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Background: This didactic and experiential presentation explores an innovative method for addressing body image issues in individuals with eating disorders. Participants will be introduced to an original format that utilizes a synergistic combination of psychoeducational, experiential and psychodynamic techniques to maximize body image change.
- Introduction of format:
A. Definition of body image
B. Explanation of process
C. Application with individuals, couples and families
D. Description of tools: BINS, Mini Goal Sheets, props
2. Demonstration of methods- experiential ( group)
4. Case example
5. Discussion / Q & A
This didactic and experiential presentation explores an innovative method for addressing body-image issues. Participants will be introduced to an original format used effectively for over ten years with women with eating disorders and their families. In order to explore these difficult and complex issues, a synergistic combination of psychoeducational, experiential and psychodynamic techniques provides an innovative model that increases awareness and understanding of body image issues and facilitates body image change. The format lends itself to helping participants explore and understand what is driving their distorted body image perceptions and dissociation from their bodies.
Specifically, this session includes:
a. A definition of body image presented to provide the foundation from which the process is framed.
b. A meaningful quote introduced to serve as a springboard for discussion of emerging thoughts and feelings.
c. Embodied experiences to heighten awareness of how perceptions of one’s self take form in the body.
d. Guided journaling to allow participants to reflect on and share their issues in a way that can result in developing strategies to resolve body-image issues.
Patients are encouraged to be “detectives”, viewing their distorted perceptions as clues to help them recognize that something is bothering them that needs their attention. By trusting themselves to explore how these clues might be connected to larger emotional issues, they can then transform their perceptions into healthier more effective actions, rather then automatically resort to eating disordered behaviors and body image distortions.
Patients find this format particularly helpful due to the visual and experiential clarity inherent in the experiential metaphors that cause insights to spring to the surface. When used as part of a family or couples work, participants are able to increase understanding of their loved ones feelings and perceptions becoming more motivated to join with them to create healing goals.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to give form to these methods to maximize body image change with their own clients.
Susan Kleinman, BC-DMT, NCC, CEDS is a dance/movement therapist at The Renfrew Center of Florida. Ms. Kleinman is a trustee of the Marian Chace Foundation, past president of the American Dance Therapy Association and past chair of The National Coalition for Creative Arts Therapies. She is co-editor of The Renfrew Center Foundation’s Healing through Relationship series , co-author of chapters on body/mind methods in the textbook Bridging the Research-Practice Gap in the Treatment of Eating Disorders and the first Encyclopedia of Body Image and Human Appearance, and a recipient of the American Dance Therapy Association’s 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award.
Brooke C. E. Farrington, MSW, CEDS, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. Her practice, Farrington Specialty Counseling Inc. specializes in treating eating disorders and body image issues and offers outpatient and Intensive Outpatient treatment. Prior to opening her practice, Brooke, directed the outpatient and intensive outpatient programs and led dance and movement groups in a residential program in Indiana. She speaks frequently in Northeast Indiana as an eating disorder expert. Brooke also teaches dance at Huntington University. She is co-chair of IAEDP's Connection, Outreach, and Mentoring Committee and an IAEDP Approved CEDS Supervisor.
