The Ocd Workbook for Food and Eating Fears - by Lissette Cortes & Katie Jeffrey (Paperback)

About the Book

For people with food-related obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), every meal can feel like an agonizing challenge. In this workbook, readers with food and eating fears will find evidence-based skills drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (DBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and Intuitive Eating to overcome avoidance and restriction, perfectionism about food and the body, contamination concerns, and sensory sensitivities. With this powerful guide, readers will identify the root cause of their food-based obsessions, and take steps toward lasting healing.

Book Synopsis

Conquer OCD food and eating fears & rediscover the joy of eating.

Does obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) interfere with your ability to maintain a peaceful relationship with food and eating? If you struggle with food-related obsessions and compulsions, everyday meal decisions can feel like an agonizing ordeal filled with uncertainty, anxiety, and stress. You may avoid specific foods due to fear of weight gain or contamination, follow rigid food preparation routines, or even attempt to avoid food when possible. So, how can you develop a more compassionate and nourishing connection with food?

In this cutting-edge workbook, you'll find evidence-based skills drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and Intuitive Eating to overcome avoidance and restriction, perfectionism about food and the body, contamination concerns, and sensory sensitivities. With this powerful guide, you'll identify the root cause of your food-based obsessions and take steps toward lasting healing. Finally, you'll find strategies to help you deal with uncertainty and make room for self-care in your daily routine.

A revolutionary approach to help you:

• Directly challenge and overcome your food and eating fears
• Understand the root cause of your obsessions
• Evaluate your progress and fine-tune your recovery program
• Create a foundation for lifelong self-compassion and Intuitive Eating

Review Quotes

"The OCD Workbook for Food and Eating Fears is like an afternoon with your favorite aunt--wise, comforting, nonjudgmental, and filled with practical, kind advice. It doesn't tell you what you should or shouldn't eat, but provides enough direction to help you find the way yourself. The authors have created an indispensable resource for eating disorder professionals, an intelligent guide for individuals investigating their relationship with food, and an essential addition to the field."
--Jessica Setnick, MS, RD, CEDS-C, founder of the International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians, and author of The Pocket Guide to Eating Disorders

"Lissette and Katie achieve what may initially seem impossible to readers: they make the journey of healing from obsessive thoughts and compulsions related to eating and food fears feel tangible and achievable. This is the workbook I desperately needed after my diagnosis, when the future felt scary. Readers will gain valuable skills, understanding, and, most importantly, hope that living a full life is possible."
--Jason Wood, director of community engagement at the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, and author of Starving for Survival

"Lissette Cortes and Katie Jeffrey strongly and convincingly advocate for factoring obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) knowledge and skills into the recovery plans of the many people suffering from food and eating fears--some openly, others in silence. Anyone wanting their relationship with food and eating to go from war to peace--and to get more out of life--will benefit immensely from engaging with this thoughtful and inspiring workbook."
--Jonathan Hoffman, PhD, ABPP, chief clinical officer at the Neurobehavioral Institute, and author of Stuck

"Personally and professionally, I have been waiting years for someone to write this book. This workbook beautifully explores the many creative ways OCD shows up around food and eating, including lesser-known areas like scrupulosity. It explores evidence-based treatments through a practical and deeply compassionate lens, helping readers move toward a life that expands rather than shrinks. Everyone needs this workbook, including clinicians, individuals with OCD, advocates, family members, and beyond. I am so grateful it now exists for our community!"
--Rev. Katie O'Dunne, DMin, founder and director of Stick with the Ick, an inclusive community app supporting individuals with OCD, clinicians, and clergy navigating faith and scrupulosity

"This workbook is an exceptional resource for clinicians and clients alike--grounded in evidence-based practices and guided by research informed by leading experts in OCD and nutrition. I especially appreciate how it highlights the power of collaborative care, encouraging each provider to remain within their area of expertise while working in harmony with others. If you have a patient struggling with OCD-related food fears, this is an absolute must-have."
--Cali Werner, PhD, CMPC, licensed clinician specializing in OCD, researcher on athlete mental health, and advocate for evidence-based collaborative care

"This workbook masterfully blends the best of research and humanity. The authors offer evidence-based tools rooted in deep compassion and clinical wisdom, providing readers with a pathway to recovery that feels both effective and profoundly kind. A vital resource for anyone navigating the complex overlap of OCD and eating fears--and for the clinicians who support them."
--Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C, clinical director of CBT of Central & South Florida, professional development and education chair of the CBT Alliance of Florida, member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, and coauthor of The Renfrew Unified Treatment Model for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity

"This workbook offers an engaging blend of education and reflection, guiding readers to build awareness through empowering questions that lift blame and shame. The authors skillfully highlight how diet culture can exacerbate OCD behaviors while providing practical steps to reconnect with values, present-moment thinking, and one's true self. Reading this feels like sitting with a compassionate, skilled therapist and dietitian who helps you build agency over OCD."
--Shawna Melbourn, RD, CEDS-C, CIEC, eating disorder specialist, and creator of the course ED for RDs: Eating Disorder Education for Registered Dietitians

"What Lissette Cortes and Katie Jeffrey have achieved with The OCD Workbook for Food and Eating Fears is a hard-fought victory for so many individuals who have felt misunderstood for so long. This workbook provides a carefully crafted road map to get you to the core of your food and eating fears while offering evidence-based skills and strategies to help you live a full life. I wholeheartedly recommend it."
--Michael Sheffield, PsyD, cofounder of Compassionate Healing Institute, and treasurer of OCD Central and South Florida

About the Author

Lissette Cortes, PsyD, CEDS, is a licensed psychologist in Florida, certified eating disorders specialist, founder of Compassionate Healing Institute, and cofounder of the International OCD Foundation Special Interest Group (IOCDF SIG) for OCD and Eating Disorders. She is a cognitive behavioral psychologist specializing in exposure and response prevention (ERP), and a Health at Every Size (HAES)-aligned clinician practicing from a size-inclusive and diet-rejecting perspective incorporating Intuitive Eating principles. She is on the board of the South Florida iaedp (International Association Of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation) chapter, and on the board of the CBT Alliance of Florida.

Katie Jeffrey, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist, board-certified specialist in sports nutrition, qualified instructor of mindful eating and living (MB-EAT-QI) through the Mindful Eating Training Institute (METI), and cofounder of the IOCDF SIG for OCD and Eating Disorders. She promotes a weight-neutral, non-diet mindful and intuitive eating and fueling philosophy in her private practice. Katie's mission is to empower individuals to honor their inner wisdom, make peace with food, feel comfortable in their body, cultivate a nourishing self-care practice--and enjoy a lifetime of emotional resiliency by bringing greater awareness, curiosity, and compassion to their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.

Foreword writer Nicholas Farrell, PhD, is a clinical director at NOCD, where he provides leadership and direction for teletherapy services. He is a recognized expert in researching and treating OCD, eating disorders, and other related conditions.