Eating Disorders: An Art Theraphy to Body Image in Adolescents

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With the predominance of unrealistic media images and messages in our society, art therapy is the ideal approach in promoting and building healthy body image, and treating eating disorders in adolescent girls. Throughout this paper, we will explore how art therapy can be utilized with these adolescents. Art Therapy: The Ideal Treatment for Body Image Issues and Eating Disorders Due to these unrealistic images and ideals during this impressionable developmental stage, it is not surprising that adolescent girls make up 95% of individuals who suffer from eating disorders (ANAD, 2013). Clearly, media images and messages greatly contribute to the development of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa (Edwards, 2008, Maclagan, 1998). Dokter describes an eating disorder as, “a reflection of a person’s degree of unhappiness with themselves” (1995, p.208). Mitchell adds that eating disorders are a “disturbance of delusional proportions in the body image and body concept” (Brooke,2008,p.15). Eating disorders include: anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating, and other non-specified eating disorders. It is crucial for individuals with eating disorders to seek treatment due to the fact that it is life threatening. Of all mental disorders, eating disorders bear the highest mortality rates (ANAD,2013). Art Therapy provides the ideal treatment approach for an adolescent who suffers from body dissatisfaction and/or eating disorders. Art therapy advocates self-awareness, recognition and the ability to understand one’s behavior, thoughts and actions (Doktor, 1995). This unique psychotherapeutic treatment offers a safe place for expression and a means to thoroughly understand the psychological concerns at hand. There are many advan... ... middle of paper ... ...lt in body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. Fortunately, Art Therapy offers an ideal and healthy approach to treat eating disorders and body image issues in adolescent girls. Works Cited ANAD. (n.d.). Eating Disorders Statistics « « National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Retrieved November 17, 2013, from http://www.anad.org/get- information/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-statistics/ Brooke, S. L. (2008). The creative therapies and eating disorders. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas. Doktor, Ditty (Ed.). (1995) Arts therapies and clients with eating disorders: Fragile board. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Rubin, J. (2001). Approaches to Art Therapy : Theory and Technique. Philadelphia: Brunner- Routledge.

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