Treatment of eating disorders: winning the war without having to do battle

This paper discusses various techniques therapists can employ to handle the power and control issues encountered when treating restrictive eating and binge/purge (vomiting) behaviors. Winning the war without having to do battle is one of the therapist's most difficult tasks. Before attempting change, it is important to acknowledge the significance and function of the symptom behaviors; the reasons why the person does not want to, and at certain points, should not give them up; and, the total powerlessness of the therapist to make the person relinquish them. However, since elimination of symptoms is a goal of therapy, modification of eating behaviors must be addressed. Methods of balancing the timing and techniques of treating the symptom behaviors versus the emotional issues are presented so as to provide clinicians with tools to effect change but avoid the control battles that inhibit progress in therapy. Included is a discussion of the utilization of individual, family, and group therapy.