Resources

One does not go on this journey alone. In addition to our teams and our supports, resources for growth are a vital pillar of growth and self-development. This page is meant to provide a record of the resources I have found most valuable throughout my journey. Please feel free to take what speaks to you and leave the rest.

Table of Contents

  • Brené Brown – courage, vulnerability, shame, empathy
  • Jenni Schaefer – ED Recovery
  • ED Recovery Staples
  • Self-Help Staples
    • Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Learning Who You Are
    • PuttyLike – multipotentialites
    • Values Sort

Brené Brown

Brené Brown is an author and researcher on courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. Her work has helped guide me through some of the most difficult aspects of recovery as I learned to face my imperfections and to foster the strength to embrace my vulnerability. I would recommend her for any stage of recovery and for everyone, ED or not.

This is on my ‘to-read’ list, but I have heard wonderful things about it. Very relevant to ED recovery.
Another on my ‘to-read’ list. Feels so relevant to my particular journey and Eating Disorders in general.
Netflix Documentary: The Call to Courage

Jenni Schaefer

An inspiring author, Jenni Schaefer presents her journey through recovery and all that she has learned through her work. These book are invaluable must-reads not only for those in recovery, but also for their supports.

ED Recovery Staples

Intuitive Eating takes time to get to, and you shouldn’t venture into it until your team (Dietician, in particular) feels you are ready. It is challenging, and there are many opportunities to slip into old behaviors with new justifications if you try to do it too soon. I am working towards this model, but still go back to more structured systems like planned meal plans or even the exchange system when necessary if I need them.
Really wonderful accompanying workbook for the Intuitive Eating program. Great for use with your team, especially your dietician, as you get into implementing this program in your treatment plan. Remember to be flexible! Intuitive Eating is not meant to just be a new set of rules for your ED to subscribe to.

This book radically changed my view on my body and bodies in general. It helped to discredit “truths” my disorder had fed me for a long time, such as that I couldn’t be active in a bigger body, or that diets work. Ask your therapist and the rest of your team about when they think you are ready for this book. It throws down some heavy truths and has the potential to be difficult or triggering if you aren’t ready.
This was the first book I ever read about ED recovery, and I’ve read it 2 or 3 times since. I do think if you were picking between this and either of Jenni Schaefer’s books, go with Jenni. But I found this book really useful. It was recommended to me in my teens by my very first therapist.

The following resources have been recommended to me, but I have not personally used. As I work through them, I will add them above with notes on their best application.

Recommended by my PHP therapist
Recommended by a peer in treatment. She said that it was revolutionary for her feelings towards her body image and in relation to fighting dismorphia.
I have had multiple peers and professionals recommend this to me saying it was a powerful read for them.
This tends to be a staple on professional bookshelves. I’ve been told it is a particularly good read for those with co-morbid PTSD.

Self-Help Staples

This book is a wonderful dive into the world of radical acceptance, an integral part of DBT and of recovery in general. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn to live life better.
This is a modernized version of Melody Beattie’s classic “Codependent No More,” which was written in the 80’s when codependency was first being defined and accepted as a valid disorder. I would recommend this version over the original, as it is much more accessible in and relevant to today’s age. However the original version has a workbook that may be valuable to some.
This book has many valuable writing activities meant to help investigate the roots of your perfectionism and how it is serving and destroying you. I have never gone start to finish in this book, but come back to it every so often to continue working through the prompts. Excellent resource.
Have been recommended this over and over again. Have yet to finish it, but wholeheartedly recommend it.

Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

DBT is an extremely useful modality often used in ED treatment. It is applicable to a wide range of disorders, and focuses on a skills training model to help increase coping capacity and decrease distress. It consists of four modules: Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal Relationships, Mindfulness, and Emotion Regulation. This was the primary therapeutic modality taught in my treatment center. I highly recommend this model to create a foundational basis for recovery, and have found it incredibly valuable in my own recovery. Anyone can benefit from these skills, whether they are diagnosable or not.

This is the best DBT workbook for using with an outpatient therapist or even on your own. This was the workbook recommended to me by my first therapist, and I found it to be accessible and extremely helpful in beginning with DBT. I would always recommend starting DBT or any treatment modality with your therapist. This is the general format.

If you are a kindle/e-reader person, I would strongly recommend getting these in print. They are easiest to work with in that format.

This brand also has disorder-specific DBT workbooks. This one is for bulimia – others include anxiety, bipolar disorder, anger, and PTSD. Unfortunately, this is the only ED-specific workbook they have. These are catered to issues found in those specific disorders in terms of how the skills are presented and taught, but you can always stick with the original – you will be provided the same skills regardless.
This is the original DBT workbook by the inventor of the modality, Marsha M. Linehan. This is the edition you are most likely to use in a DBT class or program, and is the source of most DBT handouts. Its heavy duty, and not easily used without a class or therapist. Look for local DBT classes or groups or a DBT focused therapist for training in this modality.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

I see ACT (pronounced like the word, act) as a sort of part two to DBT. DBT gives you the skills to self regulate, ACT helps guide you to accepting your self and your life and making goals towards your future. This was the secondary modality taught at my treatment center, meant to be integrated fully at the IOP level. This should absolutely be implemented under the supervision of a therapist. It is heavy stuff and you will need help working through it.

This was the workbook used at my treatment center. I felt it was thorough but accessible, and would recommend it to those starting with ACT. Again, be sure to work through this with a therapist or in a group or class. You can search locally for ACT groups in your area.

Learning Who You Are

PuttyLike is a home for people who have many interests and creative pursuits.

Do you feel like you don’t have “one true calling” and have difficulty finding “your path”? You may be a Multipotentialite.

Multipotentialites: “An educational and psychological term referring to a pattern found among intellectually gifted individuals. [Multipotentialites] generally have diverse interests across numerous domains and may be capable of success in many endeavors or professions, they are confronted with unique decisions as a result of these choices.”

Start Here

Values Sort

Doing a Values Sort is extremely valuable when first evaluating who your are and what matters to you most. It helps you to identify what you need and why, which can help you decide on the direction you want your path to take. I found this to be one of the most valuable activities I participated in during treatment – I did an initial sort in residential, and several more throughout PHP and IOP, always with my therapist. My final values of Joy, Freedom, Connection, Authenticity, and Growth were extremely different from those I pulled on my first sort, and fit me authentically. I have used them throughout my Out-Patient care to help direct my decisions as I built my recovery life.

I would strongly recommend you do this with your therapist. Below are a few links to online, printable, and Amazon versions of the Values Sort that are free and accessible.

Think2Perform Online Values Sort

Printable Personal Values Card Sort (I used these in Residential)

The Value Sort Cards (Amazon $29.95)

These resources will be updated as I discover them. Check back often for updates!