Session: Experiential Strategies for Working with Adolescents with Eating Disorders - Part 2 - The Directive Use of Imagery and Art Expression to Motivate Complex Clients (2009 Symposium: Reclaiming the Body: Attachment, Somatics, and Image (March 4-8, 2009))

Wednesday, March 4, 2009: 10:30 AM-11:45 AM

Barcelona/Casablanca (Westin Long Beach)

This presentation addresses the obsessive nature of eating disorders as a process of transference from environmental relationships and malnutrition. Food is perceived subjectively as a safe object for stress projection as well as an object of desire resulting from malnutrition. Through Directive Guided Imagery clients can transition from paralyzing confusion to personal understanding. Directive Guided Imagery unveils the avoided emotional states and related external stressors. Structured Art Expression symbolically expresses the avoided emotional states and summarily unveils the desires for healthy living. For clinicians this didactic and experiential training provides creative techniques for individual and group settings.

I Introduction to theoretical constructs used
II Basics of Imagery
   a. Word guide
   b. Head imagery, left side
   c. Head imagery, right side
   d. Central headlines
III Body Walk Process
   a. Find participant volunteer and trace body and head
   b. Have participant go through relaxation portion
   c. Have participant go through imagery portion
   d. Reverse body walk for participant
   e. Have participant come out on imagery
IV Body Walk Art
   a. Draw four words in each area of traced body after Body Walk
   b. Fill in with drawings, words, etc what those words mean in each part of body
   c. Describe what completed picture means
V Closing and Q and A

Guided Imagery and Art are known as a dynamically insightful interventions in eating disorder treatment. It is put in practice to motivate clients to transform from an initial hindering state of mind into one that is more productive. Clients who exhibit an Alexithymic process frequently require a strategic facilitation, which integrates the mind/body connection. Guided Imagery and Art are effective in uncovering the emotional disconnects and revealing a client’s current relationship dynamics, respectively. In this seminar, participants will experience Guided Imagery and Art techniques, gain an understanding of their use, and conceptualize their implementation in a variety of settings. In this seminar, participants will experience Guided Imagery and Art, gain an understanding of their use, and conceptualize their implementation in a variety of settings.

Primary Presenter:

Buck Runyan, MS, LMFT, LPC, CEDS

Buck Runyan is the Chief Operations Officer at the Center for Discovery. As COO he oversees Discovery’s four residential eating disorder treatment facilities. Buck has an extensive background treating eating disorders and other compulsive behaviors. Previously, he held positions as the founding Program Director of the Remuda Ranch Adolescent Center for Eating Disorders and Program Administrator for San Bernardino Mental Health Court Pegasus Program. Buck is also the California Chapter President of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals California. Buck was formally educated at California Baptist University completing a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree in 1992

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