AUTHOR=Zhang Qiu Yuan , Wang Hong Yi , Liu Yan Hong , Yan Hui 

TITLE=Case Report: An integrative approach to psychotherapy for the mother of a daughter with bulimia nervosa

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1595758

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1595758

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Caregivers is a crucial factor in recovery and psychological intervention of individuals with eating disorders which are often-overlooked. This study explores the role of integrative therapy in promoting the psychological development of the mother of a daughter with bulimia nervosa, improving family structure, and facilitating the patient’s recovery. A 43-month, 54-session intervention was conducted with the mother of a woman with eating disorder using an integrative therapy approach primarily based on Bowen family systems therapy, drawing, and narrative therapy. The mother demonstrated improvements in emotional expressiveness, psychological distress, caregiving burden, and family structure, while her daughter experienced a reduction in eating disorder symptoms, improvement in the mother-daughter relationship, and restoration of social functioning, enabling the establishment of personal intimate relationships. In this context, the therapeutic value of integrative therapy deserves further attention. Meanwhile, the issue of mental health management is also reflected in this paper.