1st Edition

Treatment for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors An Integrative Psychodynamic Approach

By Stacy K. Nakell Copyright 2023
    136 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    136 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Treatment for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors is the first book to establish the theory and practice of a psychodynamic approach to treating body-focused repetitive behavior disorders (BFRBDs), such as hair pulling, skin picking, and cheek, lip and cuticle biting. Chapters set out a new framework for understanding and treating BFRBDs, one grounded in attachment theory and neurobiological research.

    PART 1: Understanding body-focused repetitive behavior disorders (BFRBDs) 1 The who, what, where, when, why and how of picking, pulling and biting behaviors 2 The psychic skin: sensory processing, attachment and perfectionism in BFRBDs 3 The history of BFRBD treatment PART 2: Integrative psychodynamic treatment for BFRBDs 4 Integrative psychodynamic therapy: a relational path to earned secure attachment 5 The safety phase: goal-setting, assessment and self-compassion 6 The exploration and skill-building phase 7 A healing herd: group psychotherapy to build community 8. Families in therapy: healing the system 9 Moving into maintenance or ending treatment

    Biography

    Stacy K. Nakell is a licensed clinical social worker, certified group psychotherapist and certified clinical trauma professional. She provides psychotherapy to people struggling with body-focused repetitive behaviors and provides clinical consultation.

    "Treatment for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors: An Integrative Psychodynamic Approach offers clarity, guidance, and hope. Nakell possesses a deep understanding of this difficult issue, and how fortunate for suffering individuals—and the therapists who treat them—that this resource is now available to them."  B. Natterson-Horowitz, MD, Harvard Medical School

    "Nakell provides outstanding guidance to psychotherapists who want to engage in deep work while promoting behavioral change with a focus on translating body language into words to heal both physical and psychological scars. Her integrative, psychodynamic approach is powerful and extremely clinically relevant; this book is an important contribution to our field."  Molyn Leszcz, MD, FRCPC, CGP, DFAGPA, professor of psychiatry, University of Toronto, and president, the American Group Psychotherapy Association

    "Nakell effectively outlines what is currently known about BFRBDs, the history of BFRBD treatment, and gaps in the current literature. Her utilization of case studies to illuminate how to engage in psychodynamic treatment with this population is unique and distinguished. I will certainly use this book in my course on the subject."  Mohammad Jafferany, MD, FAPA, MCPS (Derm.), clinical professor of psychiatry and psychodermatology, Central Michigan University, and executive secretary, Association for Psychocutaneous Medicine of North America