ABSTRACT
This chapter is designed to help the patient develop a sense of curiosity and confidence in relation to his/her emotional world. It describes case study of Lara, who had always been successful at everything she set her mind to – she got excellent grades at school, she was good at sports and everyone liked her and admired her – went on to develop anorexia when she was just 16 years old. Lara described how feelings, which she often experienced as 'messy' and 'confusing', left her feeling out of control and scared. In therapy, Lara learned that for her there was a bit of a divide in how she managed the world: for 'heady' stuff such as doing exams, being head girl at school and performing in a professional orchestra, she felt confident and competent. This divide between the 'head' and the 'heart' is common among those with anorexia.
