Abstract
A novel method of family therapy for persons suffering from eating disorders, therapeutic letter writing (TLR), is presented. The protocol used for letter writing, its advantages and limitations, and a variety of applications are reviewed. The concept of TLR grew out of the study of narrative therapy, and was strongly influenced by ideas of Lorraine Wright and Maureeen Leahey about nurses and families, as well as the work of W.R. Miller around stages of change. This article will review: the process of TLR; therapeutic uses of eating disorders linked to TLR, including those relevant to families divided by distance or understanding; and the advantanges and disadvantages of TLR. Finally, a case study is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rollnick S., Miller W.R.: What is motivational interviewing? Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 23, 325–334, 1991.
Treasure J., Ward A.: A practical guide to the use of motivational interviewing in anorexia nervosa. European Eating Disorder Review, 5, 102–114, 1997.
Prochaska J.O., DiClemente C.C., Norcross J.C.: In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors. Am. Psychol., 47, 1102–1114, 1992.
Serpell L., Treasure J., Teasdale J., Sullivan V.: Anorexia nervosa: friend or foe? Int. J. Eat. Disord., 25, 177–186, 2000.
Geller J., Cockell S.: Inhibited self-expression in anorexia nervosa: self-silencing and loss of voice. Third Annual Meeting of the Eating Disorders Research Society, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1997.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davidson, H., Birmingham, C.L. Letter writing as a therapeutic tool. Eat Weight Disord 6, 40–44 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03339750
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03339750