Eating Disorder Treatment: An Integration of Narrative and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for Healing and Recovery

Saturday, March 5, 2011: 4:00 PM-5:30 PM
Point Hilton at Squaw Peak
Through didactic and experiential methods,this seminar will address how the client's life story can be used as an instrument for healing and recovery for the individual and the family system. Helping the person see the effects of the eating disorder on their life values and goals aides them in moving from denial into acceptance that life can be lived differently. The clinician will learn how to implement the life story process, resulting in the development of themes, patterns, and functions of the eating disorder. Within this context, cognitive behavioral skill development is reinforced as essential for recovery.
Content Outline:

I.  Introduction - What is Narrative Therapy?

II. Defining Narrative Therapy in the Context of Eating Disorder Treatment

     A.  Life Story Process

     B.  Themes and Patterns

     C.  Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors

III.  Family Systems Therapy and the Integration of the Life Story Process

     A.  Implementation of Themes and Patterns

     B.  Communicating the Narrative

IV.  Integration of CBT Skill Usage Within the Family Interaction

V.  Summary of Training/Questions and Answers

Proposal Abstract:

This seminar will instruct clinicians on the integration of Narrative Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a Family Systems context in the treatment of eating disorders.  Through practical implementation using power point and experientials, clinicians will learn how to teach clients how to write their life stories, share them in the venue of the themes and patterns of their life.  Integration of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors will occur helping the client summize the functions of their eating disorder and the needs that are foundational to the use of the eating disorder.  Sharing this information in a family therapy setting takes training, which is what the clinicians will learn.  Finally, the integration of cognitive behavioral skills in relationship to the life story shared will be implemented for a deeper understanding of the foundations of healing and recovery from an eating disorder.

Primary Presenter:
Amy E. Wasserbauer, PhD

Amy E. Wasserbauer, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Arizona. Dr. Wasserbauer has worked at Remuda Ranch Treatment Center for Eating Disorders for over nine years. She was a primary therapist for four years, a family therapist for two years, and most recently has worked in a supervisory position as assistant clinical director. She supervises the therapists, teaches Treatment Overview to all newly admitted patients, and speaks weekly with families on the topic of Aftercare and Relapse Prevention. As well, she is a presenter at conferences on the topic of eating disorders. Most recently she published an article on obesity in relationship to eating disorders.



Co-Presenter:
Pam Micca, M.Ed., LPC, ACS

Pamela Micca received her Master’s degree in counseling from Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. She has been a Licensed Professional Counselor for 25 years. For the last 12 years she has worked with women and girls with eating disorders at Remuda Ranch Treatment Center for Eating Disorders and Anxiety Disorders. During her career at Remuda she has worked as a primary therapist and clinical supervisor. She has expertise in the treatment of eating disorders and all of the co-occurring disorders common to women with eating disorders, including various trauma related effects. She is a speaker and writer on various mental health and spiritual growth topics.



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