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.

About the Author

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.

Reviews

"In this clinically rich volume, Eytan Bachar and Analu Verbin present an understanding of eating disorders that makes excellent use of self psychological theory. It considers the enormous complexity of managing the treatment of these disorders and reflects the findings of research that demonstrates the effectiveness of psychodynamic self psychology to predict the development of and remission from anorexia and bulimia."

Doris Brothers, PhD, co-founder, The Training and Research in Intersubjective Self Psychology Foundation and advisory board and council member, International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology (IAPSP)

"Bachar and Analu make impressive use of classical self-psychology to understand and treat sufferers from anorexia and bulimia, substantially increasing the theoretical and clinical reach of the original form of this theory. The many clinical stories they provide make this perspective accessible for therapeutic use, and invite further reflections on an extremely challenging, and unfortunately not rare, clinical experiences. Their emphasis on experience-near responsiveness is a gift to therapists and to their suffering patients alike."

Donna M. Orange, PhD, PsyD, Institute for the Psychoanalytic Study of Subjectivity, New York

Book Information
ISBN 9780367336882
Author Eytan Bachar
Format Paperback
Page Count 216
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g