The Nutritionist

In The Girls at 17 Swann Street, the nutritionist, Allison, symbolizes the healthy voice. When Anna meets with her for the first time, Allison refuses to negotiate with anorexia. She speaks rationally about nutrition, dietary needs, and metabolic rates. While Anna is angry and shocked by her blunt reaction, Allison represents the healthy voice that the narrator must develop in her recovery. She will only be able to cope with urges when she is able to talk back to the eating disorder voice, that coaxes her to manipulate her food with twisted forms of logic.

The Couch Corner

Zgheib utilizes the couch corner where Valerie sits as a symbol for self-soothing. In the community space, each patient has a specific spot where they like to sit. The normalcy of their physical routine helps the patients to cope with anxiety that arises during therapy and meals. The...