"This chapter considers what eating disorders look like. We also explain why eating disorders can be explained easily when you consider the factors that keep them going. We are going to focus on what maintains your problem rather than focusing on its origins, because tackling your eating disorder (and really any other disorder) is much more likely to be successful if we look at the here-and-now rather than at past factors. As part of this explanation, we are going to help you understand the common factors that maintain the behaviors, emotions and beliefs that are central to eating disorders. It is important to acknowledge that the factors that caused your eating disorder might still be around; if so, then they can play a maintaining role too"--
Eating disorders are serious conditions that can be hard to treat; however, the chances of overcoming an eating disorder increase when exposure therapy is used as part of the overall treatment strategy. Exposure therapy involves confronting (rather than avoiding) challenging scenarios that evoke distress, and though this technique has typically been used mainly by psychotherapists, people struggling with eating disorders can use it on their own to reduce troubling eating behaviors. Eat Without Fear provides practical, reader-friendly information about this innovative, scientifically-supported approach, as well as guidance on how to apply it effectively to beat an eating disorder using a "team approach" that involves family members, friends, and other loved ones. Readers will benefit from the use of easy-to-understand language describing the key concepts of eating disorders and how exposure therapy can help treat them. Additionally, the book guides readers through therapeutic activities that enable them to effectively practice exposure therapy techniques on their own. Given the value of involving family members and other supportive people in the eating disorder recovery process, this book encourages collaboration between readers and their loved ones and offers practical suggestions for how they can work together to achieve their desired goals.
This book is a guide for individuals affected by eating disorders and their families on how to use exposure therapy to address the eating disorder. Exposure therapy is a treatment approach that involves confronting (rather than avoiding) challenging scenarios that evoke distress. When patients confront these distressing scenarios, although it is difficult for them, they are able to learn that their distress often decreases and they are able to tolerate this distress better than imagined.
Preface
Chapter 1 - Overview of eating disorders
Chapter 2 - Overview of exposure therapy
Chapter 3 - Why would exposure therapy be helpful for me?
Chapter 4 - How does exposure work?
Chapter 5 - How much benefit can I expect from exposure therapy?
Chapter 6 - How are eating disorders maintained?
Chapter 7 - Using "functional assessment" to understand your eating disorder symptoms
Chapter 8 - Developing your treatment plan
Chapter 9 - Getting started with exposure therapy
Chapter 10 - Overcoming your fears about doing exposure therapy
Chapter 11 - Food exposure for eating-related fears
Chapter 12 - Exposure to anxiety about weighing
Chapter 13 - Emotion-focused and interpersonal-focused exposure
Chapter 14 - Learning to not react to familiar triggers for binge-eating (cue exposure)
Chapter 15 - Body-focused exposure for body image anxiety and avoidance
Chapter 16 - Other areas for exposure
Chapter 17 - Using field trips to practice exposure and "mix it up"
Chapter 18 - Involving carers and other support people
Chapter 19 - A summary of key things to remember about exposure therapy
References
Nicholas R. Farrell, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and a Clinical Director at NOCD: OCD Treatment and Therapy where he provides clinical leadership and oversight of therapy services. Prior, he was a Clinical Director of eating disorders services at Rogers Behavioral Health. He has published numerous scholarly works on maximizing the effectiveness of treatment for eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and related conditions.
Carolyn Black Becker, PhD, ABPP is a Professor of Psychology at Trinity University, San Antonio, TX and a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, PTSD, and anxiety-based disorders. She is board certified in CBT and is a Past President of the Academy for Eating Disorders and the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology.
Glenn Waller. DPhil is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sheffield. He is a qualified Clinical Psychologist, who has worked in the field of eating disorders since
1988. His clinical specialty is CBT for eating disorders, which is also the subject of most of his research and teaching. He has served as President of the Academy for Eating Disorders and is currently President of the Eating Disorders Research Society. He is a member of editorial boards for several CBT and eating disorder journals.
