A Video Seminar About Women and Food

Just as the term "Alcoholic" once only conjured up images of broken down, old men on skid row, the term "Eating Disorder" often brings to mind the deathly thin Anorexic or the very overweight compulsive over eater.

With time and education, however, people in the helping professions as well as the community at large have become aware of the widespread misuse of alcohol and learned to recognize the early stages of the disease; the myth that an alcoholic is only someone in the final phases of alcoholism has been broken.


It is also time to acknowledge the prevalence of food abuse among women; no longer can we assume that only a small portion of the population has an "eating disorder" and that people with "eating disorders" are outside of the norm. Rather, the reverse is true; women of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, and weight, experience some dysfunction in their relationship with food and in their feelings towards their bodies.

In these videos, the possibility of healing from Food Abuse through viewing the problem as a disease, a disease which involves definable symptoms and predictable behaviors is explored and demonstrated. In addition, it is demonstrated how this disease effects all aspects of a person's life; it effects their spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental well being. In recovery, it is important that each of these aspects is addressed; recovery includes much more than just changing one's relationship to food.

The prevalence of the problem and the negative effects of the obsession with physical appearance, body weight, and food is clearly demonstrated. The participants are 8 women who have achieved some level of healing and recovery. Their ages range from about 20 to 50; their backgrounds range from bulimia & anorexia to compulsive eating. Although their stories are different, their honest evaluation of themselves, their disease, and their personal process of recovery brings up feelings and issues that all women can relate to.

The videos are an intimate dialogue; the first one involves discussing what it is like living day to day in a woman's body with the pressure to be thin and the insanity of trying to lose weight and obtain the "perfect body". The concepts of "disease" and "addiction" as they relate to food abuse are explored and reframed in such a way that most people can relate to the ideas. The second video is a discussion about what these women did to get better. Many related issues are explored including a specific definition of the recovery program. The final video explores the use of the 12 steps within the context of a therapeutic model. Again the concepts are reframed in such a way that most people can relate to them. The main theme is that healing occurs through connecting with one's "spirit" whatever that means to each individual.

All of the videos include charts and assessment tools and the video package includes a 20 page booklet of information and potential handouts.

The "It's Not About Food" Videos appeal to a wide circle of people. They are extremely useful for professionals working with women in any capacity; most women have some dysfunction in their relationship with food and their body image and they offer a highly effective method for supporting clients in their recovery.

In addition to providing training for clinicians, the videos can be used as tool for anyone working on healing their relationship with food and their body. You will have the chance to experience other women sharing in a way that confronts your denial and fear, supports you in bringing your emotions to the surface, and that provides you with provocative and challenging methods for healing. You will have the opportunity to realize that you are not alone and to begin to have an understanding of your disorder.

The videos are also empowering and helpful for the general public in that any woman can watch them and find issues and feelings that she can relate to. I have had numerous calls from women who have said "Wow! I never knew that other women felt the same way as I do or that it was possible to get better!"

Another use is as an aid to professionals leading any form of educational and/or therapeutic group including inpatient treatment programs. The videos are great for bringing up issues and providing a context for sharing and education. They not only provide useful information and training, the honest open sharing by the participants provide a great model for what is possible through group therapy in any format. Throughout the seminar, the participants share in such a way that their emotions are close to the surface, thus creating more of an opening for viewers to allow themselves to be vulnerable and honest, to access their feelings more easily, and to then share them openly.

Many people who are in recovery from Substance Abuse find that they have an eating disorder or sex addiction in addition to their presenting problem. These people often are the quickest to relate to the concepts presented and find it easy to translate the tools they have already developed for Substance Abuse Recovery to Eating Disorder, Co-dependency, and/or inappropriate sexual acting out behaviors. Clinicians may find it difficult to support the recovering addict or alcoholic in doing deeper therapy if their addiction takes on a new face that is not addressed.

In addition, these videos are very relevant for adolescents. Women are feeling the pressure to be thin at younger and younger ages and the over-emphasis on physical appearance has greatly increased in numerous arenas. More emphasis is being placed on male appearance than ever before. It is in the formative years of adolescence that young people start overvaluing their appearance and that dysfunctional eating behavior generally begins. Often, adolescents are unable to verbalize these feelings on their own, however when presented with topics and when hearing others share, they can begin to understand what they are experiencing and then become better able to express what they themselves are feeling.

The "It's Not About Food" videos are easy to listen to, informative, and emotionally stimulating for people of any age, educational background, and professional orientation.

"Eating Disorders" are often considered quite difficult to truly heal from and the prognosis for real change is low in individual therapy. In addition, use of the 12 step programs is controversial for recovering from food abuse. These videos demonstrate the power of combining the 12 steps with group therapy; the 12 steps are utilized as TOOLS for recovery within the context of the "Non-Diet" approach.

For therapists, the tools presented used in addition to traditional psychotherapy are highly effective in creating real change and supporting clients in examining the deeper issues that are at the source of the problem. For anyone wanting to heal their relationship with food, the videos provide exactly the tools and information necessary to get you started on the road to recovery including incredible support and answers to enhance your ongoing healing.