Changing Roles: Individual and Family Therapy in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa

This article presents a case study illustrating the blending of individual cognitive therapy with family therapy in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Family members explored attributions they made about each other's behavior. The communication strategies helped this family to communicate more effectively with each other about eating disorders, positive and negative observations in behavior, and ways that the family could be supportive. This approach allowed new behaviors to emerge and began to create new patterns of relating. A significant gain from this approach is that it helped each person face personal weaknesses and to see how the roles they had taken on were very confining to themselves and to other family members.