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Tom Wooldridge, PsyD, ABPP, FIPA, CEDS-S

About

Tom Wooldridge, PsyD, ABPP, CEDS, is Chair in the Department of Psychology at Golden Gate University as well as a psychoanalyst and board-certified, licensed psychologist. He has published journal articles and book chapters on topics such as eating disorders, masculinity, technology, and psychoanalytic treatment. His first book, Understanding Anorexia Nervosa in Males, was published by Routledge in 2016 and has been praised as “groundbreaking” and a “milestone publication in our field.” His second book, Psychoanalytic Treatment of Eating Disorders: When Words Fail and Bodies Speak, an edited volume in the Relational Perspectives Book Series, was published by Routledge in 2018 and has been well-reviewed. His third book, Eating Disorders (New Introductions to Contemporary Psychoanalysis), was released in 2022. His fourth book, co-edited with Burke, Michaels, and Muhr, is entitled Advancing Psychotherapy for the Next Generation: Rehumanizing Mental Health Policy and Practice. He has also written a novel about the process of psychotherapy, Ghosts of the Unremembered Past, additionally released as an audiobook with Audible. In addition, Dr. Wooldridge has been interviewed by numerous media publications, including Newsweek, Slate, WebMD, and others, for his work. He is a Personal and Supervising Analyst at the Psychoanalytic Institute for Northern California and a Training Analyst at the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis. He is on the Scientific Advisory Council of the National Eating Disorders Association, Faculty at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California (PINC), the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology (NCSPP), the William Alanson White Institute’s Eating Disorders, Compulsions, and Addictions program, and has a private practice in Berkeley, CA.

Books by Tom Wooldridge, PsyD, ABPP, FIPA, CEDS-S
Recent Posts
Male Anorexia Nervosa: Sports and Sexual Orientation
Around the time Jeremy began to question his sexual identity, he also began to focus intensively on cross-country running. Within a year, he had developed a severe case of anorexia nervosa. Jeremy’s obsession with counting calories and exercise not only distracted him from increasing panic about his sexual identity, starvation muted his developing sex drive.
Male AN and Body Image

As Jeremy's struggle with anorexia nervosa illustrates, males with eating disorders may not need re-education about the levels of body fat that are reasonable and appropriate. On the contrary, it may be that their perceptions of their bodies require revision.

As Jeremy's struggle with anorexia nervosa illustrates, males with eating disorders may not need re-education about the levels of body fat that are reasonable and appropriate. On the contrary, it may be that their perceptions of their bodies require revision.

Osteoporosis and Male Anorexia Nervosa

When the lay public and health professionals think of osteoporosis, they think of post-menopausal women. However, there is increasing recognition that osteoporosis frequently occurs as a result of the malnutrition associated with anorexia nervosa. And because osteoporosis is associated with women, it is often forgotten in males with the disorder.

When the lay public and health professionals think of osteoporosis, they think of post-menopausal women. However, there is increasing recognition that osteoporosis frequently occurs as a result of the malnutrition associated with anorexia nervosa. And because osteoporosis is associated with women, it is often forgotten in males with the disorder.

Diagnosis of Male Anorexia Nervosa: Gender Bias?

In girls who have reached puberty, one criterion for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa is amenorrhea, or the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. However, there is no equivalent diagnostic criterion for men and boys. Without this, clinicians may be less likely to consider the disorder in males.

In girls who have reached puberty, one criterion for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa is amenorrhea, or the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. However, there is no equivalent diagnostic criterion for men and boys. Without this, clinicians may be less likely to consider the disorder in males.

Male Anorexia and Families

Misconception and misunderstanding abound about anorexia nervosa. One of these is that anorexia happens almost exclusively to women and girls. Another is that families, and mothers in particular, are primarily responsible for their children developing the disorder. In fact, the situation is far more complicated.

Misconception and misunderstanding abound about anorexia nervosa. One of these is that anorexia happens almost exclusively to women and girls. Another is that families, and mothers in particular, are primarily responsible for their children developing the disorder. In fact, the situation is far more complicated.

Anorexia Nervosa: Not Just For Women!

When you think of anorexia nervosa, what comes to mind? If you’re like most people, you probably think of a teenage girl, obsessed with counting calories, struggling with perfectionism and dangerously thin from an often deadly psychological disorder. In fact, as many as 25% of patients with anorexia are male!

When you think of anorexia nervosa, what comes to mind? If you’re like most people, you probably think of a teenage girl, obsessed with counting calories, struggling with perfectionism and dangerously thin from an often deadly psychological disorder. In fact, as many as 25% of patients with anorexia are male!