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Most individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) do not seek treatment and shame is a common barrier. This study sought to determine whether a brief intervention designed to foster self‐compassion would reduce shame and increase treatment motivation among nontreatment seeking individuals with AN.

Forty nontreatment seeking females with AN (75%) and atypical AN were randomly assigned to 2 weeks of a daily self‐compassionate letter‐writing intervention or a waitlist control condition. All participants completed pre, mid, and post questionnaires, and were weighed pre and post.

The intervention yielded respectable credibility ratings and compliance and retained 95% of participants. Compared to the control condition, it produced greater increases in self‐compassion and greater decreases in shame and fears of self‐compassion. BMI and readiness to get help for one's eating …