The Eating Disorders Sourcebook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Causes, Treatments, and Prevention of Eating Disorders

by Carolyn Costin

Sound, sensitive advice for overcoming an eating disorder

Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, exercise addictions . . . these disorders can be devastating, but they are in no way unbeatable. Therapist Carolyn Costin, herself recovered from anorexia, brings three decades of experience and the newest research in the field together, providing readers with the latest treatments, from medication and behavioral therapy to alternative remedies.

Whether you are living with an eating disorder or you are a loved one or professional helping someone who is, The Eating Disorder Sourcebook will help you:

Recognize and identify eating disorders Discover and work with the underlying causes of an eating disorder Make the right choices when comparing treatment options Understand what is expected in individual, group, and family therapy Know when outpatient treatment is not enough and what else can be done

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Counselling, Research, Mental Health, Academia

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 30, 1899

About the author

Advocate/ Activist

Carolyn is renown for being an advocate and activist in her field receiving honors such as the National Eating Disorders Association's Award for Advocacy 2008 and in 2011 received the Spirit Recognition Award from Sierra Tucson. Carolyn lobbies congress, fights for insurance reform, organized the NEDA's Parent-Family Network, organizes campaigns against inappropriate advertising and continues to speak out on important social issues!

Therapist

After recovering from her own eating disorder Carolyn became a therapist in 1977 and has been treating people suffering from eating and body image problems since that time.

Founder

After serving as founder and clinical director of several hospital based eating disorder programs, Carolyn knew she wanted to create something different. "I wanted to create a center for healing in a home like environment, surrounded by nature."

Author

Carolyn is the author of five books with her most recent, "8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder: Effective Strategies from Therapeutic Practice and Personal Experience". She has also written extensively for magazines, newspapers, and journals and has been a contributing author to several books on eating disorders and body image.

Educator/ Lecturer

Carolyn's first love was teaching. She served as a high school teacher and counselor for 8 years prior to dedicating her career to the treatment of eating disorders. Carolyn still loves to teach and every month offers a free study group for professionals.

Reviews

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Like a well-balanced and nourishing meal*

Whether you're a clinician treating eating disorders, a client struggling with one, or a significant other witnessing a loved one in the throes of an eating disorder, this book will likely prove to be quite a valuable resource. A quick look at the table of contents shows the breadth of content it covers:

Chapter 1: From Diet to Disorder: Problems and Prognosis
Chapter 2: Young, White, and Female: Myth or Reality?
Chapter 3: Activity Disorder: When a Good Thing Goes Bad
Chapter 4: Genes or Jeans: What Causes Eating Disorders?
Chapter 5: Eating Disorders as Adaptive Functions
Chapter 6: To Those Who Love Them: Guidelines for Family and Significant Others
Chapter 7: Assessing the Situation
Chapter 8: Treatment Philosophy and Approaches
Chapter 9: Individual Therapy: Putting the Eating Disorder Out of a Job
Chapter 10: Sharing the Pain and Promise in Group
Chapter 11: Family Therapy: Working with Families and Significant Others
Chapter 12: Enough About Your Mother, What Did You Eat Today?
Chapter 13: Medical Assessment and Management
Chapter 14: The Psychiatrist's Role and Psychotropic Medication
Chapter 15: When Outpatient Treatment Is Not Enough
Chapter 16: Alternative Approaches to Treating Eating Disorders
Chapter 17: Increasing Awareness and Prevention

In addition to providing such a comprehensive overview of the development, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders, it is written in an easy-to-digest (hard to resist the pun) form, with an effective mix of facts, suggestions, and clinical examples. I was impressed with how well each bite-sized chapter communicates the essence of its individual topic, and also offers additional resources for deeper learning.

As a therapist specializing in eating disorders, I (practically literally) ate up this book. Although I've read lots of eating disorders books, this one stood out for me with its being able effectively present and integrate eating disorder treatment essentials for clinicians, patients, and caregivers alike. I've already been able to incorporate into my sessions many of the nuggets of wisdom imparted in this book, and I predict I'll be regularly referring to this book as a resource for both me and my clients.

This book brings a well-balanced and nourishing meal to the table of eating disorder education and treatment. Dig in!

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, so I read 3 books and looked up numerous internet sites to help a student with a paper for class. But as with everything else I went overboard and got totally engrossed in the research and writings on eating disorders. I didn’t realize the number of Americans that have issues with eating disorders and how they usually suffer in silence. It’s time we STOP brushing our health issues under the rug and speak out about what is wrong with us. This is a excellent resource guide and I will keep it on my list of “go to” guides to help students that come in talking about problems in this area. Definitely recommend!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this for my internship at NEDA. I am glad I did though because it's extremely interesting and helpful. It makes you more aware of the situation and how to better handle it. Extremely informative without being a dull dry textbook. Very readable.

[jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good baseline for someone looking into eating disorders. All the basic information, with an added explanation, is provided; plus some studies and extra books to read, are reference.
Overall it was very informative and knowledge. Both sides of different arguments were provided for things like mediation and when or when not to use it.

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the information has likely been updated and added to at this point, this is a great book to learn about eating disorders, including the psychology and science behind it, populations and facts vs. fiction. Very informative and professionally written. Recommend for those with any interest in nutrition and the mind.

[Jodie Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for professionals in the eating disorder field.

[Lily Mead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall well written AND its old data at this point.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a close friend or loved one with an eating disorder, or disordered eating, this is the best book for understanding eating disorders from a non-clinician standpoint!