Real Health Radio 356: Anxiety, OCD, and Eating Disorders with Dana Colthart
7 snips
Mar 6, 2026 Dana Colthart, a therapist and clinical director specializing in OCD, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders, trained in ERP and ACT. She discusses using exposure and response prevention, blending ACT and mind-body work, and how these approaches apply to intrusive thoughts, eating disorder behaviors, and common misdiagnoses. Practical techniques, metaphors, and therapy expectations are highlighted.
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Dana's Early Turn To Intuitive Eating
- Dana found intuitive eating at age 21 and adopted it after diet culture attempts failed.
- She credits a dietitian for introducing intuitive eating, which shaped her anti-diet clinical approach.
Ground Rumination With Dropping Anchor
- Try the dropping anchor technique to shift attention off rumination and back into the body and activity.
- Example: identify the thought, notice bodily sensations, ground with feet, follow breath, then resume the activity mindfully.
ERP And ACT Are Complementary Tools
- Insight: Dana always weaves ERP and ACT together because most clients need both exposure and acceptance skills.
- Example: some clients need heavy ACT while others are ready for repeated exposures; therapy is individualized.