Maternalism: a healthy alliance for recovery and transition in eating disorder services.

This paper reports on a UK interpretative phenomenological research study that aimed to explore the lived experience of the relationship between women with anorexia and their care workers in the context of a specialist eating disorder (ED) unit. Here, the concept of maternalism as a phenomenon occurring within the therapeutic relationship in specialist ED units is discussed. Consideration is given to the parallel roles of the health care worker whose duty it is to protect, preserve life and to promote health and that of a mother/guardian. Although seemingly simplistic, the comforting, soothing and nurturing techniques that are used by the workers to diffuse distress and help the person feel cared for have many similarities to 'mothering'. Hence, a maternalistic approach that provides a sense of security and nurturing can be a compassionate way to facilitate hope and a route out of their anorexia into recovery, in the same way that good parenting can facilitate maturation and independence.