Review of Staff and Client Experiences of a Motivational Group Intervention: Meeting the Needs of Contemplators

Abstract

This descriptive article outlines the processes undertaken by the STEPS Unit when designing a new group for people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and EDNOS. The group was designed to help clients explore their eating disorders in an environment where change was not required. A retrospective follow-up of the clients' treatment pathway, and the experiences of the facilitators and clients, is presented. Each group ran for 12 weeks, with 16 different groups of people. A total of 101 clients completed the 12 week program. A follow-up of the clients showed that 41% of those who completed the group moved from a contemplative stage into therapy involving behavioural change. The results are promising and of clinical relevance. This work adds to the existing literature in this field in that it includes a paradoxical emphasis on the positives of the eating disorder unlike traditional motivational interviewing techniques, resulting in a deeper commitment to change.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Josie Geller for all her help with the development of our service, as well as Professor Janet Treasure, Dr. Kelly Vitousek, and Professor Ulrike Schmidt for their inspiring talks on motivational work, and the whole team at STEPS for their continual feedback on the article and most importantly, for running the contemplation groups.