“Leaving in the Umms”: An Interview with Dr. Mar Chung, PhD on the Nonbinary Experience and Disordered Eating

Dr. Mar Chung (they/he) received their PhD in Counseling Psychology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). They received their MA in Psychology from SIUC. They had a predoctoral internship at the University of California (Irvine) and are now a post-doctoral psychology fellow with the University of California (Berkeley). Mar’s clinical interests include: family of origin concerns, interpersonal dynamics, examining experiences from a privilege and power lens, self-compassion, QTPOC experiences, emotional avoidance, and mindfulness.

Read Mar’s grounded theory study on disordered eating among nonbinary individuals:

Chung, M. M. (2020). Disordered Eating Among Nonbinary Individuals. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Resources and Additional Reading:

• Brown, B. (2016). Brené Brown encourages educators to normalize the discomfort of learning and reframe failure as learning. About Campus, 20(6), 3-7.
• Brown, B. (2010). The gifts of imperfection: Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are. Hazelden Publishing.
• Gordon, A. R., Austin, S. B., Krieger, N., Hughto, J. W., & Reisner, S. L. (2016). "I have to constantly prove to myself, to people, that I fit the bill": Perspectives on weight and shape control behaviors among low-income, ethnically diverse young transgender women. Social Science & Medicine, 16(5), 141-149.
• Fallon, A., & Lannon, K.L. (2016). Issues of gender in the assessment of feeding and eating disorders. In Brabender, V., & In Mihura, J. L. (Eds). Handbook of gender and sexuality in psychological assessment (pp. 316-352). New York, New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
• Jones, B. A., Haycraft, E., Murjan, S., & Arcelus, J. (2016). Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in trans people: A systematic review of the literature. International Review of Psychiatry, 81(1).
• Kim, N. (2020, September 18). Finding hope in telling our stories: Understanding the intersection of discrimination and shame in the treatment of eating disorders in people of color and LGBTQ+ populations. [Zoom presentation for providers of eating disorders LGBTQIA people of color. Dr. Kim provided a transdiagnostic approach based on research on shame and discrimination to address eating disorders among these populations]. San Francisco, CA
• Kozee, H. B., Tylka, T. L., & Bauerband, L. A. (2012). Measuring transgender individuals’ comfort with gender identity and appearance: Development and validation of the Transgender Congruence Scale. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 36, 179–196. http://dx.doi.org/10 .1177/0361684312442161
• Roen, K. (2019). Rethinking queer failure: Trans youth embodiments of distress. Sexualities, 22(1-2), 48-64.
• Takemoto, T. (2016). Queer Art/Queer Failure. Art Journal, 75(1), 85-88.
• Nonbinary People of Color (BIPOC) Facebook Group
• List of Nonbinary YouTube Channels
• FEDUP
• FEDUP Facebook
• NEDA provides methods to find local eating disorder treatment, crisis line, crisis chat
• NEDA Information on Eating Disorders and the LGBTQ Population
• QTBIPOC Eating Disorder Support
• FEDUP Support Group
• Media Representations of Eating Disorders in Underrepresented Populations (Resource List by the FEDUP Collective with Books, Podcasts, Blogs, and Other Information)

Virtual Support Groups for Trans and Nonbinary Folx Struggling with Disordered Eating:

• Sage and Spoon: Nalgona Positivity Pride hosts a free virtual support group for BIPOC folks the last Wednesday of each month at 5pm PST/8pm EST. Register at https://www.nalgonapositivitypride.com/sage-and-spoon.
• EDF Virtual Trans + & Nonbinary Support Group: 1st & 3rd Thursdays 4:00-5:00p MST. The Trans+ & Nonbinary support group is specifically for those who identify as trans+, gender nonconforming, intersex, and gender diverse. Register at https://eatingdisorderfoundation.org/get-help/support-groups/
• EDF LGBTQ+ Eating Disorder Support Group: Every Wednesday 4:30-5:30pm PST. This virtual group is ideal for LGBTQ+GNC people 18+ to discuss struggles with disordered eating, body image, and identity. Register at https://eatingdisorderfoundation.org/get-help/support-groups/
• Embody Carolina Peer Support Group: Free support group weekly on Sundays from 3-4pm EST. You can also sign up for a peer support mentor or ask an anonymous question to be answered on the Embody Carolina blog. Ideal for college students.Register at https://www.embodycarolina.com/peer-support.html
• LGBTQ+ Online Support Group: This free group is held the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30pm CST. Email Ali at oldani.ali@gmail.com for access information.
• FEDUP Live Support Group This group meets on Tuesdays at alternating times each week for a live support group. Captioning Available. Email: transfolxfightingeds@gmail.com for more information.

Interested in Learning More as a Provider?

• Provider Trainings and Workshops from FEDUP