Psychodynamic Self Psychology in the Treatment of Anorexia and Bulimia

by Eytan Bachar, Analu Verbin

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367336882
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/30/2020
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

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.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors vii

Preface ix

Part I Theory, Application and Empirical Evidence 1

1 Anorexia and Bulimia: Diagnosis and History of Treatment Eytan Bachar 3

2 The Emergence of Self Psychology: Opportunities and Dilemmas in the Treatment of Anorexia and Bulimia Eytan Bachar 19

3 Evidence Basis for Psychodynamic Self Psychology in Eating Disorders Eytan Bachar 41

4 Transference, Countertransference and Treatment Management Eytan Bachar 45

Part II Case Studies 53

5 I Wanted to Disappear Eytan Bachar 55

6 Would Sheryl Be Able to Take Up Space? Michal Man 65

7 The Therapist's Position Facing a Grandiose Self Michal Man 83

8 "Living My Life" Asher Epstein Dina Roth 95

9 A Journey to the Inner Core Myrna Milun 105

10 I Am Not Allowed to Be a Whole Person Varda Shavit Ohayon 115

11 Satiable Hunger Sara Haramati 119

12 Searching for "Sweet Dreams" and the "Little Prince" Yael Steinberg 129

13 Patients With Eating Disorders and Latent Idealization Needs Sara Haramati 139

14 Absolute Autonomy Myrna Milun 145

15 The Right to Exist Laura Canetti 155

16 Beauty and the Beast Eytan Bachar 165

17 The Right to Need and the Permission to Require Mira Dana 171

18 "When Someone Believes in Me, I Can Start to Believe in Myself Inbar Sharav-Ifargen 189

19 "I Don't Want to Make It to 20" Analu Verbin 199

Reference 209

Index 215

Editorial 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

From the Publisher