A Recovered Person Speaks to Therapists

This chapter, authored by an individual who has overcome an eating disorder, provides the reader with a first-hand narrative of their experiences and journey through ED recovery. The author emphasizes that, although maladaptive, disordered behaviors often make sense within the context of a client's lived experience, rather than pathologizing behaviors at face value by asking, “What does the eating disorder do for this person?” Through the perspective of the author, the chapter helps therapists learn to uncover the psychological and relational functions of ED behaviors, such as providing control, numbing distress, or preserving identity. It offers practical skills and advice to novice ED therapists about how to approach this work and the importance of curiosity, compassion, and collaborative exploration when helping clients make sense of their symptoms.