The post Working with Eating Disorders first appeared on Therapy Education Online.

Email info@brightontherapypartnership.org.uk to arrange your discounted poster purchase.

In this session, Nicole delves into the eight senses, exploring both hyper- and hypo-sensitivities in each sense and how these may play out for different clients.

She looks at how sensory profiling can aid us in better understanding and supporting our clients; and our clients in better understanding and supporting themselves.

Sensory processing difficulties are also touched upon in this session, as well as a range of methods for sensory soothing.

This recorded workshop can be watched as a standalone, or alongside Dr Schnackenberg’s recorded workshop on Nervous System Regulation and Polyvagal Theory in the Therapeutic Space, also available via Brighton Therapy Partnership and Therapy Education Online.

Trainer Testimonials

“Nicole is superb – so compassionate, curious and warm. Her knowledge is fantastic but it’s her human touch and warm approach, and clear passion for her work that really make this magical.”

“The level of detail covered during the event and the follow up materials exceeded my expectations.”

“Nicole was incredibly informed, prepared, and knowledgeable on this subject and that shone through in how she delivered the training.”

“The event was engaging, informative, interesting, and packed with information and skills to take away for the therapist.”

“This was one of the best online workshops I have attended in a while. I left the day absolutely buzzing with enthusiasm and interest.”

“I think Nicole is exceptionally knowledgeable, her presence is calming and she manages the day with absolute precision.”

The post Considering the Sensory System in the Therapy Room first appeared on Therapy Education Online.

BDD is characterised by a distressing preoccupation with a perceived defect or flaw in the appearance which is either not visible to the outside eye or, to the outside eye, is simply seen as part of normal human variation.

BDD affects people who identify as females and males almost equally and has one of the highest suicide rates of any mental health diagnosis.

In this training we  consider indications that a client may be experiencing body dysmorphic disorder and associated struggles and how to explore this possibility alongside them.

We delve into the systemic, biological, psychological and interpersonal underpinnings of BDD alongside its clinical presentation and recommended psychotherapeutic approaches. As part of the training, we explore associated manifestations of body-focused distress including eating disorders and how these can overlap and conflate with BDD.

The training includes insights from attachment theory, polyvagal theory, internal family systems theory, voice dialogue and the psychobiology of shame.

Testimonials

“Wow this has given me a totally new outlook and understanding of BDD and how to work with it using a variety of methods and tools/theories which really resonate with me.”

“This workshop was exceptionally enlightening and exceptionally delivered by Nicole. What an amazing woman she is.”

“The event was engaging, informative, interesting and packed with information and skills to take away for the therapist.”

 

Please note  that any mention in the videos about “handouts” or “printouts” by trainers, are in reference to printouts of the PowerPoint slides, which were made available to delegates who attended the LIVE workshop. These slides are included within the videos and are the property of the trainers. They are not available for download or redistribution with any video rental purchase.

The post Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Working with Bodily Focused Distress first appeared on Therapy Education Online.

Our relationship with our bodies, our skin, our appearance can be complex and challenging.

In this conference our three speakers will consider the many ways we experience the skin we live in, how shame of our bodies influences our sense of self and identity, how men experience their bodies, and the meaning of ‘the gaze’.

Featuring three talks and a Q&A

Linda Cundy: “Attachment, Bodies and Skin”

Early relationships embody us, and skin defines what is inside – “me” – from what is outside – “others.” Skin contains our inner states, protects us from intrusion, and is the sensual interface between two bodies. This talk will explore the ways we experience skin, adorn it, attack it; but also how our skin can “attack” us through eczema, psoriasis, acne, odour and aging. What are the implications for relationships with other people and with ourselves?

Dr Nicole Schnackenberg: “Shame, Identity and the Embodied True Self”

We all have a body and we all have a relationship with that body. Our sense of self, including any embodied shame, impacts on this relationship; both on the felt physicality of the body and the perception of how it looks.

In this presentation we will consider how and why shame impacts on human identity and can come to be pinned onto the physical appearance; and the distress this can cause. We will explore the developmental and neurobiological underpinnings of shame and identity formation and consider how mindfulness-based practices can support the journey through experiences of appearance-focused distress.

