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Female or male therapists for women with eating disorders? A pilot study of experts' opinions
Author(s) -
Waller Glenn,
Katzman Melanie A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199803)23:2<117::aid-eat1>3.0.co;2-n
Subject(s) - eating disorders , psychology , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , psychiatry
Objective This study assessed the client and clinician characteristics associated with choosing a male or a female therapist for eating‐disordered individuals. Method: Participants were 27 clinicians who worked in the field of eating disorders. They were asked to judge whether they would be more likely to recommend a male or a female therapist for an adolescent client presenting with eating problems, given different clinical features. Results: Considering the group as a whole, the client characteristics that were associated with a preference for a female therapist included a history of paternal sexual abuse, body image issues, and an overprotective mother. The recommendation of a female therapist was more likely if the participants were older, and less likely if they were medically qualified. However, duration of experience with eating‐disordered patients was not a relevant factor. Discussion: Future research into the appropriateness of male or female therapists for eating‐disordered clients should attend to the complex contribution of both therapists' and clients' characteristics. © 1998 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 23:117–123, 1998.