What School
Counselors Need to
Know about Eating
Disorders
Marty Slyter, Ph.D., L.M.H.C.
Eastern Washington
University
Statistics
Female athletes
 Mortality rate for Anorexia Nervosa
 Diversity
 Obesity
 Men
 Mortality rate for all eating disorders

Definitions
Binge Eating Disorder
 Bulimia
 Anorexia
 Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder

Eating Disorders are not just about
Food





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

Disorders of Control
Disorders of Thinking
Disorders of Coping
Disorders of Identity
Disorders of Values and Lifestyle
Disorders of Relationships
Disorders of Feelings
Disorders of Behavior
Causes
Biological
 Sociological
 Psychological
 Chronic Dieting
 Conditions that Co-exist
 Sexual Identity

Causes Continued
Family Dynamics:
 Control
 The Anorectic Family-Minuchin

Female Athlete Triad (TFAT)
Disordered Eating
 Amenorrhea
 Osteoporosis

Men
Statistics
 Case Example
 Red Flags
 Boys and Body Image

Prevention
Universal
 Targeted
 What Parents Can Do
 Case example: Melissa

Intervention and Treatment
Appointment with general practitioner
 Therapy
 Comprehensive Plan
 Focus on weight restoration and attempts
to change behavior. Example of “Maudsley
Method”

Intervention and Treatment
continued
Bulimia Nervosa: CBT
 Binge Eating Disorder: IPT and CBT
 Group Work
 Art therapies

Intervention and Treatment
continued
Medication
 Mindfulness
 Dialectical Behavior Therapy
 Relapse Prevention

References


Arnold, C. (2007). Next to nothing: A firsthand
account of one teenager’s experience with an
eating disorder. New York: Oxford University
Press, Inc.
Bardick, A. D., Bernes, K. B., McCulloch, A. R.
M., Witko, K. D., Spriddle, J. W. & Roest, A. R.
(2004). Eating disorder intervention, prevention,
and treatment: Recommendations for school
counselors. Professional School Counseling, (2),
168-174
References



Cameron, V. L. & Walsh, B. T. (2005). If your
adolescent has an eating disorder. New York:
Oxford University Press, Inc.
Ray, S. L. (2004). Eating disorders in adolescent
males. Professional School Counseling, 8(1),
98-101.
Taylor, J. T. (2006). Equal opportunity disorders.
ASCA School Counselor, 48(3), 38-41.