Jeff Lane: “Are you looking at me?”

Jeff will explore how men see themselves and other men, how they get a sense of their identity as men and how this might play out in therapy with both men, women and couples. He will explore how men and women are portrayed in the media, art, comedy, music and advertising and will talk about the concepts of the male and female gaze.

Please note  that any mention in the videos about “handouts” or “printouts” by trainers, are in reference to printouts of the PowerPoint slides, which were made available to delegates who attended the LIVE workshop. These slides are included within the videos and are the property of the trainers. They are not available for download or redistribution with any video rental purchase.

The post Skin, Identity and the Gaze in Psychotherapy first appeared on Therapy Education Online.

In this presentation we consider how and why shame impacts on human identity and can come to be pinned onto the physical appearance; and the distress this can cause. We explore the developmental and neurobiological underpinnings of shame and identity formation and consider how mindfulness-based practices can support the journey through experiences of appearance-focused distress.

Trainer Feedback

“Nicole is superb – so compassionate, curious and warm. Her knowledge is fantastic but it’s her human touch and warm approach, and clear passion for her work that really make this magical.”

“The level of detail covered during the event and the follow up materials exceeded my expectations.”

“Nicole was incredibly informed, prepared, and knowledgeable on this subject and that shone through in how she delivered the training.”

“The event was engaging, informative, interesting, and packed with information and skills to take away for the therapist.”

“This was one of the best online workshops I have attended in a while. I left the day absolutely buzzing with enthusiasm and interest.”

“I think Nicole is exceptionally knowledgeable, her presence is calming and she manages the day with absolute precision.”

Please note  that any mention in the videos about “handouts” or “printouts” by trainers, are in reference to printouts of the PowerPoint slides, which were made available to delegates who attended the LIVE workshop. These slides are included within the videos and are the property of the trainers. They are not available for download or redistribution with any video rental purchase.

The post Shame, Identity and the Embodied True Self first appeared on Therapy Education Online.

Featuring three talks and a Q&A

Professor Julia Buckroyd: “Disordered eating in families and relationships: a wordless communication”

This presentation looks at some of the issues in families and relationships when one person has an eating disorder.

An eating disorder is a communication, wordless and hard to interpret, usually aimed at someone in the household. It is an indication of distress and needs to be put into words that can then be discussed, processed and worked on.

This process is made difficult because even if the target can be identified, the disordered eater rarely knows what it is about. The therapeutic task is therefore to make conscious the purposes of the disordered eating and enable the management of them within the couple or family by other and less destructive means.

The presentation will enable participants to recognise the significance of the disordered eating as communication; facilitate the understanding of the meaning of the eating behaviour, help the couple/family to discuss/communicate previously unmanaged issues in the relationship(s) and explore other means of managing the issues that arise from this process.

Yeva Feldman: “Anorexia Nervosa: Moving from disconnection to connection, an embodied relational approach”

Anorexia Nervosa has more recently been described as a ‘disease of disconnection’: disconnection from one’s authentic self (thoughts, feelings and needs), from one’s body (bodily cues and sensations) and from one’s close others (Tantillo, Sanftner & Hauenstein, 2013).

Yeva works from the premise that the disordered eating was a response to something that happened to the individual. Often there isn’t just one traumatic event; there may be layers of attachment trauma, neglect, loss, and invalidating experiences from childhood. The disordered eating is what the individual did to cope and survive.

When the disordered eating is viewed as protector, there is an opening for the more vulnerable self to emerge. Anorexia is a highly effective protective resource. Developing and strengthening somatic and relational resources are essential in order for the individual to feel they have other means of protecting and coping with overwhelming feelings.

In this presentation, Yeva will highlight the key elements she has found essential in helping individuals living with Anorexia Nervosa move from disconnection to connection illustrated by case examples.

Linda Cundy: “The Last Supper: Attachment, Loss – and Food”

“The main facts in human life are five: birth, food, sleep, love and death.” E. M. Forster.

