EMDR to Treat Disordered Eating
and Body Image Issues

Disordered eating can take many forms–yoyo dieting, strict food rules, eliminating food groups, feeling out of control with food, skipping meals, numbing through food, purging, excessive exercise, and countless other ways. At the core of disordered eating and body image issues is often the deep-seeded belief of “I’m not okay as I am”, shrouded in intense shame. Many clients turn towards disordered eating to cope with trauma and attachment wounds, presenting a complicated treatment landscape for therapists who feel stuck with the question: “Where do I begin?” 

Using EMDR Therapy with disordered eating can be a powerful healing tool but requires specialized training. This advanced training will give you the tools you need to work with this presentation with confidence and competence.

We will review the impact that diet culture and fatphobia has upon clients and therapists alike. We will briefly review neurobiology of disordered eating through the lens of Polyvagal Theory and how this informs our AIP case conceptualization, treatment goals, and skillful interventions. We will also learn assessment tools for disordered eating behaviors and defenses. Clinicians will learn several preparation techniques tailored to those with disordered eating and body image issues, including resourcing scripts, enhancing emotional and somatic awareness, and parts work. We’ll learn how to target disordered eating behaviors through symptom-focused protocols such as Symptom Focused Treatment Planning and Feeling State protocols. Trainees will learn to develop a comprehensive treatment plan to address the trauma and attachment injuries underlying these presenting concerns using the standard protocol. Because there are often many defenses, blocking beliefs, and ambivalence with this population, we’ll review how to get unstuck with helpful interweaves. 

This course consists of lecture and demonstration videos.