Table of Contents

Section I: Establishing Where We Are 1. My Story: Eating Disorder Treatment and Veganism 2. An Uncomfortable Task Ahead 3. Public Perception at a Glance 4. Recovery Perspectives 5. The Importance of Understanding Motivation for Veganism Section II: Vegan Experiences 6. Conflating Concepts: Perfectionism, Morality, Freedom 7. Veganism’s Traumatic Roots 8. Implications of Non-Vegan Eating Disorder Treatment 9. Losing Veganism 10. Animal Therapy in Non-Vegan Eating Disorder Treatment 11. Identity Section III: A Way Forward 12. Professionally Considering a Patient’s Veganism 13. Working with Ambivalence and Values 14. The Therapeutic Alliance 15. Co-constructing a Broader Way Forward 16. Professional Communication Throughout Different Levels of Care 17. Professional Self-Reflective Practice 18. Proposing a "Vegan-Informed" Approach

About the Author

Jenn Friedman, MA, MHC-LP, obtained her counseling master's degree at Goldsmiths, University of London and New York State licensure prerequisites at the University of Buffalo. She provides therapy in New York City.

Reviews

"As a registered dietitian specialized in eating disorders who has been in this field for over three decades, I can wholeheartedly say that FINALLY, a book that courageously, compassionately, and collaboratively brings a controversial issue – veganism and eating disorders - to the forefront is here! Jenn Friedman walks the reader through where we are now as a profession, what our challenges continue to be, and where we need to go in spite of and because of any differences we, as clinicians, may have within our own opinions and beliefs. Friedman graciously asks all of us to bring our beliefs and prejudices around veganism and eating disorders towards the light so the shadows of misunderstanding can be seen, heard, discussed, and healed. I recommend this enlightening book, and its guidelines on how to become vegan-informed, to any and all practicing clinicians who work with clients who have eating disorders in general and who practice veganism specifically." Tammy Beasley, MS, RDN, CEDS-S, LD "Jenn Friedman has done a great job in this book by challenging therapists to examine their own socially-supported bias and unconscious prejudice against veganism, that inevitably interferes with the therapeutic alliance. She draws on a wide range of literature to highlight the separation between an individual's chaotic relationship with eating and the philosophical and ethical stance of not eating animals. This book dispels the myth that veganism is an eating disorder variant whilst highlighting the important distinction between the mental and existential anguish of vystopia and the philosophical basis upon which a vegan lives their life."Clare Mann, psychologist and author of Vystopia: The Anguish of Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World