Moreover, it is important to consider women’s relationships with other spiritual figures. Specifically, in Christian religions including Mormonism, it is important to consider one’s relationship with Christ. Edgington et al. consider how eating disorders and perfectionism can impact individuals’ perceptions of Jesus Christ’s Atonement. Edgington et al. (2008) interviewed women at an inpatient eating disorder treatment facility in Utah County. All participants attended church at least once per month and had been diagnosed with an eating disorder. Several negative themes emerged, including unidentified needs, extreme self-reliance, avoidance, and burnout. Essentially, many participants felt that their eating disorders hindered their relationship
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Understanding how spirituality affects the psychological functioning and well-being of eating disordered people will aid counselors in therapy. Clinicians observing perfectionistic tendencies in LDS patients may find it helpful to "help perfectionistic LDS clients understand that Jesus Christ’s atonement can help them change and heal even when they are imperfect" (Edgington, et al., 2008). For example, one interview participant in this paper's study said she found it extremely helpful when her counselor helped her disassociate fear of failure and spirituality and tell the patient that Christ loves her regardless of her mistakes and imperfections. However, not all patients may view spirituality as important in their cognitive behavioral therapy. Caoli (2015) found that some patients did not appreciate counselors discussing spirituality with them and thus suggests, "counselors familiarize themselves with the most common mainstream religious and spiritual customs of their patients," and furthermore, "Taking it a step further and understanding their patients own personal beliefs and feelings about spirituality, sexuality and counseling can also aid counselors in areas that have previously been avoided (Caoli, 2015). More research on spirituality and eating disorder severity must be done to make more specific clinical
Understanding how spirituality affects the psychological functioning and well-being of eating disordered people will aid counselors in therapy. Clinicians observing perfectionistic tendencies in LDS patients may find it helpful to "help perfectionistic LDS clients understand that Jesus Christ’s atonement can help them change and heal even when they are imperfect" (Edgington, et al., 2008). For example, one interview participant in this paper's study said she found it extremely helpful when her counselor helped her disassociate fear of failure and spirituality and tell the patient that Christ loves her regardless of her mistakes and imperfections. However, not all patients may view spirituality as important in their cognitive behavioral therapy. Caoli (2015) found that some patients did not appreciate counselors discussing spirituality with them and thus suggests, "counselors familiarize themselves with the most common mainstream religious and spiritual customs of their patients," and furthermore, "Taking it a step further and understanding their patients own personal beliefs and feelings about spirituality, sexuality and counseling can also aid counselors in areas that have previously been avoided (Caoli, 2015). More research on spirituality and eating disorder severity must be done to make more specific clinical