A roadmap for utilising EMDR in the treatment of eating disorders

Eating Disorders are complex, multifaceted conditions with can have severe physical, social and psychological ramifications. Obsessive concern about food, weight, and appearance, inappropriate eating behaviour and body image distortions are threads that run through the clinical presentations of most eating disorders. It is not uncommon for a disordered relationship with food and body to run alongside other co-morbid conditions such as complex PTSD, emotionally unstable personality disorder, anxiety, depression, perfectionism and OCD. For most individuals there is a strong dissociative and addictive component. Although research into the effectiveness of EMDR in eating disorder treatment is still limited, it is beginning to demonstrate the reduction of specific eating disorder symptoms as well as the above comorbid conditions. This presentation provides a roadmap for assessing, engaging and treating clients with eating difficulties in a safe, efficient and organised manner. Adaptations to the 8 phases of the Standard Protocol will be illustrated together with Ego state interventions and application of the Urge Reduction protocols.

Conference

English

Pam Virdi

Virdi, P. (2023, May). A roadmap for utilising EMDR in the treatment of eating disorders. Virtual presentation at the EMDRAA Conference, Melbourne Victoria, Australia