“You feel that you are stepping into a different world”: Vulnerability and biases in the treatment of anorexia nervosa

The treatment of anorexia nervosa has been marked by challenges, prompting scholars to establish therapeutic guidelines aimed at overcoming barriers, and enhancing the efficacy of treatment. Although previous studies have documented the difficulties that usually arise in anorexia treatment, the challenges and the vulnerabilities therapists face have not been fully illuminated. The objective of this study is to delve into therapists’ experiences and explore the sense of vulnerability they encounter during the treatment of anorexia nervosa, thereby fostering a more profound comprehension of their perspectives. One-to-one interviews were carried out with a cohort of 7 Greek therapists, all of whom had a minimum of 5 years of professional experience. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis and two main themes were constructed: therapist-related factors and building communication. Therapists experienced moments of self-doubt wherein they questioned their capacity to provide an efficacious treatment plan. Aside from this sense of vulnerability, treatment was also thought to be hindered by personal biases while issues of mistrust and parental involvement were considered to be additional challenges. Lastly, the study raises doubts about the therapist’s role as the confident and unbiased expert, emphasizing the criticality of addressing these challenges to enhance the overall treatment outcomes.