Group Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders

Group therapy plays an important role in the treatment of eating disorders at all levels of care: in initial psychoeducation, as an adjunct to in-hospital management, in outpatient treatment, or as the central modality in a day hospital program. Group therapy offers the patient acceptance and reinforcement by peers in a treatment setting that is both effective and time-efficient for the clinician. Based on the experience at the Toronto Hospital's Eating Disorders Program, this volume is the first to fully explore the use of group therapy in the treatment of eating disorders. Contributors offer practical guidelines on the strategies and interventions employed in a variety of treatment approaches. This book integrates theory and application to clarify why and how particular group approaches are applicable to specific situations. It highlights the tactics and techniques by which the group modality can be successfully adapted for a variety of purposes. Following a Foreword by Dr. Paul Garfinkel, the volume opens with a historical overview of eating disorders, along with their diagnostic and epidemiological features. Practical information on basic group concepts and medical assessment follows. Cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal group psychotherapies are reviewed in depth. The second half of the volume is organized around specialized group formats, including inpatient, day hospital, body image, family relations, sexual abuse, adolescent, support/self-help, and longer term maintenance groups.