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I am constantly thinking of ways to articulate myself.  Working with someone struggling with an eating disorder is a real challenge not only in being effective or helpful as a therapist but also in being truly authentic in my therapeutic relationship with the client.

I have read so so many books on eating disorders but they all seem to articulate similar ideas.  Some books more focussed on the symptoms and treatment primarily based on altering these symptoms.  If someone is so ill and physically and medically compromised then this approach is necessary but this approach does not get to the deeper motivation and reasons for an eating disorder.

With an eating disorder the outer body becomes the enemy, the fear and the loathing.   The outer body being the anatomy and physical body image (reflection and felt experience) but also the emotional container for difficult, overwhelming and painful emotions.  The outer body also becomes a container for the external intrusions, conflicts and pressures from others and culture.  This inner and external location in the body becomes a perceived consolodation of all that can be made different, non existent and controlled.  Sometimes, the feeling of depriving the outer body can lead to a transcendant experience.

Working with the concept of the outer and inner body so that the experience of the outer body becomes more an extension of the inner body is the real therapeutic work.  The inner body being ones internal world of sensations, perceptions, emotions, thoughts, personality and sense of self.  Ultimately, the inner body is who one is authentically with all one’s complexity.  Another aspect of therapy then is replacing the eating disorder with an more integrated sense of one self in the world.  Many of the women I have worked with and work with are the most intuitive, sensitive and emotionally sophisticated women but their families, life experiences, societal/cultural pressures and accepting their full selves become the journey of recovery from the holding place and distraction of the eating disorder.

I think somatic and movement therapy are then essential in treatment of eating disorders.  In movement one becomes more conscious and movement is iniated from one’s inner body.  A non verbal relationship and images can then develop more freely to bring insight.  The body needs to be spoken about, explored and incorporated with images and emotions.

I welcome anyones thoughts and insights about sharing about the meaning and purpose of their eating disorder and what has been helpful in treatment.

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