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The experience of career development in women with bulimia nervosa

University of British Columbia

A case study approach using multiple-case design was used to investigate and describe the experience of career development for eight women who had experienced bulimia nervosa. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with participants. Analysis of the interviews revealed seven chapters and a common story of the chronology of the participants' experiences of career development, including the role bulimia nervosa played in this process. A process of career development revealed an initial sense of career interest, ability and self knowledge interrupted by invalidation leading to a sense of loss of self including career identity. Bulimia nervosa became part of the mechanism employed to deal with the loss of self-identity. During counselling participants rediscovered their original career interests and resumed the developmental process. These results relate to and expand upon previous research and clinical observations of career development in this group of women. Recommendations for future research and counselling practice were made.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-03-16

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/6061

Counselling Psychology

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace