing someone we trust, at least in the beginning, direct our food and exercise plans is a far more objective and ultimately successful means to find a solution to the mental tyranny that accompanies an eating disorder. To be sure, it takes a quantum leap of faith and courage to “turn over” control to someone other than yourself. In the end, sponsorship in an appropriate support group such as OA or EDA, making good use of a trusted and experienced professional, and cultivating a belief in your own understanding of a higher power will put you on the path to reclaiming your life.