Linda Riebel

Consuming the Earth: Eating Disorders and Ecopsychology

Eating disorders, which involve the misuse of vast quantities of food by millions of people, are described as a direct threat to the environment. Eating disorders are also suggested as a metaphor for the psychopathology underlying our environmental crisis. In this article, the scope of the problem, its psychological and economic roots, its similarity to the environmental crisis in general, and possible solutions are described.

Eating Disorders and Personal Constructs

Drawing upon clinical experience with 33 eating disordered women, the author describes beliefs common to these individuals which appear to contribute to their misuse of the eating function. Habits of perceiving the world in either/or dichotomies, if-then perils and detrimental comparisons are described.

Theory as Self-Portrait and the Ideal of Objectivity

This article addresses the epistemological issue of the theorists subjectivity. I suggest that theories of human nature reflect the theorists personality as he or she externalizes it or projects it onto humanity at large. This article extends this familiar proposition by proposing that there are two forms of externalization: static externalization, in which the theorist projects outward his or her own structures, and dynamic externalization, in which the theorist projects outward his or her needs. In the first, the theory of human nature is a selfportrait of the theorist as he or she is; in the second, the theory is a self-portrait emphasizing what the theorist needs. After a review of the philosophical positions on the issue of the fundamental subjectivity of knowledge, I consider Freud and Adler as instances of the contrasting styles of externalization. Their personal histories, peer relation-ships, and their clinical arrangements are reviewed for evidence that their theories are externalizations of themselves. I conclude, on the basis of these arguments, that the case is quite strong that theory inevitably contains large elements of self-portrait. This is taken as a cause not for despair, but for caution. The value of theories of human nature is not denied, but they are seen as members of an array of descriptions, in each of which there is lodged a valid description of some portions of humanity.

A Homeopathic Model of Psychotherapy

This article sets forth a theoretical model for psychotherapy. Distinction is made between allopathic techniques, which oppose the problem, and homeopathic techniques, which prescribe the problem as a means of treatment. Five techniques are reviewed: psychoanalysis, catharsis, Gestalt awareness techniques, Rogerian acceptance, and paradoxical intention strategies. The literature of each is briefly reviewed and concepts that support the thesis of this article are discussed. The hypothesis is advanced that these techniques constitute a homeopathic approach to psychotherapy, in that (in different ways) each calls on the client to continue to have or to intensify experience already present. Contrasting techniques (psychosurgery, drugs, ECT, certain behavior modification techniques, exhortation, and confrontation) are characterized as allopathic. Differences between the two models are delineated and the rationales and advantages of the homeopathic model are discussed. Parallels between the homeopathic model and the humanistic tradition are drawn.

Humanistic Psychology: How Realistic?.

Although mental health services are increasingly accepted as legitimate resources that &dquo;normal&dquo; people can use without stigma, there has also been a curious resentment and repudiation of the idea of &dquo;working on oneself.&dquo; Derisive phrases such as &dquo;the ’me’ decade&dquo; and &dquo;culture of narcissism&dquo; veil an unspoken accusation that &dquo;work on oneself,&dquo; when one is not in actual crisis, is a hedonistic indulgence. Of the major schools, humanistic psychology is particularly vulnerable to such criticisms, because of its espousal of positive views of human nature and of growth motivations (as well as deficiency motivations) in psychotherapy. Though many such accusations take the form of cavalier or

The Need to Treat Childhood Obesity with Holistic Methods: Why Pediatric Endocrinologists Do Not Use Multifactorial Treatment

Childhood obesity can lead to serious health problems and has become a US health crisis. Although multiple factors contribute to childhood obesity, rarely is it treated in a multifactorial way. Pediatric endocrinologists are among the most qualified health professionals in this area, and their perceptions about multifactorial approaches, and the barriers prohibiting their use, for treating childhood obesity were explored. A mixed-method design composed of a qualitative and quantitative online survey administered to 63 pediatric endocrinologists, followed by in-depth semistructured telephone interviews of nine, indicated that pediatric endocrinologists do not believe they have the resources needed to successfully treat children with obesity in a multifactorial way and that they support the creation of a new professional role, obesity case manager.