Specialist Treatment for Eating Disorders at The London Centre

Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults

What is MANTRA?

MANTRA is a specialist integrative therapy that has been developed specifically for the treatment of anorexia nervosa. MANTRA consists of seven core modules conducted over 20-40 sessions. MANTRA aims to address the cognitive, emotional, relational and biological factors which tend to maintain AN by working out what keeps people stuck in their anorexia, and gradually helping them to find alternative and more adaptive ways of coping. This might include: developing motivation to change and recover; improving food intake and nutrition; addressing interpersonal difficulties; developing more helpful styles of thinking; learning new ways of managing emotions; and developing a sense of identity that is separate to AN. Which modules and factors are addressed in treatment depends on individual needs and preferences. You and your therapist will work together on the aspects of your eating difficulties that you feel are the most relevant and/or problematic for you, with a view to making lasting changes that will improve your overall quality of life.

 

 

WHO MIGHT benefit from Mantra

MANTRA is a treatment that was specifically developed for the treatment of anorexia nervosa. MANTRA is generally recommended for people who report an extremely rigid thinking style (i.e. little flexibility in their thinking, difficulties in emotional processing or in relationships with others), positive beliefs about their anorexia (low motivation or high ambivalence for recovery or full recovery), and either no support network or a support network that does not always feel helpful to the client. MANTRA may also be offered if other evidence based treatments have been offered before and haven’t been found helpful, or if a client does not believe that other evidence based treatments will be helpful.

 

 

HOW LONG will MANTRA take?

MANTRA is designed to take between 20 and 40 sessions although a key component of MANTRA is that modules can be worked through at a client’s own pace and speed. This means that clinicians tend not to be too specific about how long a client will be in therapy, and instead will be led by a client’s needs and preferences.