“If I See Somebody … I'll Immediately Scope Them Out”: Anorexia Nervosa Clients’ Perceptions of Their Therapists’ Body

Abstract

Although people with eating disorders are known to observe and assess body related stimuli, research has yet to explore these behaviors in the therapy room. Consequently, practitioners do not know if their bodies are having an impact on their clients or the therapy process. This lack of knowledge is problematic given the poor recovery rates and high levels of drop-out in eating disorders treatment. Using semi-structured interviews this study investigated the beliefs and experiences of 11 women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa with a history of restricting, who had received counseling from a female therapist. Results derived from thematic analysis suggest that the patients not only observed, speculated, and made assumptions about their therapists’ bodies but also that their assumptions and speculations had the potential to influence both their beliefs about the therapist's ability to help them, and their willingness to engage in therapy.