Psychodynamic Self Psychology in the Treatment of Anorexia and Bulimia

This book presents an implementation of psychodynamic self psychology in the treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, using a theoretical and therapeutic approach to examine the way that patients turn to food consumption or avoidance in order to supply needs they do not believe can be provided by human beings.

The book starts with an overview of self psychology, presenting both the theory of self psychology and its specific application for the etiology and treatment of eating disorders. Featuring contributions from eating disorder professionals, the book then integrates this theory with 16 compelling case studies to explore how the eating-disordered patient is scared to take up space in a society that encourages precisely that.

Professionals in the field of psychotherapy for eating disorders, as well as the entire community of psychotherapists, will benefit from the empirical capability of the theory to predict the development as well as remission from eating disorders.

Part A: The Theory, Application and Empirical Evidence; 1: Anorexia and Bulimia: Diagnosis and History of Treatment; 2: The Emergence of Self Psychology: Opportunities and Dilemmas in the Treatment of Anorexia and Bulimia; 3: Evidence Basis for Psychodynamic Self Psychology in Eating Disorders; 4: Transference, Countertransference and Treatment Management; Part B: Case Studies; 5: I Wanted to Disappear; 6: Would Sheryl be Able to Take up Space?; 7: The Therapist's Position Facing a Grandiose Self; 8: "Living My Life"; 9: A Journey to the Inner Core; 10: I Am Not Allowed to Be a Whole Person; 11. Satiable Hunger; 12: Searching for "Sweet Dreams" and the "Little Prince"; 13: Patients with Eating Disorders and Latent Idealization Needs; 14: Absolute Autonomy; 15: The Right to Exist; 16: Beauty and the Beast; 17: The Right to Need and the Permission to Require; 18: When Someone Believes in Me, I Can Start to Believe in Myself; 19: I Don't Want to Make It to 20; References; Index; List of Contributors.

Eytan Bachar, PhD, is Head Psychologist of Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel; Associate Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and former chairman of the Israeli Association of Eating Disorders.

Analu Verbin, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist, working in a private practice in Tel Aviv, and a former member of the executive board of the Israeli Association of Eating Disorders.