Rhonda M Merwin

Rhonda M. Merwin, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Merwin has expertise in eating disorders, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and psychological concerns in the management of Type 1 diabetes. She a Fellow and the current President of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, and 1 of 116 peer-reviewed ACT trainers worldwide. Dr. Merwin is leading work to address eating disorders in type 1 diabetes, a dangerous comorbidity that disproportionately affects women, and studies on the mechanisms of eating disorder development, maintenance and processes of change, and digital early interventions. Her research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (e.g., NIDDK, NIMH) and Breakthrough T1D (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, JDRF), among other sponsors. Dr. Merwin is the author of ACT for Anorexia: A Guide for Clinicians. Her lab focuses on problematic eating and weight control, or more broadly, problems that arise from an adversarial relationship with the body or the body's cues, and/or difficulty reading and responding to internal cues to meet one's physical and emotional needs. Her treatment development work integrates digital and mobile technologies to increase treatment access and for momentary assessment and intervention. Dr. Merwin directs the ACT Clinic at Duke which provides clinical services in ACT and in-depth training in ACT for psychiatry residents, clinical psychology graduate students, interns and fellows. She also teaches a psychotherapy course for psychiatry residents in the School of Medicine and conducts continuing education events/workshops locally, nationally and internationally. For more information about Dr. Merwin's research, education and clinical activities, see ACTatDuke.org.