Purpose: Disordered eating behaviors often do not generally occur outside of relationship to body dissatisfaction, trauma, and attachment disrupt. Disordered eating is considered to be a form of dissociation that, like traditional forms of dissociation, ranges from mild to severe in complexity and acuity. The treatment of co-occurring body dysmorphia, complex trauma, and eating disorders will be discussed using an approach that addresses body positivity, self-nurturance, and comprehensive aspects of wellness (e.g., physical, social/relational, emotional, intellectual/mental, spiritual, sexual, environmental, occupational, and financial). Step-by-step suggestions will be offered for application to client assessments and intakes, diagnosis, treatment planning, and ongoing care. Socio-political factors, cultural implications, body-positive terminology, and disordered eating “do’s and don’ts” will be described. Case examples will be offered to assist in conceptualization of principles. Participants will have the option to engage in exercises and interventions that can be used with clients struggling with body positivity and self-nurturance.
Population: Mental health or medical professionals treating disordered eating clients.
Main points: Disordered eating is thought by many to be a form of dissociation from traumatic material, as well as a way of maintaining a sense of control and safety. By assisting clients in healing developmental and attachment trauma wounds and filling attachment voids, disordered eating behavior is no longer needed to avoid trauma, dissociate, or maintain a sense of control and safety. Disordered eating does not happen in isolation, so it is important to be aware of co-occurring symptoms and possibility of emergence of related disorders (e.g., primarily anorectic behaviors decreasing, but bingeing and purging behaviors increasing).Conclusion: Self-nurturance and body positivity reduce the risk of emergence of other disorders when disordered eating is addressed.
This course is based on the recorded webinar, Body Positivity and Self-nurturance in Clients With Disordered Eating Behaviors created by Lori Kucharski, MA, LMFT-S, LPC, CEDS-S in 2019.
