Case illustration of the self-psychological treatment of eating disorders

The theoretical conceptualization of self-psychology and the implications for the therapist's stance open up new opportunities for the treatment of anorexia and bulimia. The major contributions of self-psychology to the treatment of anorexia and bulimia are centered upon the following principles: 1) the conceptualization of food, its consumption and avoidance as fulfilling selfobject needs, 2) the unique therapeutic stance of the therapist as selfobject who tries to empathize with the patient from an experience-near position, and 3) the respect that the theory attributes to the significance of the symptoms for the patient. This paper presents a case which can exemplify some of the principles which underlie the self-psychological understanding of eating disorders and their cure.