Emotion-Focused and Interpersonal Exposure

Eating disordered behaviors are often still present when starvation has been reduced because they are used to reduce emotional states and to block the impact of interpersonal triggers. Exposure can be used to address both the emotional and the related interpersonal triggers to eating disordered behaviors. The Newton’s cradle model is used to formulate such events, using behavioral chain analysis to understand behaviors that are commonly described as “just a habit.” This understanding allows clinicians to break open the steps in such behavioral chains to intervene. While there are several potential points and methods that can be used for such an intervention, the use of exposure to address the emotional states directly is a powerful tool, giving the maximum effect in a relatively short time by preventing avoidant and safety behaviors.