REDUCING EATING DISORDERS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL PSYCHOTHERAPY: A CASE STUDY OF ANOREXIA NERVOSA
REDUCING EATING DISORDERS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL PSYCHOTHERAPY: A CASE STUDY OF ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Summary/Abstract: Over the last decades; the prevalence of eating disorders has increased dramatically. In the current psychiatric nomenclature of the DSM-5 [2]; the eating disorders consist of three clearly defined syndromes; i.e. anorexia nervosa; bulimia nervos and binge-eating disorder. The onset of the most clinical cases occurs in adolescence or young adulthood. Data provided by psychiatric practice reveal that eating disorders occur more frequently in women; compared with men. These disorders appear to be multidetermined. Thus; the risk for (or protection against) the development of eating disorders resides in several factors; i.e. genetic; neurohormonal; family; psychological and sociocultural. Negative life events can also play a triggering role. Anorexia nervosa is a debilitating mental disorder with profound biological; psychological and social consequences. Although the overall incidence rate of anorexia nervosa is considerably stable over the past decades; the incidence among adolescents has increased. Different types of psychotherapeutic interventions (e.g.; family-based therapy; cognitive-behavioral therapy; dialectical behavior therapy; interpersonal therapy; etc.) are used to treat eating disorders. However; the benefits of experiential techniques (e.g.; emotion-focused therapy or gestalt therapy) have been less explored. This paper focuses on a 19-year-old adolescent girl presenting with symptoms of anorexia nervosa. The complaints; results of the initial assessment; goals of the therapeutic sessions; working techniques as well as gains of the intervention based on experiential methods (e.g.; the empty chair technique; metapositions; cognitive reframing; etc.) are reviewed. Practical implications are discussed considering the potential of experiential psychotherapy in assisting clients with eating disorders.

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