Dr. Kelly Bhatnagar, Ph.D., FAED (“Dr. B,” she/her) is a clinical psychologist, nationally recognized eating-disorders expert, educator, and consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the scientific study and treatment of eating disorders and related psychological conditions. A Past President of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), she is a certified provider of Maudsley Family-Based Treatment (FBT) and an experienced clinician with extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Dr. B is licensed as a psychologist in Ohio (#6891) and Colorado (#3861) and is authorized through APIT (#11351) to provide teletherapy in all PSYPACT participating states. Her clinical work spans the developmental spectrum, with particular expertise in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families. In addition to eating disorders and disordered eating, she works with anxiety and mood disorders, body image concerns, self-esteem difficulties, emotion regulation, and other concerns that commonly intersect with eating-disorder recovery. Her approach emphasizes evidence-based care while recognizing the importance of developmental context, family relationships, identity, autonomy, and the broader life experiences that contribute to meaningful and sustainable recovery.

Dr. B completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. She subsequently completed a clinical residency and postdoctoral research and clinical fellowship at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she developed specialized expertise in pediatric psychology and the treatment of children and adolescents. She currently holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, where she provides clinical training and supervision to doctoral-level graduate students. She also serves as a consulting psychologist for Laurel School and the Laurel Center for Research on Girls, contributing expertise related to adolescent mental health, eating disorders, body image, and student wellness.

Dr. B’s career has included leadership across clinical, academic, research, and professional settings. She previously served as National Director of Research-Practice Integration for a large multisite organization specializing in residential and intensive eating-disorder treatment and as Clinical Director of the Eating Disorders Program at Akron Children’s Hospital. These roles contributed to her longstanding interest in bridging the gap between scientific research and the delivery of effective, accessible clinical care. A central focus of Dr. B’s work is the treatment of eating disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults and the critical role families and caregivers can play in recovery. She is formally certified in Maudsley Family-Based Treatment through the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders and provides consultation and treatment to families navigating eating-disorder treatment and recovery. She also serves as an expert advisor to F.E.A.S.T. (Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders), supporting caregiver education and the translation of evidence-based treatment principles into practical guidance for families.

Dr. B is a frequent national and international speaker, trainer, and consultant. She provides professional education and consultation to clinicians, healthcare organizations, schools, and other agencies on topics including eating-disorder assessment and treatment, Family-Based Treatment, pediatric and adolescent eating disorders, ARFID, early identification and intervention, caregiver-supported recovery, body image, relapse prevention, and supporting young people through developmental transitions such as the transition to college.

Her scholarly work has been published and cited in peer-reviewed journals and books, and she has presented at numerous national and international conferences. Dr. B also contributes to public education through podcasts, webinars, media appearances, and other platforms designed to make high-quality eating-disorder and adolescent mental-health information accessible to parents, caregivers, educators, clinicians, and the broader community. Dr. B has held significant leadership roles within the Academy for Eating Disorders, an international professional organization dedicated to advancing eating-disorder research, education, treatment, and prevention. In 2018, she was named a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (FAED) in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field. She later served on the AED Board of Directors and as President of the organization. She remains actively engaged in the eating-disorders professional community, with a particular commitment to strengthening evidence-based care, professional education, and collaboration among clinicians, researchers, individuals with lived experience, and families.

On a personal note, Dr. B is an avid Cleveland sports fan and enjoys spending time with her family, including her three children. Her hobbies include singing, traveling, and reading. She also admits to keeping up with reality television and TikTok—strictly, of course, in the interest of remaining culturally informed when working with adolescents and young adults. :)