COMING JULY 2025

Looking for an approach that addresses underlying issues as well as food and body image difficulties?

Filled with case examples and demonstrations, this 6 week course is designed for psychologists seeking to provide an attachment focused treatment for eating disorders.

Approved under Australia's Medicare Eating Disorder Plan, Focal Psychodynamic Therapy not only addresses the relationship with food and the body, but dives deeper, exploring:

• Attachment trauma
• Transference dynamics
• Relationship difficulties
• Low self-esteem and self hate
• Poor sense of self

While providing scope to address depression, anxiety, high-risk behaviours, and complex co-occurring presentations.

All through a framework that is individualised and person centered.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this training course, participants will be able to:

1. Apply Evidence-Based Psychodynamic Treatment Framework

Demonstrate understanding of the research evidence supporting Focal Psychodynamic Therapy (FPT) and identify appropriate clients who would benefit from this therapeutic approach for anorexia nervosa.

2. Integrate Psychodynamic Understanding with Eating Disorder Treatment

Conceptualise anorexia nervosa through a psychodynamic lens, incorporating lived experience perspectives and understanding the symbolic and paradoxical nature of the disorder.

3. Master Initial Engagement and Assessment Techniques

Effectively engage clients with anorexia nervosa, conduct comprehensive psychodynamic assessments including the OPD-2, and navigate ambivalence while uncovering pro-anorexia beliefs.

4. Implement Core Treatment Components

Skilfully integrate renourishing, medical management, and psychodynamic therapy principles while managing transference and countertransference dynamics throughout treatment.

5. Execute Phase-Specific Therapeutic Interventions

Apply distinct therapeutic strategies appropriate to each treatment phase, from initial goal-setting and engagement through middle-phase deepening work to effective closure and follow-up.

6. Utilise Relationship-Focused Therapeutic Techniques

Demonstrate proficiency in transference work, exploring client relationships as therapeutic material, addressing the inner critic, and connecting emotional distress to eating disorder behaviours.

7. Address Complex Trauma and Emotional Regulation

Identify and work therapeutically with complex trauma, shame, self-esteem issues, fear of emotions, and patterns of overcontrol that underlie anorexia nervosa.

8. Manage Clinical Crises and Treatment Challenges

Respond effectively to complex clinical situations including medical complications, self-harm, treatment ambivalence, dishonesty, and stakeholder challenges while maintaining therapeutic alliance.

9. Navigate Family Dynamics and Systemic Factors

Incorporate family members appropriately in treatment, manage power struggles, and address systemic factors that impact recovery while maintaining therapeutic boundaries.

10. Make Informed Treatment Decisions

Evaluate treatment progress, address co-occurring presentations, determine appropriate adjunctive interventions, and make sound clinical decisions regarding level of care and treatment modifications.