This paper illustrates the interplay of research and psychological treatment in the author’s work with eating-disorder patients. The mutual influence of research and clinical treatment was valued and encouraged by Sidney Blatt. A literature review includes both clinical and research reports of the inner world of eating-disorder patients. An outline follows of the author’s previously published research on the sense of self and object representations of hospitalized anorexia-nervosa patients aged 14 to 24, and a new qualitative analysis of some of that data. The author then describes the psychotherapy of a young adult, female, eating-disorder patient, during which treatment the research results promoted the exploration of the patient’s inner world of self and object representations, while her symptoms abated, and aspects of her life changed.