220 pg, paper, ‘01

This workbook for therapists presents practical, how-to information for the treatment of eating disorders. The authors, who are both clinicians with vast treatment experience, have created this useful resource to maximize the use of time and resources. To this end, managed care is considered, as is the specific need for interactive therapy that combines the practical elements of worksheets and helpful hints with solid theory and research. The Stages of Change Theory developed by Prochaska and colleagues is successfully applied to the treatment and understanding of eating disorders. Also available is Eating Disorders: The Journey to Recovery Workbook for the client.

CONTENTS:

1 – Introduction
2 – Therapist Issues
3 – The Initial Assessment
4 – Understanding Hunger
5 – Food: Fear and Restriction
6 – Binge Eating and Purging
7 – Body Image and Weight
8 – The Athlete
9 – Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders
10 – Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders
11 – Nutritional Counseling
12 – Medical Care
13 – Psychopharmacological Issues and Management

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Laura J. Goodman, M.Ed, LMHC, is a psychotherapist with Andover Mental Health Associates in Massachusetts Eating Disorders Association. Her many years in the field of treatment of eating disorders have focused on school and family counseling.

Mona Villapiano, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist with a specialty in the treatment of eating disorders. Dr. Villapiano has developed and directed hospital and evening treatment programs for over 15 years.

REVIEW:

"This paired set of workbooks for clients and therapists adds to the growing literature of similarly paired workbooks already available. These contributions, written by two experienced psychotherapists, come from a welcome perspective, focusing on the client's motivation and stages of change, using the model that has been extensively applied to alcohol and substance abuse.

The client's book begins with images consisting of a tree of life, in which the eating disorder stems from roots and affects all the branches and the web of life. Next are discussions of set-point theory, dieting and emotions, and physical changes associated with weight. This presentation is thoughtful, but I wondered if some clients might be too easily put off by technical terms such as 'thermogenesis' and 'cognitions,' which are introduced without literal explanations. The therapists with whom these patients are working, reading through their own parallel volume, may need to explain these terms. The workbook nicely progresses through nutrition, assessing stage of change, relationships between spirituality and eating; body image; exercise; women's issues; men's issues for male patients; substance abuse; trauma and abuse; special circumstances such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and diabetes; the treatment team; 'media madness,' a section for family and friends; and a final reprise, followed by resources.

Most chapters are filled with open-ended structured questions, closed-ended questionnaires, tables, stories, poems, illustrations and affirmations. I particularly liked the way the chapters on substance abuse and trauma and abuse dealt with their material. The psychopharmacology chapter includes questions assured to make clients better consumers-intelligent questions to ask physicians about medications and what to expect.

The therapist workbook doesn't exactly parallel the client workbook, which may prove confusing. To my mind, a book that more closely coincided with the client's version would have better served therapists. It could then be supplemented with additional material and discussion, as a sort of teacher's guide. Nevertheless, this volume does cover more or less the same ground as the client's workbook, focuses on motivation and stages of change, and contains much useful information and some worthwhile assessment tools.
— Eating Disorders Today Newsletter, Vol 1 - Issue 1, Spring 2002