Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Document Type
Article
Keywords
disordered eating, sexual abuse, narrative therapy, mental health, bulimia
Subject Area
Counseling, Counselor Education, Mental Health Counseling
Abstract
While research has demonstrated a significant relationship between sexual abuse and the development of disordered eating behaviors, research on techniques to address disordered eating formed in this manner remains limited. Posttraumatic stress as well as internalized feelings of guilt, shame, and blame all contribute to the development of disordered eating in those who have experienced sexual violence. Narrative Therapy focuses on restorying an individual’s experienced and lived themes to make the creation of a new, healthy interpretation of trauma. Limited research has explored the potential application of restorying to populations experiencing disordered eating and sexual abuse trauma, independently. This conceptual article explores the potential application of Narrative Therapy with clients who have experienced sexual abuse and developed disordered eating behaviors. Implications in clinical practice as well as future research directions are presented.
Keywords
disordered eating, sexual abuse, narrative therapy, mental health, bulimia
Recommended Citation
Heilman, T., & Bright, D. (2022). The Relationship Between Sexual Abuse and Disordered Eating: Applications of Narrative Therapy. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 15(3). Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/jcps/vol15/iss3/8