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Should people with a history of an eating disorder work as eating disorder therapists?
Author(s) -
Johnston Craig,
Smethurst Nicola,
Gowers Simon
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.659
Subject(s) - eating disorders , psychology , health professionals , psychiatry , objectivity (philosophy) , therapeutic relationship , psychotherapist , health care , philosophy , epistemology , economics , economic growth
Much recent attention has focused on the fitness to practise of health professionals. Patients expect their care to be provided by therapeutic staff who can give support and guidance without unhelpful subjective influence. On the other hand, those recovered from health problems expect their employment prospects to be free of discrimination. Eating disorder services increasingly encourage patient and public involvement in service design and monitoring but reservations are sometimes expressed about employing staff who have themselves suffered with an eating disorder. This survey canvassed the views of patients, carers and professionals on the suitability of employing people with a history of an eating disorder as therapists in the same field. With some reservations (mainly from professionals), there was a widespread belief that those who had recovered would have therapeutic advantages as a result of their experience. Therapists with a current eating disorder, however, were thought to lack objectivity and to be vulnerable. Current UK policies on employment appear unnecessarily discriminatory and stigmatizing. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.