Celebrating Clinical Excellence: Meet Our Newly-Certified CEDS Team Members

At Hidden River, clinical excellence begins with the people providing care. That’s why investing in the continued growth, education, and development of our team is an important part of our commitment — not only to our staff, but to the individuals and families we serve.

Several members of the Hidden River clinical team recently earned their Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS) certification, reflecting their continued commitment to growth and expertise in eating disorder care. This credential reflects advanced education and dedication to the field of eating disorder treatment, and we are proud to have supported them throughout the certification process.

To celebrate their accomplishment, we spoke with two clinicians about what inspired them to pursue CEDS certification, what they learned along the way, and how continued professional development shapes the work they do each day at Hidden River. In today’s blog post, we’re excited to introduce you to Gabrielle Andolino, LPC, CEDS, a primary therapist at Hidden River, and Kaeley Maltez, MS, RDN, LMT, CEDS, a registered dietitian on our team. 

Get to Know Gabrielle Andolino, LPC, CEDS

Can you tell us about your role at Hidden River and what drew you to working in the eating disorder field?

I am a primary therapist. I enjoy that working with eating disorders allows me to work on a variety of co-occurring diagnoses and has me work with a multidisciplinary team.

What motivated you to pursue the CEDS credential?

I wanted to pursue a higher learning credential within my own field to broaden my expertise. 

The certification process requires a significant investment of time, learning, and clinical experience. What was the most rewarding part of the journey for you?

I enjoyed learning more about the other disciplinaries within my field to broaden my understanding from their professional viewpoints. 

Was there a particular lesson, insight, or area of growth that stood out during the certification process?

I was able to deepen my understanding of the true complexities of eating disorders and just how important a multidisciplinary team is in providing effective care.

How has earning your CEDS certification strengthened your confidence and the care you provide to patients and families?

Over the course of the certification process, I became more confident in my clinical opinions and treatment recommendations. Overall, I feel better equipped and more confident in the care I provide to my patients and their families.

Hidden River supported you throughout the certification process. What did that support mean to you professionally and personally?

I was able to access support with multiple professionals at my job, especially my clinical director and executive director, which served as vital pieces of the puzzle during my time in the certification process. I feel privileged that I had access to them to gain a better and deeper understanding of the material and process. 

How does working alongside other clinicians who are committed to continuing education and professional development impact the treatment environment?

It creates a cohesive and highly dedicated team. I thoroughly enjoy the team I work with, and I am honored to be surrounded by other professionals who have the same professional goals as myself, especially when it comes to offering high quality patient care. 

What would you say to another clinician who is considering pursuing their CEDS certification?

I would encourage them to do so, especially if they are passionate about eating disorders and are looking to further their education within our field. 

Looking ahead, what are you most excited about as you continue growing in your career and serving patients at Hidden River?

I am looking forward to my knowledge continuing to grow. I have been with the company for five years, and with each year, I gain more experience in and understanding of eating disorders, especially at the residential level of care. 

Finally, what does earning this certification mean within the larger mission of helping patients heal and recover?

This certification means that more patients are going to have access to highly trained and educated professionals who can truly treat them with a whole viewpoint and understanding of eating disorders. 

Meet Kaeley Maltez, MS, RDN, LMT, CEDS

Can you tell us about your role at Hidden River and what drew you to working in the eating disorder field?

I am a registered dietitian here at Hidden River. One of my primary roles is to help my patients learn how to nourish their bodies adequately and independently and improve their relationship with food as well as their bodies. In a world where diet culture is all around us, I am motivated to be a part of the movement that helps young girls and women learn to see food as so much more than just fuel, as something that can enrich their lives. 

What motivated you to pursue the CEDS credential?

Since the moment I decided to become a dietitian, I knew that I wanted to specialize in eating disorders. Having my CEDS allows me to have a greater impact on the patients that I am lucky enough to work with.

The certification process requires a significant investment of time, learning, and clinical experience. What was the most rewarding part of the journey for you?

I truly enjoyed watching the webinars and having the opportunity to learn from such knowledgeable individuals in the field, from various disciplines.

Was there a particular lesson, insight, or area of growth that stood out during the certification process?

Having the opportunity to learn more about the treatment of eating disorders from a therapeutic and medical lens, in addition to the nutritional perspective, provided me with the opportunity to expand my knowledge and grow a stronger appreciation for the other disciplines.  

How has earning your CEDS certification strengthened or expanded the care you provide to patients and families?

Earning my CEDS increased my confidence as a provider and strengthened the trust my patients and families have in me and the care that I am able to provide.

Hidden River supported you throughout the certification process. What did that support mean to you professionally and personally?

Hidden River provided me with supervision through the process and supported me while completing the courses. I greatly appreciate Hidden River’s time and dedication to my professional growth.

How does working alongside other clinicians who are committed to continuing education and professional development impact the treatment environment?

I feel truly blessed to work alongside so many amazing therapists, dietitians, nurses, etc. here at Hidden River. My fellow clinicians and I are always motivating each other to be the best providers we can be and are always learning from one another.

What would you say to another clinician who is considering pursuing their CEDS certification?

All of the hard work and time that you are dedicating to this credential will be worth it! Seeing the word “passed” on the screen after completing the final exam was such an incredible feeling.

Looking ahead, what are you most excited about as you continue growing in your career and serving patients at Hidden River?

I am excited to see how our nutrition program continues to grow and evolve. My colleague, Holly Greenberg, MS, RDN, CEDS, and I are very passionate about this program and are always working towards making the program the best that it can be for both our current patients and our future patients! 

Finally, what does earning this certification mean within the larger mission of helping patients heal and recover?

As a registered dietitian, building trust with our patients can be a very challenging task. Having this credential could help ease the patient’s nerves and trust that their provider has the knowledge and the skills necessary to be able to support them in their recovery journey.

Visit our website to learn more about eating disorder treatment at Hidden River. For a closer look at our grounds and living quarters, take a look at our gallery.