Michael E. Berrett

Events wholly beyond our control can sometimes abruptly and profoundly interrupt our life journeys and the journeys of those we love. As they are unfolding, the physical and emotional trauma that often accompany such events present seemingly insurmountable obstacles to our ability to move forward. We become stuck, paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. Several years ago, one of those events drove Don Blackwell's daughter to death's doorstep. In the midst of her suffering, however, and largely as a result of her courage, Don came to realize that such events can also serve as critical points of reflection and opportunities for growth. He also realized that if we are willing to take a step back from the heartbreak of the moment and reflect on the matters of the heart that surround those events, they can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves, of those we love and of the human condition. "Dear Ashley" is a collection of those reflections and the intimate father/daughter letters used to convey them---shared in the hope that the unique perspective they offer will provide guidance, understanding and healing when life's challenges come knocking on your door.

This book is for the practitioner who is curious about how to incorporate therapy that draws on clients' spirituality or religious background as a resource for recovery from eating disorders. There is growing empirical evidence that spiritual approaches to treating clients with eating disorders are as effective, and sometimes more effective, than secular ones, particularly with religiously devout clients. In this book, the authors seek to be catalysts in building up the body of literature documenting the influence of client religiousness and spirituality on the development and maintenance of eating disorders, as well as recovery from eating disorders. Drawing on their many years of clinical experience, the authors show how a theistic perspective of healing and change can enrich therapies currently in practice for eating disorders, such as individual, group, and family therapy and twelve-step programs. They propose an agenda for future research including valuable information on measures and research designs that will help investigators study the etiology of eating disorders as well as treatment outcomes, as they relate to client involvement in institutional and community religious life and clients' private devotion or expressions of spirituality.