Featuring Dana Satir, PhD
Outcome studies of eating disorder patients tend to focus primarily on relief of symptoms by behavioral measures; at least 30 percent of patients do not improve and another 30 percent only partially recover, especially in the population of adult patients who are symptomatic for at least one year. Drawing upon case examples from clinical, supervisory, and teaching experience, we suggest that treatment that primarily addresses behavioral change and is relatively short term leaves many patients behind in the search for a fuller sense of self and resilience. In our work we have found that improvement rests upon ferreting out developmental deficit and other factors in early life that have been ignored, unspoken, and neglected; and without reflecting on, working through, and integrating these early experiences patients feel a part of themselves is still missing after symptom reduction. We assert that longer-term psychodynamic treatment facilitates therapeutic improvement by addressing 6 major domains:
1) mitigation of shame;
2) integration of split off affects and defenses;
3) achievement of greater intimacy and/or capacity to play;
4) confrontation of the tendency to spoil forward movement and self sabotage;
5) identification with benign introjects and amelioration of a primitive, highly punitive superego;
6) recognition and confrontation of denial of death (e.g., existential death anxiety).
By describing the benefits of longer-term work with patients with eating disorders, we hope to encourage others to expand the knowledge base of what constitutes therapeutic improvement and resilience, leading to lives that that are genuinely fuller, more creative, and productive.
This event is free of charge but donations are gladly welcome at the event or on our website.
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Dana Satir, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of adolescents and adults with eating, anxiety and personality disorders. In 2012 she was awarded her doctorate in psychology from Boston University, where she received funding from the American Psychoanalytic Association for her dissertation study of an alliance focused therapy for patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Dr. Satir completed her clinical internship at the Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School in adult community psychiatry, and went on to receive advanced training in Maudsley/FBT during her postdoctoral fellowship at Children's Hospital Colorado. In 2013, she was awarded an early career fellowship from the American Psychoanalytic Association to continue her ongoing interest and study of psychoanalytic theory and treatment. Dr. Satir is currently working in private practice at offices in both Denver and Boulder providing psychotherapy, supervision, and consultation. She is also an Adjunct Instructor in the Counseling Psychology Department at DU, where she teaches courses on eating disorder treatment and psychodynamic psychotherapy.
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Certificates of attendance only. No CME credits are provided.
