Events and Seminars
| Event | : | When Sickness Becomes the Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | : | St Paul’s Convent, 94 Selly Park Road, Selly Park, Birmingham B29 7LL, UK |
| Date | : | 19/05/2026 |
| Duration | : | 10.15am - 12.45pm BST |
| Extra Info | : | When Sickness Becomes the Goal: Anorexia Nervosa as a Special Interest in Autistic Girls With Elizabeth A. Anscombe This paper explores the four-year psychotherapeutic journey of a 13-year-old autistic girl diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, aiming to understand her internal world and the interplay between her neurodivergence and eating disorder. In clinical practice, autistic girls often develop intense special interests; for some, anorexia becomes such an interest, characterized by a compulsion to excel in restrictive behaviours. The fear of relinquishing the anorexic identity raises concerns about how their emotional needs will be addressed by parents, healthcare professionals, therapists, and educators. More profoundly, there exists a certainty that adults may fail to recognize that academically capable adolescent girls might not be psychologically prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood. Recent research highlights that autism manifests differently in girls compared to boys. Gina Rippon, in her 2025 book The Lost Girls of Autism, emphasizes that the historical male-centric view of autism has led to the underdiagnosis and misunderstanding of autistic girls, who often camouflage their symptoms to fit societal expectations. This case study underscores the necessity for clinicians to adopt gender-sensitive approaches when diagnosing and treating eating disorders in autistic adolescents. |
| Organised By | : | West Midlands Institute of Psychotherapy |
| Web Link | : | https://apt-birmingham.co.uk/events/lecture2025-4/ |