Things you can learn from books: Exploring the therapeutic potential of eating disorder memoirs

Margaret McAllister; D L Brien; Trudi Flynn; J Alexander

doi:10.1111/inm.12084

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Things you can learn from books: Exploring the therapeutic potential of eating disorder memoirs

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Things you can learn from books: Exploring the therapeutic potential of eating disorder memoirs

Margaret McAllister, D L Brien, Trudi Flynn and J Alexander

International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, Vol.23(6), pp.553-560

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12084

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Abstract

Nursing

Public Health and Health Services

Psychology

bibliotherapy

eating disorder

education

learning

memoir

This paper explores the potential benefits that books, and specifically memoirs, might offer mental health students, positing that first-person testimonials might make the complex experiences of a mental health challenge, in this case, eating disorders, accessible to learners. The paper presents a pedagogical approach, based on transformative learning, to assist in encouraging the development of a recovery approach in students. Transformative learning is a pedagogy that is interested in problematic practices that keep afflicting an area, such as the imbalanced focus on learning illness, rather than well-being, and in pondering and revising the educational solutions. The paper proposes that forward movement in this area will be based on considering and developing such innovative curricula, and researching its impact. By virtue of their accessibility, memoirs could offer to a large audience the benefits of universality, empathy, hope, and guidance. Teachers and learners could be making use of these books in face-to-face or online activities. This paper explores the groundwork that is needed before eating disorder memoirs can be confidently recommended as a therapeutic tool. © 2014 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.

Details

Title: Things you can learn from books: Exploring the therapeutic potential of eating disorder memoirs
Authors: Margaret McAllister (Author) - Central Queensland University
D L Brien (Author) - Central Queensland University
Trudi Flynn (Author) - Central Queensland University
J Alexander (Author) - Central Queensland University
Publication details: International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, Vol.23(6), pp.553-560
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1111/inm.12084
ISSN: 1445-8330
Organisation Unit: School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451173402621
Output Type: Journal article

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