Food and attachment are intimately connected; from the start of life our feeding experiences involve relationships. How we are held and fed is influenced by our caregiver’s capacity for sensitive attunement, related to her or his own attachment history.

Cultural factors also play their part in our relationship with food and influence how we come to nourish ourselves (or deny ourselves) later on.

Cooking and eating together is part of couple bonding and family life. So, when an attachment figure dies, our relationship to the world – including food – is shaken up. Separation anxiety, bereavement and unresolved loss all impact on appetite, eating habits and our sense of self. This talk will explore the grieving process through the relationship with food.

Please note  that any mention in the videos about “handouts” or “printouts” by trainers, are in reference to printouts of the PowerPoint slides, which were made available to delegates who attended the LIVE workshop. These slides are included within the videos and are the property of the trainers. They are not available for download or redistribution with any video rental purchase.

The post Disordered Eating Conference first appeared on Therapy Education Online.

In this video Linda explains that food is a hugely neglected area in psychotherapy, and the available literature tends to be focused on disordered eating and eating disorders. This book aims to fill the gap in the psychotherapeutic literature.

In this video we will learn the various and expansive way that food mediates all of our relationships, from the very beginning of life.

Please note  that any mention in the videos about “handouts” or “printouts” by trainers, are in reference to printouts of the PowerPoint slides, which were made available to delegates who attended the LIVE workshop. These slides are included within the videos and are the property of the trainers. They are not available for download or redistribution with any video rental purchase.

The post Attachment, Relationships and Food first appeared on Therapy Education Online.

This presentation looks at some of the issues in families and relationships when one person has an eating disorder.

An eating disorder is a communication, wordless and hard to interpret, usually aimed at someone in the household. It is an indication of distress and needs to be put into words that can then be discussed, processed and worked on.

This process is made difficult because even if the target can be identified, the disordered eater rarely knows what it is about. The therapeutic task is therefore to make conscious the purposes of the disordered eating and enable the management of them within the couple or family by other and less destructive means.

The presentation will enable participants to recognise the significance of the disordered eating as communication; facilitate the understanding of the meaning of the eating behaviour, help the couple/family to discuss/communicate previously unmanaged issues in the relationship(s) and explore other means of managing the issues that arise from this process.

The post Disordered Eating in Families and Relationships first appeared on Therapy Education Online.

From the start of life, feeding is a relational experience. The bond between caregiver and infant is brokered in the intimacy of feeding, and our attachment to food is an expression of the relationships we form with other people and ourselves. Our relationship with food expresses something of our attachment histories, secure or insecure: safety and security may be sought in eating or in refusal to eat.

This training video will help you to explore how our relationships with food are shaped in early life in the context of our first attachments, and how food mediates our relationships throughout life.

Throughout the video there will be opportunities for you to consider the place of food and eating in your own life and in the lives of your clients from an attachment perspective.

This Training Video also contains discussion summaries from the live workshop, and case studies which you can pause and reflect on.

The two videos you are recommended to watch are:

Food or Security

“Attachment Theory – Harlow’s Monkeys: Food or Security” which can be found on YouTube here https://youtu.be/-Qi7txH1KzY?feature=shared. Please be aware that some people may find this video distressing to watch as it contains audio-visual excerpts from a 1950s experiment where baby monkeys were separated from their mothers and subject to isolation and maternal deprivation.

Bringing Up Baby

“Bringing Up Baby” was a TV documentary series which has now been removed from YouTube by the copyright owners and unfortunately is no longer available to view. You can see the placemarker on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeE6SEu5P6djSxwh6Ax1SrectZ_HuN969

Comment added February 2025

This talk for Brighton Therapy Partnership was later expanded and developed into the book Attachment, Relationships and Food: From Cradle to Kitchen (Routledge, 2021).

Special Offer

If you purchase this video, you can claim a 50% discount code for the recording of the key points from Linda Cundy’s new book on the same subject called Attachment, Relationships and Food: From Cradle to Kitchen, which can be found HERE

Get both recordings for £56.50 down from £74!

Testimonials:

The post Attachment & Food first appeared on Therapy Education Online.