In the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa, delivering psychological interventions in a group format can bring unique benefits in addition to those associated with working with patients individually. These include: sharing experiences and learning from others in a safe and therapeutic environment, becoming accustomed to being with other people and practising interpersonal skills. However, these aspects of group treatment also represent a challenge for group facilitators as it is exactly these interpersonal and relational demands that patients find difficult to tolerate. Facilitators are likely to be confronted with low motivation, or complete disengagement, as a result of the discomfort evoked by spending time in psychological groups. Nonetheless, once these difficulties are successfully overcome, the group setting can be effectively utilised to address the specific aims of a given psychological intervention, as well as tapping into these wider benefits Drawing upon research carried out by the Maudsley national inpatient eating disorders programme, Brief Group Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders brings together expert contributions in order to review the evidence base, as well as discussing how the challenges of the group setting can be overcome. This book outlines newly-developed protocols for group interventions aimed at providing brief but effective treatment for an increased numbers of patients, and addresses the need to develop and evaluate cost effective psychological interventions for patients with Anorexia Nervosa. Brief Group Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders is designed to offer therapists, clinicians, and researchers in the field a synopsis of the available evidence along with guidance on how to put theory into practice effectively. It will also be an invaluable resource for students, trainees and teachers in the clinical, counselling, psychology, psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy and other allied professions.

This is the first book to fully explore the use of group therapy in the treatment of eating disorders. Contributors offer practical guidelines on the strategies and interventions employed in a variety of treatment approaches. Group Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders integrates theory and application to clarify why and how particular group approaches are applicable to specific situations. It highlights the tactics and techniques by which the group modality can be successfully adapted for a variety of purposes.

Options can be limited for those who do not respond to standard eating disorder treatments. Schema therapy is one of the new exciting frontiers in the treatment of this clinical population, offering a much-needed model that integrates both developmental and deeper level personality factors. Schema Therapy for Eating Disorders is the first book of its kind, guiding clinicians to deliver the schema model to those with entrenched or enduring eating pathology, and in turn encouraging further clinical research on this approach to treatment. Written by an international team of leading schema therapy experts, and with a foreword by Wendy Behary and Jeffrey Young, this book draws on their clinical knowledge and research experience. Comprehensive and practical, this book introduces the rapidly growing evidence base for schema therapy, outlines the application of this model across eating disorder diagnostic groups, as well as individual and group modalities, and explores practical considerations, common challenges and the therapeutic process. The book includes detailed case examples, which provide a theoretical and practical basis for working with therapist-client schema chemistry and transference, and outlines methods of ensuring therapist self-care in the face of difficult and often long-term work. Innovative and accessible, this fresh look at the treatment of eating disorders will be an invaluable resource for clinicians in the field.

This is the only book that teaches clinicians how to run an effective, evidence-informed, and multi-disciplinary eating disorder group, incorporating psychoeducation, process group dynamics, and experiential elements. Whereas group therapy for eating disorders is widely used across many levels of care, the outpatient setting is uniquely poised to deliver effective, multi-disciplinary group therapy. The first part of this book offers practical guidance for conceiving, organizing, and initiating outpatient groups, equipping clinicians with the necessary tools to foster supportive and transformative environments. The second includes seven chapters that delve into the core themes of eating disorder recovery, featuring 60 activities and discussions empowering participants towards growth and resilience. This book teaches clinicians how to collaboratively lead groups to optimize cohesion and harness the collective strength of the group to facilitate change. It provides thorough rationale and psychoeducation for each group exercise and is complete with sample forms, worksheets, and handouts. Suitable for clinicians and students alike in the eating disorder field, this guide on how to successfully begin and run your own group is a necessary resource.

Multifamily Therapy Group for Young Adults with Anorexia Nervosa describes a new and innovative family-centered outpatient Multifamily Therapy Group (MFTG) approach called Reconnecting for Recovery (R4R) for young adults with anorexia nervosa that is based on a relational reframing of eating disorders. Developed in concert with young adults and their families and informed by clinical observations, theory, and research, R4R is designed to help young adults and family members learn the emotional and relational skills required to avoid or repair relationship ruptures for continued collaboration in recovery. The book begins with an overview of anorexia nervosa, MFTG treatment approaches, and the development of R4R and moves into a session by session review of R4R including session goals, exercises and handouts. Protocols, case vignettes, and other materials help translate the theory and research underlying this multifamily therapy group model into practice. This treatment manual provides readers with explicit guidance in how to develop and conduct an outpatient R4R MFTG and a deeper understanding of the nature, purposes, and processes that characterize one.

This work presents the adaptation of mentalization-based therapy for use in Eating Disorders (MBT-ED). The book starts with a presentation of the theoretical concept of mentalization and describes eating disorders from this perspective. This is followed by a discussion of the place of MBT-ED in eating disorders practice. MBT is first presented as the original model for borderline personality disorder, and then the model is further developed to address specific symptoms found in eating disorders, such as body image disturbance, restriction and purging. The original MBT model consists of outpatient treatment combined with individual and group psychotherapy, and psychoeducation in groups. The book then looks at supervision and training, and how an eating disorders team can develop a mentalizing focus. It goes on to describe the training required for practitioners to deliver individual and group MBT-ED and to supervise therapy. Lastly, it examines the implementation of the approach in different clinical settings, including inpatient services, and how management can be involved in negotiating barriers and taking advantage of enablers in the system. The authors have conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial and qualitative research in MBT-ED and have extensive experience in providing and supervising this novel therapy. MBT-ED is one of the few therapies for eating disorders that links theory of mind, and attachment and psychodynamic therapies and as such will be of great theoretical interest to a wide variety of clinicians and researchers.

Eating disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in adolescent and young adult females, affecting approximately 10% of young women. Unfortunately, less than half of those with eating disorders receive treatment, which can be very expensive. Thus, effective prevention has become a major public health priority. The Body Project is an empirically based eating disorder prevention program that offers young women an opportunity to critically consider the costs of pursuing the ultra-thin ideal promoted in the mass media, which improves body acceptance and reduces risk for developing eating disorders. Young women with elevated body dissatisfaction are recruited for group sessions in which they participate in a series of verbal, written, and behavioral exercises in which they consider the negative effects of pursuing the thin-ideal. Chapters provide information on the significance of body image and eating disorders, the intervention theory, the evidence base which supports the theory, recruitment and training procedures, solutions to common challenges, and a new program aimed at reducing obesity onset, as well as intervention scripts and participant handouts. The Body Project is the only currently available eating disorder prevention program that has been shown to reduce risk for onset of eating disorders and received support in trials conducted by several independent research groups. The group sessions are brief and fun to lead, and this guide provides all of the necessary information to walk clinicians, teachers, counselors, and volunteers through leading the program for vulnerable young women.

Not only does the author present a framework for conducting the first and second sessions, but also details specific strategies and techniques for working with more clinically challenging cases. Throughout the book, actual case examples and transcripts of interviews are included to illustrate the process.

"The only eating-disorder treatment manual for group application available, this book presents an integrative treatment model, bringing together psychoeducational, cognitive-behavioral, relational, experiential, and interpersonal methods. The introduction begins with a detailed discussion of bulimia's cultural roots, as well as its epidemiology and etilogy, moves to a survey of available treatments, and concludes with a rationale for use of the integrative group methods."--Jacket