Dr Nicola Davies is a health psychologist, counsellor, and writer specialising in raising awareness about health and well-being. She is a member of the British Psychological Society and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Nicola also keeps a health psychology blog and runs an online forum for counsellors. She is the co-author of the Eating Disorder Recovery Handbook (ISBN 9781785921339), and the author of I Can Beat Obesity! (ISBN 9781785921537) and I Can Beat Anorexia! (ISBN 9781785921872), all published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Nicola is a survivor of disordered eating.
Foreword. Endorsements. About the Authors. About This Handbook. 1. Understanding Eating Disorders. 1.1. Hidden Meanings of an Eating Disorder. 1.2. Motivations for an Eating Disorder. 1.3. Eating Disorder Assessment and Evaluation Forms. 2. Eating Disorder Comorbidities. 2.1. Eating Disorders and Obsessive Behaviours. 2.2. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. 2.3. Ritualistic Behaviours. 2.4. Discussing Depression. 3. Identity and Eating Disorders. 3.1. Personal Identity. 3.2. Who Am I?. 3.3. Understanding Your Personality. 3.4. Feeling Worthy. 3.5. Accepting Yourself. 3.6 Assertiveness. 3.7. The Inner Child. 3.8. Challenging Body Image Distortion. 3.9. Enhancing a Positive Body Image. 4. Cognitions (Thoughts) and Eating Disorders. 4.1. Unhelpful Thinking Styles. 4.2. From Black and White Thinking to Living in Colour. 4.3. Twenty Questions to Challenge Negative Thoughts. 4.4. Positive Self-Talk. 4.5. Challenging My Eating Disorder Belief System. 5. Social Aspects of Eating Disorders. 5.1. Eating Disorders and Relationships. 5.2. Plot Your Close Relationships. 5.3. Family Roles. 5.4. Eating Disorders in the Workplace. 5.5. Positive Communication. 6. Eating Disorder Recovery - Are You Ready?. 6.1. What Might Recovery Involve?. 6.2. Readiness to Change. 6.3. The Wheel of Life. 7. Eating Disorder Treatment. 7.1. An Introduction to Counselling. 7.2. An Introduction to Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT). 7.3. An Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). 7.4. Mirror Therapy. 7.5. Art Therapy. 7.6. Animal Therapy. 7.7. Writing for Recovery. 7.8. Helpful and Unhelpful Aspects of Eating Disorder Treatment. 8. Self-Help Tools. 8.1. Mood Boards and Photo Therapy. 8.2. Problem-Solving. 8.3. Worry Time Diary. 8.4. Managing Anxiety. 8.5. Mindfulness. 8.6. Relaxation Training. 8.7. Meaningful Music. 8.8. Offering Yourself the Core Conditions. 8.9. External Validation and Self-Soothing. 8.10. Self-Help Materials. 9. Practical Advice. 9.1. The Power of Being Pragmatic. 9.2. Restarting Normal Eating. 9.3. Regular, Healthy Eating - Practical Advice. 9.4. Dietary Help for Food Addictions and Comfort Binge Eating. 9.5. Recognising Hunger. 9.6. Mindful Eating. 9.7. Exercise Balance. 9.8. Coming off Laxatives. 10. Maintaining Recovery. 10.1. Self-Sabotage. 10.2. Damage Limitation. 10.3. Relapse Prevention. 10.4. Aiding Recovery. 10.5. Inspirational Mentors. 11. Looking to the Future - Beyond Eating Disorders. 11.1. Motivation and Future Goals. 11.2. Hopes and Dreams. 11.3. New Ambitions. 11.4. Recovery Checklist. Appendices. Appendix A. Appendix B. Appendix C. Appendix D. Appendix E. Appendix F.
'It is becoming clearer that the treatment ethos that is most helpful for recovery from an eating disorder is one that includes a collaborative approach to care. This book is a wonderful compendium of resources that can be used as tools for the individual and the support team to work with a joint understanding. With helpful descriptions of the wide, eclectic variety of strategies that can be useful in fostering change, this book provides a diverse resource that can be shared in a collaborative way by patients, carers and professionals.' - Professor Janet Treasure OBE, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych, Professor of Psychiatry at University College London and Director or the Eating Disorder Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, and at the South London Maudsley Hospital NHS Trust
'The topics and self study activities outlined in this book were invaluable in my understanding of myself, my relationship with food, and the real meaning behind my eating disorder. It was a fundamental tool to my recovery. It helped me to see my eating disorder from a different angle and gave me and my family new strategies to overcome it and to see it for what it really was.' - Sarah Sims, eating disorder survivor
