Approved for 1.5 EMDRIA Credits

Thompson (1990) defined body image distortion as a persistent state of dissatisfaction and worry related to some aspect of physical appearance. Within the inner world of clients with EDs, this obsession with shame towards the body is held in the dissociative part of the “rejected self” (Seijo, 2000). This dissociative part plays a crucial role in the inner world, mostly in cases of anorexia and bulimia nervosa, where their world revolves around body image. The concept of the “rejected self” may be explained by the idea of who the person never wants to be again, someone who actually existed in the past but who is now rejected and represents the image of what embarrasses and worries her.  When working on the rejected self, we are integrating not only one of the parts most resistant to change in Eating Disorders, but also the body and everything that led to dissociation. Integrating this part implies a great step forward in the treatment of the disorder. The work with EMDR and the Rejected Self provides the therapist a great tool to make a solution for one of the most difficult steps are found in the treatment of Eating Disorders.

Presenter: Natalia Seijo