Full Description
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.
Contents
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
