About the Book
Now in its third edition, Beyond a Shadow of a Diet is the most comprehensive book available for professionals working with clients who struggle with binge and emotional eating, chronic dieting, and body image.
Divided into three sections—The Problem, The Treatment, and The Solution—this book is filled with compelling clinical examples, visualizations, and exercises that professionals can use to deepen their knowledge and skills as they help clients find freedom from preoccupation with food and weight. New research on diet failure, health, weight, and weight stigma makes a case for why clinicians must reflect on their own attitudes and biases to understand how a weight loss focus can harm clients. In addition to addressing the symptoms, dynamics, and treatment of eating problems, this book presents a holistic framework that includes topics such as cultural, ethical, and social justice issues, the role of self-compassion, and promoting physical and emotional well-being for people of all shapes and sizes. Drawing from the attuned eating and weight inclusive frameworks, this book serves as an essential resource for both new clinicians and those interested in shifting their clinical approach.
Trauma-informed and filled with compelling client stories and step-by-step strategies, Beyond a Shadow of a Diet offers professionals and their clients a positive, evidence-based model for making peace with food, their bodies, and themselves.
Table of Contents:
Part 1: The Problem 1. I Want to Lose Weight 2. The Clinician Trap Part 2: The Treatment 3. Principles of Attuned Eating 4. Navigating Challenges to Attuned Eating 5. Emotions 6. Body Image 7. Treatment Considerations Part 3: The Solution 8. Redefining Health 9. Finding Freedom from Diet Culture
About the Author :
Judith Matz, LCSW, ACSW, is a nationally recognized speaker on the topics of diet culture, binge eating, emotional eating, body image, and weight stigma. She is co-author of The Emotional Eating, Chronic Dieting, Binge Eating & Body Image Workbook, The Diet Survivor's Handbook, The Body Positivity Card Deck, and The Making Peace with Food Card Deck. Her work has been featured in the media including NPR, New York Times, and Psychotherapy Networker. In the field for more than 30 years, Judith maintains a private practice in the Chicago area.
Ellen Frankel, LCSW, worked in the field of eating disorder treatment and prevention for over 20 years. She is co-author of The Diet Survivor's Handbook, Revolution of Jewish Spirit, and Spark Seekers, and author of Beyond Measure and Syd Arthur. Her work has been featured on CNN, Huffington Post, and the CBS morning show. For the past decade, Ellen has worked in hospice settinga providing grief and bereavement counseling.
Review :
"This book is the gold standard in clinical education on a weight-inclusive, empowerment approach for addressing the impact of diet culture and weight stigma. The new edition brings added wisdom about inclusivity, and further reinforces the importance of the clinician's own healing. Beyond a Shadow of a Diet is essential reading for anyone treating eating, weight, and body image concerns."
Amy Pershing, LMSW, author of Binge Eating Disorder and The Emotional Eating, Chronic Dieting, Binge Eating & Body Image Workbook
"Beyond a Shadow of a Diet is a groundbreaking book that stands the test of time. With powerful guidance for clinicians and everyday people alike, this book is essential for anyone interested in a weight-inclusive approach to healing from eating and body-image issues. I’m grateful to Judith Matz and Ellen Frankel for creating such an important reference that helped pave the way for my work and that of so many others in our field—and for their commitment to updating the text as their awareness continues to grow and evolve."
Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CEDS, author of Anti-Diet and The Wellness Trap
"A superb guide for professionals working with clients to heal their relationship with food and their bodies. Matz and Frankel’s 3rd edition of Beyond a Shadow of a Diet includes updates from an inclusive lens as they continue to dismantle the negative impacts of diet culture and offer effective and compassionate strategies for healing. Should be required reading for all mental health professionals!"
Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDS-C, FAND, coauthor of Intuitive Eating
