Author Shannon Cutts takes the reader on a journey through the many challenges and triumphs of eating disorder recovery. Beating Ana differs from many other recovery books available as it focuses not only on Shannon's recovery but also on the journey of her five long-term mentees. The book also provides the reader with short exercises, self quizzes, journal excerpts as well as motivational affirmations all designed to provide much needed hope, support, encouragement and skills for moving forward in recovery. All in all, this book is a valuable tool for anyone involved or wishing to get involved in using mentoring to benefit recovery.
Who is Beating Ana aimed at?
Beating Ana is specifically aimed at anyone who has/is suffering from an eating disorder, health professionals involved in treating eating disorders - psychiatrists, therapists, nutritionists, counselors, psychologists, mentors and mentees, as well as friends, carers and relatives of those affected. The book may also be used as a work-book for individuals and in group approaches to therapy.
Beating Ana: Key Sections
Welcome to our World - An Introduction
Welcome to our World contains Shannon's story, an introduction to the Mentor Model and also introduces the reader to Shannon's five mentees. Her mentees provide the reader with tremendously helpful and powerful insights into what life with an eating disorder and the battle for recovery truly is all about. The style is very reader-friendly, easy to follow and without all the complicated terminology associated with many eating disorder books.
ED At The Movies
In this section, Shannon uses movies that inspire, encourage and motivate one in the recovery journey. Particularly in early recovery using movies to promote recovery is a useful strategy as at this stage many sufferers haven't the energy to sit and read through masses of information but may have the energy to watch short clips from different movies. At the end of each movie section there is a 'Life Celebration Affirmation promoting positive aspects of healing and personal development.
Mentoring 101
Mentoring 101 is a particularly useful section that is located at the back of the book and provides the reader with very insightful, valuable information for those involved in mentoring including key guidelines essential to good practice aimed at both the mentee and mentor. Information about how to become involved with the organisation MentorCONNECT is also provided. Throughout the book one can learn about exactly how mentoring can benefit the sufferer regardless of what stage they are at in their journey to recovery.
Cutts, S. (2009) Beating Ana
Florida: Health Communications Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7573-13851-1
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
Join the Conversation