The APT-Birmingham Public Lecture
Saturday 19 May 2026
WHEN SICKNESS BECOMES THE GOAL: ANOREXIA NERVOSA AS A SPECIAL INTEREST IN AUTISTIC GIRLS
Elizabeth A Anscombe
Elizabeth A Anscombe
This paper explores the four-year psychotherapeutic journey of a 13-year-old autistic girl diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, aiming to understand her internal world and the interplay between her neurodivergence and eating disorder. In clinical practice, autistic girls often develop intense special interests; for some, anorexia becomes such an interest, characterized by a compulsion to excel in restrictive behaviours. The fear of relinquishing the anorexic identity raises concerns about how their emotional needs will be addressed by parents, healthcare professionals, therapists, and educators. More profoundly, there exists a certainty that adults may fail to recognize that academically capable adolescent girls might not be psychologically prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood.
Recent research highlights that autism manifests differently in girls compared to boys. Gina Rippon, in her 2025 book The Lost Girls of Autism, emphasizes that the historical male-centric view of autism has led to the underdiagnosis and misunderstanding of autistic girls, who often camouflage their symptoms to fit societal expectations. This case study underscores the necessity for clinicians to adopt gender-sensitive approaches when diagnosing and treating eating disorders in autistic adolescents. Elizabeth Anscombe is a child and adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapist, who trained at the Tavistock and Portman clinic. She is currently the Lead Psychotherapist in the CAMHS Adolescent Eating Disorders service at the Royal Free London. Elizabeth is trained in delivering adolescent-focused treatment for anorexia, plus family therapy for families affected by anorexia and bulimia. Elizabeth is a senior honorary lecturer at the Tavistock Clinic and also lectures and supervises Eating Disorders and Attachment Trauma, at the Anna Freud Centre, the Society of Analytic Psychology, and the British Psychoanalytic Society. Elizabeth has previously worked as a psychotherapist and art therapist at the Mildmay hospice in East London, working alongside adults, parents and children with HIV/AIDS.
APPLICATION DETAILS
This lecture will take place in-person only at St Paul’s Convent, 94 Selly Park Road, Selly Park, Birmingham B29 7LL and will be held between 10.15am and 12.45pm (GMT).
The cost for this lecture is £50 for WMIP members and £60 for non-WMIP members
Please refer to the application form for further details on reduced fees offered
Bookings should be made/confirmed as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
PAYMENT DETAILS
Please make BACS payments as follows:
Bank: Barclays, Sort Code: 20-08-44, Account No: 03737950
Account Name: The Training in Jungian Analytical Psychotherapy
(Please use your name as a reference)
For further details and queries contact:
Sue Harford, Administrator to the Training Committee,
telephone: 07789 545908, email: aptc@wmip.org
The APT-Birmingham
Public Lectures
For enquiries contact Sue Harford,
Administrator to the Training Committee
Unit 1A, West Stockwith Park,
Stockwith Road, Misterton,
Nottinghamshire DN10 4ES.
Telephone: 07789 545908
Email aptc@wmip.org
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