ABSTRACT
When working psychotherapeutically with clients we are often bringing into awareness the underlying unconscious forces that dictate how a client is thinking, feeling and behaving. The first level of inquiry, as shown in chapter 7, allows us to reveal who said the words to us that govern our being. A “deeper” level of investigation enables us to bring to awareness non-verbal messages received and interpreted by a child without the presence of a scrutinising or Adult self. The author demonstrates how these messages arise and how they influence eating and body size. She specifically centres on 5 of the 12 “injunction” themes recognised by Bob and Mary Goulding. Injunctions are picked up by the child from parental words and behaviours and are lodged in the Child ego-state. They develop from the pre-verbal experience of being in the world and give rise to early negative decisions about the self. These, in turn, drive the need to eat or stay large. As this level of work can bring to the fore disturbing revelations, the author invites readers to seek therapy should such disclosures become overwhelming.
