Disordered Eating Therapy Group Session Outline Mike Bryant Student Counsellor LSE Student Counselling Service 2013
The Disordered Eating Therapy Group … provides participants an opportunity to develop new behaviours and more helpful thoughts affecting their eating habits. …. is part experiential, part psycho-educational … is suitable for bulimic, bingeing, restrictive or compulsive eaters. … is not suitable for people with life-threatening eating disorders.
Session components Introductions Understanding emotions Challenging Mindsets Body image Relationships Coping strategies Seeking further help
Introductions Personal goals for the group Work in pairs: what has / hasn’t worked in the past Change: why now? Stages of change readiness
Understanding emotions Identifying and accepting emotions “Mad / bad / sad / glad” Shame
Emotions: a crash course
Emotions: dissociation Understanding dissociation How do we choose to not be present Dissociation and self-harming Becoming vigilant
Mindsets Review: how did last week feel? How the disordered mindset is maintained Thoughts feelings
Mindsets: Distorted Automatic Thoughts
Mindsets: Labelling the Distorted Automatic Thoughts
Challenging the Mindsets “ Payoffs” of your distorted thoughts beliefs Body checking and avoidance / “feeling fat” “Rules” in maintaining disordered eating
Body image Self concept and body image Beliefs about eating, weight and body shape Beliefs about dieting Beliefs about exercise
Triggers Identifying moods and stressors Common triggers: anger / anxiety / relationships Other triggers
Relationships Relationship patterns Food as a substitute relationship partner Mothers and daughters Men and disordered eating Food as a reponse to crises
Coping Strategies What works / doesn’t work for you Coping with too much spare time “Urge Surfing” strategies Self-soothing strategies Identifying barriers to change Inner child work Sub personalities (e.g., dieter, binger, critic) Relaxation methods
Relapse Prevention Cycle of addictions Maintaining achieved goals Plans for preventing relapse
Seeking further help LSE Student counselling service Long-term therapy Medical support