Overview

People with eating disorders who also struggle with co-occurring high-risk or dysregulated behaviors are often not well served by standard eating disorder therapies. From pioneering treatment developers Anita Federici and Lucene Wisniewski, this book presents a groundbreaking adaptation of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for individuals with multidiagnostic eating disorder (MED) presentations. MED-DBT is affirming, non-stigmatizing, and evidence informed. It integrates the full DBT model--including individual therapy, skills training, phone coaching, and consultation team--with strategies for treating eating behaviors, body image, interoception, and medical instability. Featuring rich case examples, the book is grounded in extensive clinical experience and state-of-the-art neurobiological research. A reproducible MED-DBT Diary Card and other useful tools can be photocopied or downloaded and printed.

Full Product Details

Author:   Anita Federici (Centre for Psychology and Emotion Regulation; York University, Canada) ,  Lucene Wisniewski
Publisher:   Guilford Publications
Imprint:   Guilford Press
ISBN:  

9781462558483

ISBN 10:   1462558488
Pages:   266
Publication Date:   20 February 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

I. An Introduction to MED-DBT 1. The MED-DBT Program: Development and Foundations 2. Assessment for Treatment: Is MED-DBT a Good Fit for Your Client? II. MED-DBT Theories and Treatment Assumptions 3. Introduction to the Adapted Biosocial Theory: A Focus on Biology 4. The Adapted Biosocial Theory: A Focus on Invalidating Environments 5. Assumptions about MED-DBT Clients 6. Building Your MED-DBT Team 7. Dialectical Dilemmas in MED-DBT Treatment III. Getting Ready for Treatment 8. Laying the Foundation: Early Steps in the MED-DBT Pretreatment Phase 9. Strengthening Commitment: Later Tasks in MED-DBT Pretreatment 10. The Life Worth Living Discussion 11. What to Target and When IV. The MED-DBT Protocol 12. Individual Session Structure 13. MED-DBT Diary Cards 14. Behavior-Chain Analysis and Missing-Links Analysis in MED-DBT 15. Considerations for Teaching DBT Skills 16. Adaptations for Phone Coaching 17. Contingency Management in MED-DBT 18. Consult Teams in MED-DBT 19. Transitions and Ending Well List of Abbreviations References Index

Reviews

“In this book, Federici and Wisniewski bring MED-DBT to life with the same clarity, warmth, and clinical brilliance that they bring to their workshops. The book lays out a flexible treatment protocol that addresses the complex interplay of emotional, biological, and environmental factors that fuel eating disorders in multi-problem presentations. The authors’ voices are unmistakable--compassionate, direct, and wise--and their respect for clients permeates every page. With rich clinical examples, an accessible tone, and step-by-step guidance, this book is a ‘must have’ for both eating disorder clinicians looking to expand their repertoires and DBT therapists hoping to work effectively with people with eating disorders. It fills a critical gap for treatment of individuals who have not benefited from traditional therapies.”--Cynthia M. Bulik, PhD, FAED, Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders and Founding Director, University of North Carolina Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders; Director, Centre for Eating Disorders Innovation, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden-

Author Information

Anita Federici, PhD, CPsych, is founder of The Centre for Psychology and Emotion Regulation in Midland, Ontario, Canada. She holds an Adjunct Faculty position at York University and is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders. Internationally recognized for her expertise in eating disorders and dialectical behavior therapy, Dr. Federici specializes in building sustainable, evidence-informed care systems through strategic consultation, implementation support, and team-based training for hospitals and organizations worldwide. Her work integrates clinical expertise and systems design to support the development of scalable, person-centered care pathways, particularly for underserved populations and clients with complex treatment needs. Dr. Federici has delivered more than 400 lectures, workshops, and invited talks, and has published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Lucene Wisniewski, PhD, is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences at Case Western Reserve University and founder and Chief Clinical Officer of the Center for Evidence Based Treatment in Shaker Heights, Ohio. A Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), she has served on its board of directors and as co-chair of the Borderline Personality Disorder special interest group. Dr. Wisniewski is a recipient of the Outstanding Clinician Award from AED and the Champion of Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. She received a Fulbright Specialist Program Award to work with Comenzar de Nuevo AC, a nonprofit eating disorder facility in Monterrey, Mexico. Dr. Wisniewski has taught workshops and continuing education seminars worldwide and has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions