Joy Jacobs, J.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
UCSD, Eating Disorders Program
Department of Psychiatry
e-mail: j0jacobs@ucsd.edu
T:  (858) 534-8067
F:  (858) 534-6727


Dr. Joy Jacobs is a clinical psychologist at the UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Center.  Dr. Jacobs provides individual, family and group therapy for adults, adolescents, and children with eating disorders (including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder).  She has trained in multiple treatment modalities, including Maudsley family therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy.  Dr. Jacobs is one of the few officially certified providers of Maudsley family-based treatment nationwide and internationally.

Dr. Jacobs has designed the DBT program for the UCSD Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder Program and facilitates group skills training groups as well as providing individual and family-based psychotherapy..  Dr. Jacobs has extensive experience in utilizing family-based treatments for adolescent anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, as well as for pediatric overweight and obesity.   In addition, she has facilitated internet-based discussion groups for college-age women at high risk for the development of eating disorders. 

Dr. Jacobs obtained her doctoral training in clinical psychology at the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology.  She completed her undergraduate work at Duke University, graduating summa cum laude and completed her juris doctorate at Harvard Law School.  Among her activities prior to pursuing a career in psychology, Dr. Jacobs worked in New York as an intellectual property attorney and on the editorial staff of Vogue magazine.

Professional Publications:

Jacobs-Pilipski, M.J., Wilfley, D.E., Crow, S.J., Walsh, B.T., Lilenfeld, L.R., West, D.S., Berkowitz, R.I., & Fairburn, C.G. (2007). Placebo response in binge eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40, 204-211.

Jacobs-Pilipski, M.J., Winzelberg, A., Wilfley, D.E., Bryson, S.W., & Taylor, B.T. (2005). Spirituality among young women at risk for eating disorders. Eating Behaviors, 6, 293-300.

Jacobs, M.J., Welch, R.R., & Wilfley, D.E. (2004). Interpersonal psychotherapy for the treatment of eating disorders: Science and practice. In T. Brewerton (Ed.), Eating Disorders. New York: Marcel Dekker.

Zabinski, M., Celio, A., Jacobs, M.J., Manwaring, J., & Wilfley, D.E. (2003). Internet-based prevention of eating disorders. European Eating Disorders Review, 11, 183-197.

Jacobs, M.J., Welch, RR, & Wilfley, D.E. (2002, August). Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders. TEN: Trends in Evidence-Based Neuropsychiatry.

Consumer Publications:

Terman, M., & Jacobs, J. (Fall 2004). Shedding light on SAD: Understanding and treating this seasonal condition. Shoppers Home Healthcare: Clinical Notes.

Jacobs, J. (2001, January). High tech meets mother nature in the battle against depression. City Voices.

Terman, M. & Jacobs, J. (2001, January). Shedding light on SAD. Natural Pharmacy.

Professional Presentations & Invited Lectures:

Jacobs, M.J., Kaye, W.H., Collins, L., & Brown, H. (2007, October). New understandings of the causes and treatment of eating disorders: What parents want to know. Presented at the annual meeting of the National Eating Disorders Association, San Diego.

Goldschmidt, A., Stein, R., Saelens, B., Jacobs, M.J., Epstein, L., & Wilfley, D.E. (2007, May). The impact of child eating disorder psychopathology on outcome in a pediatric weight loss intervention. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Academy for Eating Disorders, Baltimore.

Jacobs, M.J. (2007, February). Treatment for Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa: The Maudsley Approach. Invited workshop for UCSD/VA Psychology Internship Consortium training program.

Jacobs, M. J. (2006, March). Temperament Patterns in Families of Individuals with Anorexia Nervosa. UCSD School of Medicine/Children’s Hospital and Health Center Psychiatry Grand Rounds.

Jacobs-Pilipski, M.J., Roesch, S., Wonderlich, S.A., Crosby, R., Woodside, D.B., Bulik, C., Wilfley, D.E., Kaye, W.H., & the Price Foundation Collaborative Group (2005, October). Anorexia Nervosa Trios: Behavioral profiles of individuals with anorexia nervosa and their parents. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Eating Disorders Research Society, Canada.

Jacobs-Pilipski, M.J., Winzelberg, A., Wilfley, D.E., Bryson, S.W., & Taylor, B.T. (2004, May). Spirituality among young women at risk for eating disorders. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Academy for Eating Disorders, Orlando.

Jacobs, M.J., Celio, A., Wilfley, D.E., Epstein, L.H. (2003, October). Acute effects of a family-based pediatric obesity treatment on eating- related and general psychopathology. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Eating Disorders Research Society, Italy.

Jacobs M.J., Wilfley D.E., Gregory-Bills T., Crow S., Lilenfeld L.L., Smith-West D., Walsh B.T., Fairburn C. (2003, May). Placebo response in pharmacotherapy for binge eating disorder. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Academy for Eating Disorders, Denver.

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