In this weeks episode, Han is joined by Jennifer Danby for a Valentine's Day special; taking a deep dive into our relationship with ourselves and others, and an eating disorder. Jennifer is a Clinical Lead and Family Therapist in a specialist lifespan eating disorder service in London and specialises in emotion-focused family therapy. Jennifer joins us today for a valentine’s special, to talk about our relationship with self and how this is affected by an eating disorder. Jennifer is also conducting a research study at Imperial College London, which involves providing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to individuals with an anorexia nervosa diagnosis to determine whether this could be an alternative, effective, treatment for people in the future.

In this weeks episode, we discuss:

• Jennifer's work in eating disorders, and how this has led her to work in emotion-focused family therapy.

• How eating disorders affect the relationship with self and others, as well as how an eating disorder relationship exists.

• The characteristics that may lead to eating disorder development, and how they may predispose you to an eating disorder, but don't need to be abolished.

• The study Jennifer is conducting using Psilocybin to provide psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for women with an anorexia nervosa diagnosis when treatment hasn't been accepted in a successful way.

  • The research behind the use of Psilocybin in mental health treatment and how this can help individuals to tap into emotions and feelings suppressed by the eating disorder.

  • The addictive nature associated with eating disorders and if this is affected by using psychedelics in trials.

  • The hopes for the study going forward, and overall for the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

Please note that this podcast discusses the relationship with eating disorders which some individuals may find challenging. Please check in with yourself and tread lightly, and remember this episode should not be replaced for clinical advice. Please note that this podcast is not encouraging illegal drug use.

To find out more about Jennifer and her research, you can read more here:

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/research/eating-disorder-research/psilocybin-as-a-treatment-for-anorexia-nervosa-a-pilot-study/

https://www.mentalhealthfoundations.ca

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/psychedelic-research-centre/trials/panorexia/

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.735523/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Psychiatry&id=735523