The subtitle of the book describes exactly what this publication is: A Comprehensive Treatment Guide. It has a clear, logical structure starting from a global perspective outlining the broad strategies of CBT, the rationale and format of delivery, before moving into specific and detailed areas of treatment relevant to the specialism.

The Introduction sets out the theoretical stance: the emphasis is placed on treating the patient as an individual and working “shoulder to shoulder”, moving away from labelling disorders and looking at unhelpful behaviours and cognitions using a transdiagnostic approach (Fairburn, Cooper and Shafran, Reference Fairburn, Cooper and Shafran2003). The need to tolerate short-term distress in order to achieve long-term gain is emphasized from the beginning and runs through the book, yet compassion and understanding are also themes and the work of Linehan is discussed and referenced (Linehan et al., Reference Linehan, Dimeff, Comtois, Welch, Heagerty and Kivlahan2002).

Section II covers core clinical skills for use in CBT with Eating Disorders. It takes the reader through Assessment, Enhancing Motivation, Diet and Nutritional Issues and Case Formulation. There are useful sections on Therapy Interfering Behaviours, Homework, Psychoeducation, Diaries, and the Role of Weighing in CBT. Much of the information can be used as general CBT principles and strategies, particularly the enhancing motivation section. Throughout the sections the “curious clinician” stance is maintained, emphasizing collaboration, with excellent case examples and “troubleshooting” sections outlining suggestions on how to deal with difficulties that may arise.

Section III becomes more specific about core skills relevant to eating disorders and gives clear examples on how to use Socratic questioning and downward arrow techniques to elicit core beliefs and use data logs and behavioural experiments in treatment. Section IV is again more specific to eating disorders and addresses eating, shape and weight concerns; however, some of the concepts can prove very useful with self-esteem issues in clients without a specific eating disorder.

Sections V and VI deal with situations when the standard approach to CBT is not enough i.e. when there is co-morbidity with other disorders and a section on working with children and adolescents. The final section is dedicated to endings and is again focused on the client's perspective of recovery, whilst also recognizing that there is a possibility of pseudo recovery; it also gives information on how to address this in the relapse prevention phase. The appendixes include very good psycho-education resources that are concise and factual.

Overall this is an excellent resource for practitioners, densely packed with information yet clear and readable with ease of reference. It definitely fulfils the intention set out in the preface to be “a clinician-orientated tool, useful in practice”. There are helpful analogies highlighted in the text, which can be lifted and used in other contexts, such as “the itchy jumper” when discussing readiness for change. It also brings together research and demonstrates how to use it in practice and there is creative use of many tools such as graphs, logs and worksheets, all of which are set out in as a photocopy resource in the back of the book. It provides a wealth of information for those who do not have a lot of experience in eating disorders and is a Guide that is highly recommended and one which I will personally return to often.