“If I See Somebody …. Therapist or Anything, I’ll Immediately Scope Them Out”: Anorexia Nervosa Clients’ Perceptions of Their Therapist’s Body

Although people with an eating disorder are known to observe and assess body related stimuli, research has yet to explore these behaviors in the therapy room. Consequently, practitioners do not know if their body is having an impact on their client or the therapy process. This lack of knowledge is problematic given the poor recovery rates and high levels of drop out in eating disorders treatment. Using semi-structured interviews this study investigated the beliefs and experiences of 11 women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa with a history of restricting who had received counseling from a female therapist. Results derived from a thematic analysis suggested that the women not only observed, speculated and made assumptions about their therapist’s body but also that their assumptions and speculations had the potential to influence both their beliefs about the therapist’s ability to help them, and their willingness to engage in therapy