CBT for Appearance Anxiety: Psychosocial Interventions for Anxiety due to Visible Difference

While introductory texts on disfigurement and specialist titles on normative body image concerns exist, there are few materials available for clinicians working with people with a problematic appearance. This clinical handbook is the first to provide a stepped–care CBT–based psychosocial intervention for use with individuals anxious about their appearance due to a disfigurement from birth, accident or illness, or those coping with another visible difference.   This book is the result of a collaboration between clinicians and academics on a large–scale research project funded by The Healing Foundation.It describes detailed clinical intervention that integrates data analysis from the study with a comprehensive review of existing research.  It provides practical advice on assessment and session–by–session guidance for addressing common issues.  The manual is built around clinical cases with specific relevance to physical health conditions that affect appearance.  It draws on the work of Adrian Wells and David Clark by using approaches evaluated with social anxiety to treat anxiety related to disfiguring appearance.   This is an indispensable guide for clinical and health psychologists working with patients with appearance anxiety, as well as other healthcare practitioners navigating the practical and psychological concerns related to this patient population.

Alex Clarke is a clinical and health psychologist specializing in disfigurement and altered appearance. Andrew R. Thompson is Reader in Clinical Psychology at the University of Sheffield NHS Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training Programme. Elizabeth Jenkinson is a registered Practitioner Health Psychologist, Chartered Psychologist and Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at the University of the West of England. Nichola Rumsey is Vocational Training Charitable TrustProfessor of Appearance Research at University of the West of England and is Co–Director of the Centre for Appearance Research. Rob Newell is Emeritus Professor of Nursing Research at the University of Bradford.